Progressive Party of Manitoba
Encyclopedia
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
. A successor to the province's Grain Grower's Association, the UFM represented the interests of farmers frustrated with traditional political parties.
Unlike the United Farmers, the Progressive Party of Manitoba never made any serious effort to cooperate with the labour politicians. The Winnipeg General Strike was unpopular among farmers, and the Progressive Party of Manitoba was not generally regarded as friendly to labour.
A number of "farmer candidates" ran in Manitoba's provincial election of 1920
. They were not an organized group, and had no pretensions of forming government; nevertheless, twelve of these candidates were elected -- eight as supporters of the UFM, and four as independents. Had the UFM run a united campaign, it probably would have won the 1922 provincial election
.
The Independent-Farmers group was formed to represent the victorious candidates in the parliament which followed. This was never intended to be a permanent political organization, and dissolved when parliament broke up in 1922. The group's leader was William Robson, who did not seek re-election thereafter.
The United Farmers of Manitoba officially entered politics in 1921, and ran an organized campaign in the 1922 election
. Despite having a limited campaign budget and no leader, and only running candidates in two-thirds of the province's ridings, they won the election. The UFM subsequently asked Professor John Bracken
to head the party and become Premier
. Once in government, Bracken's followers identified themselves as the Progressive Party of Manitoba, maintaining an affiliation with the UFM.
Bracken was a political outsider, and gave the party the technocratic credentials that it desired. The UFM supported the fading away of older political parties, to be replaced by a more "management-centred" approach to government. In later years, the Progressive Party would advocate "non-partisan government" for the province, via a series of alliances with other parties.
In 1928, the Progressive Party of Manitoba decided to withdraw from politics and concentrate on being a service and lobbying organization. It later became the Manitoba Federation of Agriculture. Part of the reason for separating the Progressive Party from the UFM was the perception that the government had a narrow base representing only farmers, rather than all Manitobans.
Prior to the 1932 elections
, Bracken's Progressives formed an alliance with the Manitoba Liberal Party
. This occurred on the urging of federal Liberal leader William Lyon Mackenzie King
, who was concerned that the Conservatives
could form government in the province. The "Liberal-Progressives" were able to win a majority
, and maintained their alliance after the election. Eventually, they would become a single party.
The Liberal-Progressive government was reduced to a minority
in the 1936 elections
. When early plans to bring the Conservatives into government failed, Bracken required support from the province's five Social Credit
MLA
s to continue.
In government, the Progressives were fiscally cautious. With the onset of the Great Depression
, however, the government attempted to deal with unemployment by fostering a 'back to the land' movement, giving resettlement grants to move the unemployed from cities and town to the countryside.
In 1940, Bracken formed a wartime coalition government which included the Liberal-Progressives, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
, Social Credit, and Conservatives. In 1942, Bracken left provincial politics to take over the leadership of what became the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
.
Stuart S. Garson took over as leader of the party and Premier
, and was himself replaced by Douglas Lloyd Campbell
in 1948.
The Manitoba CCF left the coalition in 1943. The Conservatives had re-named their party the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
due to the change in name of the federal party, and despite not having any link with the Progressives. The Conservatives left the coalition in 1950 due to dissatisfaction with Campbell's leadership.
Although the leadership of the party remained dominated by Progressives, the government was commonly referred to as "Liberal" during the 1940s and 1950s. Dufferin Roblin
's Progressive Conservatives swept to victory of 1958. The Liberal-Progressives the party formally became known as the Manitoba Liberal Party
in 1961.
In March 1981, former Manitoba NDP cabinet minister Sidney Green started a new provincial organization, also called the Progressive Party. This was initially an "alternative left" group, though it later incorporated elements of the radical (but not extreme) right. It had no formal connection to the earlier Progressive Party, although it received support from Douglas Campbell
in 1988.
Agrarianism
Agrarianism has two common meanings. The first meaning refers to a social philosophy or political philosophy which values rural society as superior to urban society, the independent farmer as superior to the paid worker, and sees farming as a way of life that can shape the ideal social values...
movement that became politically active following 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...
. A successor to the province's Grain Grower's Association, the UFM represented the interests of farmers frustrated with traditional political parties.
