Joseph William Burton
Encyclopedia
Joseph William Burton was a Canadian politician and farmer.
Burton was a grand knight of the Knights of Columbus
and a staunch Roman Catholic and socialist
who argued during political meetings meetings in Humboldt, Saskatchewan
that the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
was more in line with the demands for social justice
made in papal encyclicals than other parties.
He was elected to the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly
in a 1938 provincial
by-election
becoming the only Catholic MLA in the province. In an August 9, 1943 federal by-election, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
representing Humboldt
for the CCF. He was re-elected in the 1945 general election
but defeated in 1949
.
During a 1947 debate in the House, Burton explained the compatibility of his religious and political views:
After losing his federal seat, Burton returned to provincial politics as a Saskatchewan CCF MLA in the 1952 provincial election
and served as Provincial Secretary
in Tommy Douglas
' cabinet
from 1952 until the 1956 provincial election
when he was defeated by Mary Batten of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party
.
Burton was a grand knight of the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
and a staunch Roman Catholic and socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
who argued during political meetings meetings in Humboldt, Saskatchewan
Humboldt, Saskatchewan
Humboldt is a Canadian city located in the province of Saskatchewan, 113 km east of Saskatoon at the junction of Highway 5 and Highway 20. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Humboldt No...
that the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
was more in line with the demands for social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
made in papal encyclicals than other parties.
He was elected to the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly
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:...
in a 1938 provincial
Humboldt (provincial electoral district)
Humboldt is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. Located in central Saskatchewan, this constituency was one of 25 created for the 1st Saskatchewan general election in 1905....
by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
becoming the only Catholic MLA in the province. In an August 9, 1943 federal by-election, he was elected to 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...
representing Humboldt
Humboldt (electoral district)
Humboldt was a federal electoral district in Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1953. When it was created in 1903, it was part of the Northwest Territories. When Saskatchewan became a province in 1905, Humboldt riding was in that province...
for the CCF. He was re-elected in the 1945 general election
Canadian federal election, 1945
The Canadian federal election of 1945 was the 20th general election in Canadian history. It was held June 11, 1945 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 20th Parliament of Canada...
but defeated in 1949
Canadian federal election, 1949
The Canadian federal election of 1949 was held on June 27 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 21st Parliament of Canada. It was the first election in Canada in almost thirty years in which the Liberal Party of Canada was not led by William Lyon Mackenzie King. King had...
.
During a 1947 debate in the House, Burton explained the compatibility of his religious and political views:
- The Church to which I belong, condemns in no uncertain terms the type of socialism that interferes with a person's religious beliefs, which is opposed to the ownership of private property. None of these are policies of the CCF. As the years have gone by, we have seen many kinds of socialism throughout the world and for want of a beter term we have applied to the philosophy and principles of the CCF the expression "socialist" because the fundamental principles of our policy are to build laws around the protection of society rather than the protection of capital.
After losing his federal seat, Burton returned to provincial politics as a Saskatchewan CCF MLA in the 1952 provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 1952
The Saskatchewan general election of 1952 was the twelfth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 11, 1952, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
and served as Provincial Secretary
Provincial Secretary
The Provincial Secretary was a senior position in the executive councils of British North America's colonial governments, and was retained by the Canadian provincial governments for at least a century after Canadian Confederation was proclaimed in 1867...
in Tommy Douglas
Tommy Douglas
Thomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, was a Scottish-born Baptist minister who became a prominent Canadian social democratic politician...
' cabinet
Executive Council of Saskatchewan
The Executive Council of Saskatchewan is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
from 1952 until the 1956 provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 1956
The Saskatchewan general election of 1956 was the thirteenth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 20, 1956, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.-The campaign:...
when he was defeated by Mary Batten of 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...
.