Joseph Tweed Shaw
Encyclopedia
Joseph Tweed Shaw was a Canadian
politician. He served in the Canadian House of Commons
from 1921 to 1925 as an independent Member of Parliament
(MP), and later became leader of the Alberta Liberal Party
.
in Northern Ontario
, and received his early education in Calgary, Alberta
. He later received a Bachelor of Laws
degree from the University of Michigan
, and returned to Alberta to work as a barrister. He served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force
during World War I
from 1916 to 1918. In religion, he was a Presbyterian.
Prime Minister
Richard Bennett by twelve votes in Calgary West
. Shaw is usually considered to have been a Labour candidate but he actually ran as an independent, supported by both the United Farmers of Alberta
(UFA) and the Alberta branch of the Dominion Labor Party
(DLP). He attended a Progressive Party
convention in 1922 and may have been a candidate for that party's leadership, but he reaffirmed his independence from all parties in 1923. During his time in parliament, Shaw was associated with the Ginger Group
of radical Labour and Progressive representatives.
Shaw sought re-election in 1925
as an independent candidate, and this time received unofficial support from the Liberal Party of Canada
. He lost to Bennett in a rematch of 1921, and subsequently became affiliated with the Alberta Liberal Party. On April 21, 1926, he was chosen without opposition as leader of the provincial party. From his new position, he attacked Alberta's UFA ministry as the government of a class rather than of all the people. A provincial election
was called for June, and Shaw led his party to a disappointing 7 seats of out 61. He was personally elected in Bow Valley by a single vote, and served as an opposition member for the next four years.
Shaw never served as Leader of the Opposition
in the legislature, after a Speaker's ruling that divided the Official Opposition funding between all the party leaders. He did not seek re-election in 1930
. He attempted a return to the House of Commons in the 1935 federal election
, but was defeated in Calgary East
. He also campaigned for the "Independent Movement" (a fusion of Liberals and Progressive Conservatives) in the 1940 provincial election
, but again failed to win a seat. He died four years later.
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...
politician. He served in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
from 1921 to 1925 as an independent Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP), and later became leader of the Alberta Liberal Party
Alberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
.
Early life
Shaw was born at Port ArthurPort Arthur, Ontario
Port Arthur was a city in Northern Ontario which amalgamated with Fort William and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Port Arthur was the district seat of Thunder Bay District.- History :...
in Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
, and received his early education in Calgary, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. He later received a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, and returned to Alberta to work as a barrister. He served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
during 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...
from 1916 to 1918. In religion, he was a Presbyterian.
Political career
He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1921 federal election, defeating future ConservativeConservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Richard Bennett by twelve votes in Calgary West
Calgary West
Calgary West is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1953, and since 1979. It is located in the western part of the City of Calgary....
. Shaw is usually considered to have been a Labour candidate but he actually ran as an independent, supported by both the United Farmers of Alberta
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
(UFA) and the Alberta branch of the Dominion Labor Party
Dominion Labor Party (Alberta)
The Dominion Labor Party provincial branch of the Canadian Labor Party in Alberta was a minor political party. The party was founded on March 29, 1919 as the Federated Labor Party. The party was renamed the Dominion Labor Party later that year.-Early history:...
(DLP). He attended a Progressive Party
Progressive Party of Canada
The Progressive Party of Canada was a political party in Canada in the 1920s and 1930s. It was linked with the provincial United Farmers parties in several provinces and, in Manitoba, ran candidates and formed governments as the Progressive Party of Manitoba...
convention in 1922 and may have been a candidate for that party's leadership, but he reaffirmed his independence from all parties in 1923. During his time in parliament, Shaw was associated with the Ginger Group
Ginger Group (Canada)
The Ginger Group was not a formal political party in Canada, but a faction of radical Progressive and Labour Members of Parliament who advocated socialism. The group is said to have taken its name from Ginger Goodwin, a United Mine Workers organizer. Ginger was shot dead outside Cumberland, British...
of radical Labour and Progressive representatives.
Shaw sought re-election in 1925
Canadian federal election, 1925
The Canadian federal election of 1925 was held on October 29 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 15th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's Liberal Party formed a minority government. This precipitated the "King-Byng Affair".The Liberals under...
as an independent candidate, and this time received unofficial support from the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
. He lost to Bennett in a rematch of 1921, and subsequently became affiliated with the Alberta Liberal Party. On April 21, 1926, he was chosen without opposition as leader of the provincial party. From his new position, he attacked Alberta's UFA ministry as the government of a class rather than of all the people. A provincial election
Alberta general election, 1926
The Alberta general election of 1926 was the sixth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 28, 1926 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The writs of election were issued on May 10, 1926 allowing for an election period of 40 days.After Herbert...
was called for June, and Shaw led his party to a disappointing 7 seats of out 61. He was personally elected in Bow Valley by a single vote, and served as an opposition member for the next four years.
Shaw never served as Leader of the Opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
in the legislature, after a Speaker's ruling that divided the Official Opposition funding between all the party leaders. He did not seek re-election in 1930
Alberta general election, 1930
The Alberta general election of 1930 was the seventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 19, 1930 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He attempted a return to the House of Commons in the 1935 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1935
The Canadian federal election of 1935 was held on October 14, 1935 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 18th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal Party of William Lyon Mackenzie King won a majority government, defeating Prime Minister R.B. Bennett's Conservative Party.The central...
, but was defeated in Calgary East
Calgary East
Calgary East is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1925 to 1953, 1979 to 1988, and since 1997...
. He also campaigned for the "Independent Movement" (a fusion of Liberals and Progressive Conservatives) in the 1940 provincial election
Alberta general election, 1940
The Alberta general election of 1940 was the ninth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada, was held on March 21, 1940 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, but again failed to win a seat. He died four years later.