Thomas Speakman Barnett
Encyclopedia
Thomas Speakman "Tom" Barnett (September 3, 1909 – July 5, 2003) was a politician born in Red Deer, Alberta
, Canada
. He attended schools in Alberta and British Columbia
, and earned a degree at the University of British Columbia
. He married Ruth Evelyn Pidcock on July 1, 1942. He worked in saw mills, as editor of the Wells Chronicle (Wells, BC
), and was active in trade union affairs.
Barnett was a member of the United Church of Canada
. He did missionary work as a student. Barnett was manager of the Alberni and District Co-op, the first employee of the Alberni and District Credit Union and a long-serving executive member of the Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada (IWA), Local 1-85.
In the 1930s he served as a school trustee in Wells, BC. He also served as an alderman
in the former Alberni, British Columbia, (now part of Port Alberni
) from 1959 until 1962. After retiring from Federal politics he served as Mayor of the District of Campbell River
from 1976 to 1980.
In his first foray into Federal politics he was defeated as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
(CCF) candidate for the Canadian House of Commons
in the riding of Comox—Alberni
in the 1945 federal election
. He was elected from that riding in the 1953 election
. He then won re-election in the 1957 election
, was defeated in the 1958 election
.
The CCF was almost wiped out in 1958 and soon reformed itself as the New Democratic Party
(NDP). Barnett won re-election again in the 1962 election
, becoming an NDP Member of Parliament
, and was re-elected until his defeat in the 1968 election
when he was defeated by Liberal Party
candidate Richard Durante
. The results were voided, however, and Barnett defeated Durante in a 1969 by-election
. Barnett won his final House of Commons election in the 1972 election
, and retired two years later.
Red Deer, Alberta
Red Deer is a city in Central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor and is surrounded by Red Deer County. It is Alberta's third-most-populous city – after Calgary and Edmonton. The city is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills...
, 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 attended schools in Alberta and British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, and earned a degree at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. He married Ruth Evelyn Pidcock on July 1, 1942. He worked in saw mills, as editor of the Wells Chronicle (Wells, BC
Wells, British Columbia
Wells is a small mining and tourist town in the Cariboo District of central British Columbia, located on BC Highway 26, 74 km from Quesnel and 8 km before the highway's terminus at Barkerville...
), and was active in trade union affairs.
Barnett was a member of the United Church of Canada
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
. He did missionary work as a student. Barnett was manager of the Alberni and District Co-op, the first employee of the Alberni and District Credit Union and a long-serving executive member of the Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada (IWA), Local 1-85.
In the 1930s he served as a school trustee in Wells, BC. He also served as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in the former Alberni, British Columbia, (now part of Port Alberni
Port Alberni, British Columbia
Port Alberni is a city located in the province of British Columbia in Canada. It is the location of the head offices of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. The city has a total population of 17,743, and the census agglomeration area a total of 25,396....
) from 1959 until 1962. After retiring from Federal politics he served as Mayor of the District of Campbell River
Campbell River, British Columbia
Campbell River is a coastal city in British Columbia on the east coast of Vancouver Island at the south end of Discovery Passage, which lies along the important coastal Inside Passage shipping route...
from 1976 to 1980.
In his first foray into Federal politics he was defeated as 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...
(CCF) candidate for the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the riding of Comox—Alberni
Comox—Alberni
Comox—Alberni was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1979.This riding was created in 1914 from parts of Comox—Atlin riding....
in the 1945 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1945
The Canadian federal election of 1945 was the 20th general election in Canadian history. It was held June 11, 1945 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 20th Parliament of Canada...
. He was elected from that riding in the 1953 election
Canadian federal election, 1953
The Canadian federal election of 1953 was held on August 10 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 22nd Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Louis St...
. He then won re-election in the 1957 election
Canadian federal election, 1957
The Canadian federal election of 1957 was held June 10, 1957, to select the 265 members of the House of Commons of Canada. In one of the great upsets in Canadian political history, the Progressive Conservative Party , led by John Diefenbaker, brought an end to 22 years of Liberal rule, as the...
, was defeated in the 1958 election
Canadian federal election, 1958
The Canadian federal election of 1958 was the 24th general election in Canada's history. It was held to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 24th Parliament of Canada on March 31, 1958, just nine months after the 23rd election...
.
The CCF was almost wiped out in 1958 and soon reformed itself as the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
(NDP). Barnett won re-election again in the 1962 election
Canadian federal election, 1962
The Canadian federal election of 1962 was held on June 18, 1962 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 25th Parliament of Canada...
, becoming an NDP 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,...
, and was re-elected until his defeat in the 1968 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...
when he was defeated by 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...
candidate Richard Durante
Richard Durante
Richard John Joseph Durante was a Liberal Party member of the Canadian House of Commons. He was a supervising principal by career....
. The results were voided, however, and Barnett defeated Durante in a 1969 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
. Barnett won his final House of Commons election in the 1972 election
Canadian federal election, 1972
The Canadian federal election of 1972 was held on October 30, 1972 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 29th Parliament of Canada. It resulted in a slim victory for the governing Liberal Party, which won 109 seats, compared to 107 seats for the opposition Progressive...
, and retired two years later.