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Russell Cunningham (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
Russell Cunningham was a Canadian social democratic politician from Cape Breton Island
in Nova Scotia
. He was the leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
in Nova Scotia from 1945 until 1953. He succeeded Donald MacDonald
as the party's leader, after MacDonald lost his seat in the 1945 general election.
He represented the electoral district
(riding) of Cape Breton East in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
from 1945 until 1956. Due to the Conservatives
not electing a single member to the Assembly, Cunningham became the leader of the Official Opposition
during the 44th General Assembly of Nova Scotia. Even though the CCF lost a seat, it was the first time they ever were the Official Opposition. Their successor party, the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
(NDP) would not duplicate that accomplishment again until 1998, over 50 years later.
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. He was the leader of 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...
in Nova Scotia from 1945 until 1953. He succeeded Donald MacDonald
Donald MacDonald (Nova Scotia politician)
Donald MacDonald, O.C., LL.D. was a Canadian social democratic politician and trade unionist who led the Nova Scotia Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and was elected as a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in 1941...
as the party's leader, after MacDonald lost his seat in the 1945 general election.
He represented the electoral district
Electoral district
An electoral district is a distinct territorial subdivision for holding a separate election for one or more seats in a legislative body...
(riding) of Cape Breton East in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
from 1945 until 1956. Due to the Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia
The Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, registered under the Nova Scotia Elections Act as the "Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia", is a moderate right-of-centre political party in Nova Scotia, Canada....
not electing a single member to the Assembly, Cunningham became the leader of the Official Opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
during the 44th General Assembly of Nova Scotia. Even though the CCF lost a seat, it was the first time they ever were the Official Opposition. Their successor party, the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
The Nova Scotia New Democratic Party is a social-democratic provincial party in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is aligned with the federal New Democratic Party . Originally founded as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in 1932, it became the New Democratic Party in 1961. It became the governing...
(NDP) would not duplicate that accomplishment again until 1998, over 50 years later.
See also
- Co-operative Commonwealth FederationCo-operative Commonwealth FederationThe 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...
- List of Nova Scotia CCF/NDP members