Malcolm Wallace McCutcheon
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Wallace McCutcheon, PC
, CBE
, QC
known as Wallace McCutcheon (May 18, 1906 - January 23, 1969) was a Canadian
lawyer, actuary and politician.
Wallace McCutcheon was born in London, Ontario
. Together with Edward Plunkett Taylor and Colonel W. Eric Phillips, he was founder of Argus Corporation, an investment company that controlled a variety of businesses including farm machinery and Dominion grocery stores
.
During World War II
, he was member of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board.
He was appointed to the Canadian Senate
on August 9, 1962 on the recommendation of Prime Minister John George Diefenbaker. McCutcheon sat in the caucus of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
, and represented the senatorial division of Gormley, Ontario
.
He served as a Minister without Portfolio
in Diefenbaker's government from his appointment to February 11, 1963, when he was promoted to Minister of Trade and Commerce. His promotion was generally regarded as a move to shore up support for the Progressive Conservatives among members of Canada's financial sector. The Progressive Conservatives were defeated in the 1963 federal election
, and the Diefenbaker government resigned on April 21, 1963. McCutcheon later supported Dalton Camp
's efforts to call a leadership review and remove Diefenbaker as party leader.
McCutcheon provided financial support for the Progressive Conservative Party of British Columbia in the 1963 provincial election
. He was also a fundraiser for the University of Toronto
.
McCutcheon ran for the leadership of the PC Party at the 1967 leadership convention
, placing sixth out of eleven candidate on the first ballot, and withdrawing from the race after the second ballot to endorse the eventual winner, Robert Stanfield
.
McCutcheon ran as an unabashed "small-c conservative", i.e., a candidate of the party's right-wing. He had considerable support and financing from Bay Street
, Toronto
's financial district
.
He campaigned aggressively against "big government" and "creeping socialism
". He used dozens of attractive young women in his demonstration at the convention (dubbed "blonde goddesses" by the Toronto Star), and advocated a guaranteed annual income of $10,000 per adult as an alternative to the various social programs offered by different levels of government. He also advocated a "made-in-Canada" constitution to replace the British North America Acts
and to guarantee the rights of Canadians, including language and cultural rights. He opposed public medicare
.
He resigned from the Senate on May 13, 1968 in order to contest the 1968 federal election
as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the Ontario riding
of York—Simcoe
. He placed second with 13,100 votes (37.3% of the vote), compared to 15,906 won by John Roberts.
McCutcheon died in 1969, aged 62.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
known as Wallace McCutcheon (May 18, 1906 - January 23, 1969) was a Canadian
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...
lawyer, actuary and politician.
Wallace McCutcheon was born in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. Together with Edward Plunkett Taylor and Colonel W. Eric Phillips, he was founder of Argus Corporation, an investment company that controlled a variety of businesses including farm machinery and Dominion grocery stores
Dominion Stores
Dominion Stores refers to the following supermarket chains in Canada:*Dominion , the former national chain, more recently operating only in the Greater Toronto Area. The remaining locations were rebranded as Metro in 2008....
.
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 member of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board.
He was appointed to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
on August 9, 1962 on the recommendation of Prime Minister John George Diefenbaker. McCutcheon sat in the caucus of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
, and represented the senatorial division of Gormley, Ontario
Gormley, Ontario
Gormley is a hamlet in York Region, Ontario, Canada that overlaps parts of Richmond Hill, and Whitchurch–Stouffville, two municipalities within the Greater Toronto Area. It was divided into two parts due to the construction of Highway 404. A portion of Gormley situated within Richmond Hill's...
.
He served as a Minister without Portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
in Diefenbaker's government from his appointment to February 11, 1963, when he was promoted to Minister of Trade and Commerce. His promotion was generally regarded as a move to shore up support for the Progressive Conservatives among members of Canada's financial sector. The Progressive Conservatives were defeated in the 1963 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1963
The Canadian federal election of 1963 was held on April 8 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 26th Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of the minority Progressive Conservative government of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.-Overview:During the Tories' last year in...
, and the Diefenbaker government resigned on April 21, 1963. McCutcheon later supported Dalton Camp
Dalton Camp
Dalton Kingsley Camp, PC, OC was a Canadian journalist, politician, political strategist and commentator and supporter of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Despite having never been elected to a seat in the House of Commons, he was a prominent and influential politician and a popular...
's efforts to call a leadership review and remove Diefenbaker as party leader.
McCutcheon provided financial support for the Progressive Conservative Party of British Columbia in the 1963 provincial election
British Columbia general election, 1963
The British Columbia general election of 1963 was the 27th general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on August 22, 1963, and held on September 30, 1963...
. He was also a fundraiser for the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
McCutcheon ran for the leadership of the PC Party at the 1967 leadership convention
Progressive Conservative leadership convention, 1967
The 1967 Progressive Conservative leadership election was held to choose a leader for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. The convention was held at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between September 4th and 9th, 1967...
, placing sixth out of eleven candidate on the first ballot, and withdrawing from the race after the second ballot to endorse the eventual winner, Robert Stanfield
Robert Stanfield
Robert Lorne Stanfield, PC, QC was the 17th Premier of Nova Scotia and leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. He is sometimes referred to as "the greatest prime minister Canada never had", and earned the nickname "Honest Bob"...
.
McCutcheon ran as an unabashed "small-c conservative", i.e., a candidate of the party's right-wing. He had considerable support and financing from Bay Street
Bay Street
Bay Street, originally known as Bear Street, is a major thoroughfare in Downtown Toronto. It is the centre of Toronto's Financial District and is often used by metonymy to refer to Canada's financial industry since succeeding Montreal's St. James Street in that role in the 1970s...
, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's financial district
Financial District, Toronto
The Financial District is a business district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, within the downtown core. It was originally planned as New Town in 1796 as an extension of the Town of York . It is the main financial district in Toronto, and is the financial heart of Canada...
.
He campaigned aggressively against "big government" and "creeping socialism
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,...
". He used dozens of attractive young women in his demonstration at the convention (dubbed "blonde goddesses" by the Toronto Star), and advocated a guaranteed annual income of $10,000 per adult as an alternative to the various social programs offered by different levels of government. He also advocated a "made-in-Canada" constitution to replace the British North America Acts
British North America Acts
The British North America Acts 1867–1975 are the original names of a series of Acts at the core of the constitution of Canada. They were enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom and the Parliament of Canada. In Canada, some of the Acts were amended or repealed by the Constitution Act, 1982....
and to guarantee the rights of Canadians, including language and cultural rights. He opposed public medicare
Medicare (Canada)
Medicare is the unofficial name for Canada's publicly funded universal health insurance system. The formal terminology for the insurance system is provided by the Canada Health Act and the health insurance legislation of the individual provinces and territories.Under the terms of the Canada Health...
.
He resigned from the Senate on May 13, 1968 in order to contest the 1968 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1968
The Canadian federal election of 1968 was held on June 25, 1968, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 28th Parliament of Canada...
as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the Ontario riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of York—Simcoe
York—Simcoe
York—Simcoe is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1979, from 1988 to 1997 and since 2004.It covers part of the region north of Toronto by Lake Simcoe....
. He placed second with 13,100 votes (37.3% of the vote), compared to 15,906 won by John Roberts.
McCutcheon died in 1969, aged 62.