Ronald Turner
Encyclopedia
Ronald David Turner was a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1946 to 1956, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Douglas Campbell
.
Turner was educated at the University of Manitoba
and the Manitoba Law School. He practiced as a barrister-at-law, and became a Queen's Counsel
in 1955.
During World War II
, Turner served in the Royal Canadian Air Force
from 1939 to 1945. In 1946, he was elected to the Manitoba legislature as a special representative of Manitobans serving overseas in the RCAF. Although elected as an independent, he soon joined the caucus of the governing Liberal-Progressive Party
.
He was re-elected in the 1949 provincial election
, winning the third position in the four-member constituency of Winnipeg South. On December 1, 1951, he was appointed to cabinet in the senior position of Provincial Treasurer.
Turner was again re-elected in the 1953 provincial election
, topping the poll in Winnipeg South. He was by this time the leading cabinet representative from Winnipeg, and received the additional portfolio of Railway Commissioner on January 18, 1954.
Turner was known as a skilled politician, and was described by CCF leader Lloyd Stinson
as "undoubtedly the brightest front bench performer in the latter days of the Campbell regime". He was known as both a civil liberal and a fiscal conservative. Just prior to the 1953 provincial election, he summarizing his political philosophy with the following statement: "The government is of the belief that the cost of government should be held to the minimum commensurate with the provision of a satisfactory level of essential services." (Winnipeg Free Press
, 28 April 1953).
While a conservative and cautious administrator in most respects, Turner played a leading role in establishing the Manitoba Hydro-electric Board
in 1953, at a cost of $54,600,000. The Hydro-Electric Board later became one of the most powerful public agencies in Canada.
Many believed Turner would eventually replace Campbell as leader of the Liberal-Progressive Party, but this did not occur. He resigned from cabinet on July 6, 1956 to become president of Transair
, an airline based in Winnipeg. He remained in the legislature as a backbencher, but did not seek re-election in 1958. As a backbencher, he opposed the CCF's plan for comprehensive social security.
Turner's friends expected that he would eventually return to politics, either as provincial Liberal leader or as a Member of Parliament
for the federal Liberal Party
. His early death in 1965 came as a surprise to those who knew him.
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 1946 to 1956, and was a cabinet minister in the government 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...
.
Turner was educated at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
and the Manitoba Law School. He practiced as a barrister-at-law, and became a Queen's Counsel
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...
in 1955.
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...
, Turner served in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
from 1939 to 1945. In 1946, he was elected to the Manitoba legislature as a special representative of Manitobans serving overseas in the RCAF. Although elected as an independent, he soon joined the caucus of the governing Liberal-Progressive 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 :...
.
He was re-elected in the 1949 provincial election
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...
, winning the third position in the four-member constituency of Winnipeg South. On December 1, 1951, he was appointed to cabinet in the senior position of Provincial Treasurer.
Turner was again re-elected in the 1953 provincial election
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...
, topping the poll in Winnipeg South. He was by this time the leading cabinet representative from Winnipeg, and received the additional portfolio of Railway Commissioner on January 18, 1954.
Turner was known as a skilled politician, and was described by CCF leader 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,...
as "undoubtedly the brightest front bench performer in the latter days of the Campbell regime". He was known as both a civil liberal and a fiscal conservative. Just prior to the 1953 provincial election, he summarizing his political philosophy with the following statement: "The government is of the belief that the cost of government should be held to the minimum commensurate with the provision of a satisfactory level of essential services." (Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
, 28 April 1953).
While a conservative and cautious administrator in most respects, Turner played a leading role in establishing the Manitoba Hydro-electric Board
Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro is the electric power and natural gas utility in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1961, it is a provincial Crown Corporation, governed by the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board and the Manitoba Hydro Act. Today the company operates 15 interconnected generating stations. It has...
in 1953, at a cost of $54,600,000. The Hydro-Electric Board later became one of the most powerful public agencies in Canada.
Many believed Turner would eventually replace Campbell as leader of the Liberal-Progressive Party, but this did not occur. He resigned from cabinet on July 6, 1956 to become president of Transair
Transair
Transair was an airline based in Canada. It was purchased by Pacific Western Airlines in 1979.- History :Transair had its origins as Central Northern Airways in April 1947 and based in Manitoba, Canada. In 1956 the name was changed to Transair...
, an airline based in Winnipeg. He remained in the legislature as a backbencher, but did not seek re-election in 1958. As a backbencher, he opposed the CCF's plan for comprehensive social security.
Turner's friends expected that he would eventually return to politics, either as provincial Liberal leader or as a 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,...
for the federal Liberal Party
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...
. His early death in 1965 came as a surprise to those who knew him.