Unlike the United Farmers, the Progressive Party of Manitoba never made any serious effort to cooperate with the labour politicians. The Winnipeg General Strike was unpopular among farmers, and the Progressive Party of Manitoba was not generally regarded as friendly to labour.
A number of "farmer candidates" ran in Manitoba's provincial election of 1920
Manitoba general election, 1920
Manitoba's general election of 29 June 1920 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.-Background:...
. They were not an organized group, and had no pretensions of forming government; nevertheless, twelve of these candidates were elected -- eight as supporters of the UFM, and four as independents. Had the UFM run a united campaign, it probably would have won 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...
.
The Independent-Farmers group was formed to represent the victorious candidates in the parliament which followed. This was never intended to be a permanent political organization, and dissolved when parliament broke up in 1922. The group's leader was William Robson, who did not seek re-election thereafter.
The United Farmers of Manitoba officially entered politics in 1921, and ran an organized campaign in the 1922 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...
. Despite having a limited campaign budget and no leader, and only running candidates in two-thirds of the province's ridings, they won the election. The UFM subsequently asked Professor John Bracken
John Bracken
John Bracken, PC was an agronomist, the 11th Premier of Manitoba and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ....
to head the party and become Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
. Once in government, Bracken's followers identified themselves as the Progressive Party of Manitoba, maintaining an affiliation with the UFM.
Bracken was a political outsider, and gave the party the technocratic credentials that it desired. The UFM supported the fading away of older political parties, to be replaced by a more "management-centred" approach to government. In later years, the Progressive Party would advocate "non-partisan government" for the province, via a series of alliances with other parties.
In 1928, the Progressive Party of Manitoba decided to withdraw from politics and concentrate on being a service and lobbying organization. It later became the Manitoba Federation of Agriculture. Part of the reason for separating the Progressive Party from the UFM was the perception that the government had a narrow base representing only farmers, rather than all Manitobans.
Prior to the 1932 elections
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...
, Bracken's Progressives formed an alliance with the Manitoba Liberal Party
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 :...
. This occurred on the urging of federal Liberal leader William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
, who was concerned that the Conservatives
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:...
could form government in the province. The "Liberal-Progressives" were able to win a majority
Majority government
A majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
, and maintained their alliance after the election. Eventually, they would become a single party.
The Liberal-Progressive government was reduced to a minority
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
in the 1936 elections
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...
. When early plans to bring the Conservatives into government failed, Bracken required support from the province's five Social Credit
Canadian social credit movement
The Canadian social credit movement was a Canadian political movement originally based on the Social Credit theory of Major C. H. Douglas. Its supporters were colloquially known as Socreds...
MLA
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
s to continue.
In government, the Progressives were fiscally cautious. With the onset of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, however, the government attempted to deal with unemployment by fostering a 'back to the land' movement, giving resettlement grants to move the unemployed from cities and town to the countryside.
In 1940, Bracken formed a wartime coalition government which included the Liberal-Progressives, 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...
, Social Credit, and Conservatives. In 1942, Bracken left provincial politics to take over the leadership of what became 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....
.
Stuart S. Garson took over as leader of the party and Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
, and was himself replaced by Douglas Lloyd 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...
in 1948.
The Manitoba CCF left the coalition in 1943. The Conservatives had re-named their party the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
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:...
due to the change in name of the federal party, and despite not having any link with the Progressives. The Conservatives left the coalition in 1950 due to dissatisfaction with Campbell's leadership.
Although the leadership of the party remained dominated by Progressives, the government was commonly referred to as "Liberal" during the 1940s and 1950s. Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin "Duff" Roblin, PC, CC, OM was a Canadian businessman and politician. Known as "Duff," he served as the 14th Premier of Manitoba from 1958 to 1967. Roblin was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In the government of Brian Mulroney, he served as...
's Progressive Conservatives swept to victory of 1958. The Liberal-Progressives the party formally became known as the Manitoba Liberal Party
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 :...
in 1961.
In March 1981, former Manitoba NDP cabinet minister Sidney Green started a new provincial organization, also called the Progressive Party. This was initially an "alternative left" group, though it later incorporated elements of the radical (but not extreme) right. It had no formal connection to the earlier Progressive Party, although it received support from 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...
in 1988.