Nicholas Bachynsky
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Volodymir Bachynsky (September 16, 1887 in Eastern Galicia – August 14, 1969) was a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1922 to 1958, and was Speaker
of the Assembly for most of Douglas Campbell
's administration.
Bachynsky was educated in Galicia and in Brandon, Manitoba
. He worked as a teacher before entering politics.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1922 provincial election
. Campaigning as a member of the United Farmers of Manitoba, he defeated the incumbent member, independent Henry L. Mabb, by a margin of 581 votes to 354 in the constituency of Fisher. After the election, the UFM formed government as the Progressive Party
, and Bachynsky became a backbench supporter of John Bracken
's administration.
Bachynsky again defeated Mabb, who was by this time identifying himself as a Conservative
, in the 1927 election
. He was again returned with comfortable margins in the elections of 1932
and 1936
, now identifying himself as a Liberal-Progressive
after an alliance between the province's Liberal and Progressive parties.
Bachnysky faced a more difficult challenge in the 1941 election
, defeating pro-government independent L.W. Michalchuk by just thirty-three votes. He again defeated Michalchuk, then a CCF candidate, in the 1945 election
by 121 votes.
Bachynsky was returned without difficulty in the elections of 1949
and 1953
. After serving twenty-eight years as a backbencher, he was appointed Speaker of Legislature by Premier
Douglas Campbell on November 7, 1950.
Bachynsky had difficulty concealing his dislike of the CCF backbench, and once expressed his sympathy to CCF leader Seymour J. Farmer
for putting up with this "bunch of wild broncos". Lloyd Stinson
, who became leader of the Manitoba CCF in 1952, claimed Bachynsky was "such a volatile, vociferous orator that he was temperamentally unsuited to be an impartial moderator". Stinson also claims that Bachynsky consistently ruled against the CCF on procedural matters after becoming speaker.
After thirty-six years in the legislature, Bachynsky lost the Fisher constituency by 56 votes to CCF candidate Peter Wagner
in the 1958 provincial election
.
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
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...
. He served in 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...
from 1922 to 1958, and was Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Assembly for most of Douglas Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell, OC was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as the 13th Premier of Manitoba from 1948 to 1958...
's administration.
Bachynsky was educated in Galicia and in Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...
. He worked as a teacher before entering politics.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1922 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1922
Manitoba's general election of July 18, 1922 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.As in the previous election of 1920, the city of Winnipeg elected ten members by the single transferable ballot...
. Campaigning as a member of the United Farmers of Manitoba, he defeated the incumbent member, independent Henry L. Mabb, by a margin of 581 votes to 354 in the constituency of Fisher. After the election, the UFM formed government as the Progressive Party
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 Bachynsky became a backbench supporter of John Bracken
John Bracken
John Bracken, PC was an agronomist, the 11th Premier of Manitoba and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ....
's administration.
Bachynsky again defeated Mabb, who was by this time identifying himself as a 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:...
, in the 1927 election
Manitoba general election, 1927
Manitoba's general election of 28 June 1927 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This was the first election in Manitoba history to elect members through a single transferable ballot in all constituencies...
. He was again returned with comfortable margins in the elections of 1932
Manitoba general election, 1932
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1932 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This was the second election in Manitoba where the single transferable ballot was used in all electoral divisions...
and 1936
Manitoba general election, 1936
Manitoba's general election of July 27, 1936 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The was the second election in Manitoba after the formation of a Liberal-Progressive alliance in 1932...
, now identifying himself as a Liberal-Progressive
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 :...
after an alliance between the province's Liberal and Progressive parties.
Bachnysky faced a more difficult challenge in the 1941 election
Manitoba general election, 1941
Manitoba's general election of April 22, 1941 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held shortly after the formation of a coalition government in December 1940...
, defeating pro-government independent L.W. Michalchuk by just thirty-three votes. He again defeated Michalchuk, then a CCF candidate, in the 1945 election
Manitoba general election, 1945
Manitoba's general election of October 15, 1945 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The 1945 provincial election was extremely different from the previous election, which was held in 1941...
by 121 votes.
Bachynsky was returned without difficulty in the elections of 1949
Manitoba general election, 1949
Manitoba's general election of November 10, 1949 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election pitted the province's coalition government, made up of the Liberal-Progressive Party and the Progressive Conservative Party, against a variety of...
and 1953
Manitoba general election, 1953
Manitoba's general election of June 8, 1953 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. This was the first election held in Manitoba after the breakup of a ten-year coalition government led by the Liberal-Progressives and Progressive Conservatives...
. After serving twenty-eight years as a backbencher, he was appointed Speaker of Legislature by Premier
Premier of Manitoba
The Premier of Manitoba is the first minister for the Canadian province of Manitoba. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. Until the early 1970s, the title "Prime Minister of Manitoba" was used frequently. Afterwards, the word Premier, derived from the French...
Douglas Campbell on November 7, 1950.
Bachynsky had difficulty concealing his dislike of the CCF backbench, and once expressed his sympathy to CCF leader Seymour J. Farmer
Seymour J. Farmer
Seymour James Farmer was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as the 30th mayor of Winnipeg from 1923 to 1924, and was later the leader of the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation from 1935 to 1947. In the latter capacity, he became the first socialist politician in Canada to...
for putting up with this "bunch of wild broncos". Lloyd Stinson
Lloyd Stinson
Lloyd Stinson was a politician in Manitoba, Canada, and the leader of that province's Co-operative Commonwealth Federation from 1953 to 1959. Although widely regarded as a capable leader, he was unable to achieve a major electoral breakthrough for his party.Stinson was born in Treherne,...
, who became leader of the Manitoba CCF in 1952, claimed Bachynsky was "such a volatile, vociferous orator that he was temperamentally unsuited to be an impartial moderator". Stinson also claims that Bachynsky consistently ruled against the CCF on procedural matters after becoming speaker.
After thirty-six years in the legislature, Bachynsky lost the Fisher constituency by 56 votes to CCF candidate Peter Wagner
Peter Wagner (Manitoba politician)
Peter Wagner was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1958 to 1962, at first for the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and later for its successor party, the NDP.Of German and Ukrainian background, Wagner was educated in Manitoba and worked as...
in the 1958 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1958
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1958 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was the first to be held in Manitoba after a comprehensive electoral redistribution in 1956...
.