John Hewgill Brockelbank
Encyclopedia
John Hewgill Brockelbank (June 24, 1897 - May 30, 1977) was a politician in Saskatchewan
, Canada
, who served as leader of the opposition
in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
.
Born in Grey County, Ontario, Brockebank moved to Saskatchewan with his parents in 1911 to a homestead
near North Battleford
. After returning from service in World War I
he established his own farm near Bjorkdale
in northeastern Saskatchewan.
He was an activist in the farmers movement and was elected to the Saskatchewan legislature representing the Tisdale district
for the Saskatchewan Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
(CCF) in the 1938 provincial election
. He served in the legislature until his retirement in 1967 and became an expert in parliamentary procedure
.
In 1941, he became Leader of the Opposition
when party leader George Hara Williams
resigned his seat to enlist in the Canadian Army
during World War II
. He was defeated in his attempt to win the party leadership by Tommy Douglas
in 1942 and again in 1943 but remained Leader of the Opposition until 1944 as Douglas did not have a seat in the provincial legislature. When the CCF formed government for the first time following the 1944 provincial election
Douglas appointed Brockelbank to Cabinet
as Minister of Municipal Affairs. He became Minister of Natural Resources following the 1948 election
and retained that position for fourteen years. As Natural Resources minister, Brockelbank oversaw the growth of the potash
and oil
industries in the province.
In 1962 Douglas' successor as Premier
, Woodrow Lloyd, appointed Brockelbank to the position of Provincial Treasurer and Deputy Premier.
The Saskatchewan CCF-NDP (as it had become known following the creation of the federal New Democratic Party
(NDP) was defeated by the Saskatchewan Liberal Party
in the 1964 general election
but Brockelbank retained his seat and moved to the opposition benches. He retired at the 1967 general election
but remained active with the NDP until his death ten years later.
Brockelbank died at the age of 79 after being involved in a car accident.
His son John Edward
also served in the Saskatchewan assembly.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, who served as leader of the opposition
Leader of the Opposition
The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government...
in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
The 25th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan was in power from 2003 until November 20, 2007. It was controlled by the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party under premier Lorne Calvert.-Members:-By-elections:...
.
Born in Grey County, Ontario, Brockebank moved to Saskatchewan with his parents in 1911 to a homestead
Homestead (buildings)
A homestead is either a single building, or collection of buildings grouped together on a large agricultural holding, such as a ranch, station or a large agricultural operation of some other designation.-See also:* Farm house* Homestead Act...
near North Battleford
North Battleford, Saskatchewan
In the late 2000s a large number of Ruthenians have emigrated to Canada, concentrating in North Battleford.-History:Prior to European settlement, the Battlefords area was home to several aboriginal groups...
. After returning from service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he established his own farm near Bjorkdale
Bjorkdale, Saskatchewan
- References :...
in northeastern Saskatchewan.
He was an activist in the farmers movement and was elected to the Saskatchewan legislature representing the Tisdale district
Tisdale (provincial electoral district)
Tisdale was a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, centered on the town of Tisdale, Saskatchewan...
for the Saskatchewan Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It currently forms the official opposition, but has been a dominant force in Saskatchewan politics since the 1940s...
(CCF) in the 1938 provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 1938
The Saskatchewan general election of 1938 was the ninth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 8, 1938, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
. He served in the legislature until his retirement in 1967 and became an expert in parliamentary procedure
Parliamentary procedure
Parliamentary procedure is the body of rules, ethics, and customs governing meetings and other operations of clubs, organizations, legislative bodies, and other deliberative assemblies...
.
In 1941, he became Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Saskatchewan)
A list of parliamentary opposition leaders in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, from 1906 to the present. There was no designated Leader of the Opposition for the sessions of 1921 and 1922.In the period 1925-1929 C.E. Tran and J.T.M...
when party leader George Hara Williams
George Hara Williams
George Hara Williams was a farmer activist and politician. Born in Binscarth, Manitoba, Williams attended Manitoba Agricultural College after serving in World War I...
resigned his seat to enlist in the Canadian Army
First Canadian Army
The First Canadian Army was the senior Canadian operational formation in Europe during the Second World War.The Army was formed in early 1942, replacing the existing unnumbered Canadian Corps, as the growing number of Canadian forces in the United Kingdom necessitated an expansion to two corps...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was defeated in his attempt to win the party leadership by Tommy Douglas
Tommy Douglas
Thomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, was a Scottish-born Baptist minister who became a prominent Canadian social democratic politician...
in 1942 and again in 1943 but remained Leader of the Opposition until 1944 as Douglas did not have a seat in the provincial legislature. When the CCF formed government for the first time following the 1944 provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 1944
The Saskatchewan general election of 1944 was the tenth provincial election in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 15, 1944 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
Douglas appointed Brockelbank to Cabinet
Executive Council of Saskatchewan
The Executive Council of Saskatchewan is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
as Minister of Municipal Affairs. He became Minister of Natural Resources following the 1948 election
Saskatchewan general election, 1948
The Saskatchewan general election of 1948 was the eleventh provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 24, 1948, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
and retained that position for fourteen years. As Natural Resources minister, Brockelbank oversaw the growth of the potash
Potash
Potash is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. In some rare cases, potash can be formed with traces of organic materials such as plant remains, and this was the major historical source for it before the industrial era...
and oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
industries in the province.
In 1962 Douglas' successor as Premier
Premier of Saskatchewan
The Premier of Saskatchewan is the first minister for the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
, Woodrow Lloyd, appointed Brockelbank to the position of Provincial Treasurer and Deputy Premier.
The Saskatchewan CCF-NDP (as it had become known following the creation of the federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
(NDP) was defeated by the Saskatchewan Liberal Party
Saskatchewan Liberal Party
The Saskatchewan Liberal Party is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.-Early history :The party dominated Saskatchewan politics for the province's first forty years providing six of the first seven Premiers, and being in power for all but five of the years between the...
in the 1964 general election
Saskatchewan general election, 1964
The Saskatchewan general election of 1964 was the fifteenth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on April 22, 1964, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
but Brockelbank retained his seat and moved to the opposition benches. He retired at the 1967 general election
Saskatchewan general election, 1967
The Saskatchewan general election of 1967 was the sixteenth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on October 11, 1967, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
but remained active with the NDP until his death ten years later.
Brockelbank died at the age of 79 after being involved in a car accident.
His son John Edward
John Edward Brockelbank
John Edward Brockelbank is an instrument technician and former political figure in Saskatchewan, Canada. He represented Saskatoon City from 1964 to 1967, Saskatoon Mayfair from 1967 to 1975 and Saskatoon Westmount from 1975 to 1982 and 1986 to 1991 as a member of the NDP.He was born in Tisdale,...
also served in the Saskatchewan assembly.