James Breakey
Encyclopedia
James Washington Breakey (December 25, 1865 in Port Hope
, Canada West (now Ontario
) – 1952), was a politician in Manitoba
, Canada. He was briefly the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
, and was subsequently a supporter of the province's Liberal-Progressive coalition government.
After working as a financial agent, Breakey was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
in 1914, winning Glenwood
for the Liberal Party. He was re-elected in the Liberal landslide victory
of 1915. The following year, he co-sponsored Fred Dixon
's Workmen's Compensation Act, a version of which was subsequently enacted as law.
Breakey lost to Independent Farmer William Robson in 1920. He recaptured his seat in 1922 (despite the Liberals losing most of their rural seats to the United Farmers of Manitoba
), and was re-elected in 1927.
The Manitoba Liberals were a marginal political force following the election of 1922, having won only eight seats in a 55-member legislature. They fell to seven seats in 1927, causing some senior figures in the party to advocate a merger with the governing Progressives
.
Hugh Robson
resigned as Liberal leader in January 1930, and Breakey was chosen to lead the Liberal parliamentary group later in the month. In this capacity, he actively promoted a Liberal-Progressive union: he declined to speak in opposition to the government's 1930 throne speech, and generally attempted to ensure friendly relations between the Liberal and Progressive caucuses.
Breakey stepped down as party leader in 1931, and was replaced by Murdoch Mackay
. The Liberals and Progressives were merged into a single party shortly thereafter, and Breakey ran for re-election as a supporter of the government. He easily defeated his Conservative
opponent, and was re-elected in 1936 and 1941.
Despite his long service in the legislature, Breakey was never appointed to cabinet. He retired from politics in 1945, at age 79.
Port Hope
Port Hope mar refer to:*Port Hope, Michigan, U.S.*Port Hope, Ontario, Canada**Port Hope Aerodrome**Port Hope Conference**Port Hope Panthers**Port Hope railway station**Port Hope Transit...
, Canada West (now Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
) – 1952), was a politician in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada. He was briefly the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
, and was subsequently a supporter of the province's Liberal-Progressive coalition government.
After working as a financial agent, Breakey was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
in 1914, winning Glenwood
Glenwood, Manitoba
The Rural Municipality of Glenwood is located in the southwestern corner of Manitoba, Canada and is 47 kilometres southwest of Manitoba's second largest city, Brandon. The municipality's largest town, Souris, located at its geographical centre, provides the advantage of great shops, services and...
for the Liberal Party. He was re-elected in the Liberal landslide victory
Landslide victory
In politics, a landslide victory is the victory of a candidate or political party by an overwhelming margin in an election...
of 1915. The following year, he co-sponsored Fred Dixon
Fred Dixon
Fred Dixon was a Manitoba politician, and was for several years the dominant figure in the province's mainstream labour movement.Born in Englefield, England, Dixon was not a socialist...
's Workmen's Compensation Act, a version of which was subsequently enacted as law.
Breakey lost to Independent Farmer William Robson in 1920. He recaptured his seat in 1922 (despite the Liberals losing most of their rural seats to the United Farmers of Manitoba
Progressive Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Party of Manitoba, Canada, was a political party that developed from the United Farmers of Manitoba, an agrarian movement that became politically active following World War I...
), and was re-elected in 1927.
The Manitoba Liberals were a marginal political force following the election of 1922, having won only eight seats in a 55-member legislature. They fell to seven seats in 1927, causing some senior figures in the party to advocate a merger with the governing Progressives
Progressive Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Party of Manitoba, Canada, was a political party that developed from the United Farmers of Manitoba, an agrarian movement that became politically active following World War I...
.
Hugh Robson
Hugh Robson
Hugh Amos Robson was a politician and judge in Manitoba. He briefly served as leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party in the 1920s.-Career:...
resigned as Liberal leader in January 1930, and Breakey was chosen to lead the Liberal parliamentary group later in the month. In this capacity, he actively promoted a Liberal-Progressive union: he declined to speak in opposition to the government's 1930 throne speech, and generally attempted to ensure friendly relations between the Liberal and Progressive caucuses.
Breakey stepped down as party leader in 1931, and was replaced by Murdoch Mackay
Murdoch Mackay
Murdoch Mackay was a Manitoba politician. He led the Manitoba Liberal Party from 1931 to 1932, and brought the party into an alliance with John Bracken's Progressives....
. The Liberals and Progressives were merged into a single party shortly thereafter, and Breakey ran for re-election as a supporter of the government. He easily defeated his Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
opponent, and was re-elected in 1936 and 1941.
Despite his long service in the legislature, Breakey was never appointed to cabinet. He retired from politics in 1945, at age 79.