William Morrison (Alberta politician)
Encyclopedia
Rev. William Morrison was a farmer, church minister, soldier and politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
for a short time in 1935 sitting with the Social Credit caucus in government.
, Quebec
. His family moved west in 1906 and they settled at Okotoks
, Alberta
. He took his early schooling in Okotoks while helping his father run the farm. Morrison took his post secondary education at Robertson College he graduated in 1925. That year he was also ordained as a United Church
Minister.
Morrison served several years in the Canadian Armed Forces attaining the rank of Sergeant. He served with the Edmonton Highlanders and the 5th Canadian Railway Troop.
in the 1935 Alberta general election
. He defeated former cabinet minister George Hoadley and two other candidates with a landslide majority to pick up the seat for his party.
The first Social Credit caucus meeting saw Morrison sponsor a motion with John Hugill
to confirm William Aberhart as party leader and Premier of the province. He also decided to vacate his seat for the new Premier who did not have one. He did so along with Clarence Tade
who vacated his seat for Charles Ross the new Minister of Lands and Mines. Aberhart convinced Morrison to resign so that he could take the seat and provide cabinet representation to southern Alberta to quell complaints about the lack of ministers for the region.
After resigning Morrison regretted his decision telling the press that he made his decision with to much haste and he didn't have time to think about it. Backlash from Morrison's campaign supporters living in and around his home town in Blackie
, Alberta
spilled over to the federal election campaign
being waged in the Macleod
electoral district at the time. His supporters threatened to deliver half the votes that Morrison got in the provincial election away from Social Credit candidate Ernest Hansell
incumbent George Coote
to ensure his re-election. to However that support did not quite materialize and Coote was defeated.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, 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 as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
for a short time in 1935 sitting with the Social Credit caucus in government.
Early life
William Morrison born on April 24, 1891 in MeganticLac-Mégantic, Quebec
Lac-Mégantic is a town in Estrie on Lac Mégantic, a freshwater lake for which the town was named. Situated in the former Frontenac County in the historic Eastern Townships, Lac-Mégantic is the seat of Le Granit Regional County Municipality and of the judicial district of...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. His family moved west in 1906 and they settled at Okotoks
Okotoks, Alberta
Okotoks is a town situated on the Sheep River, south of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The town is a member of the Calgary Regional Partnership, a cooperative of communities within the Calgary Region. Okotoks has become a popular bedroom community for the City of Calgary...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. He took his early schooling in Okotoks while helping his father run the farm. Morrison took his post secondary education at Robertson College he graduated in 1925. That year he was also ordained as a United Church
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...
Minister.
Morrison served several years in the Canadian Armed Forces attaining the rank of Sergeant. He served with the Edmonton Highlanders and the 5th Canadian Railway Troop.
Political career
Morrison ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature as a Social Credit candidate in the electoral district of Okotoks-High RiverOkotoks-High River
Okotoks-High River was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1930 to 1971....
in the 1935 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1935
The Alberta general election of 1935 was the eighth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 22, 1935 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He defeated former cabinet minister George Hoadley and two other candidates with a landslide majority to pick up the seat for his party.
The first Social Credit caucus meeting saw Morrison sponsor a motion with John Hugill
John Hugill
John William Hugill was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as Attorney General of the province of Alberta from 1935 until 1937. Born in England, he came to Canada and studied law before setting up a practice in Calgary. He became a prominent resident of that city, and served two years...
to confirm William Aberhart as party leader and Premier of the province. He also decided to vacate his seat for the new Premier who did not have one. He did so along with Clarence Tade
Clarence Tade
Clarence H. Tade was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He briefly served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta twice. The first time briefly in 1935 and the second time from 1938 to 1940 sitting with the Social Credit caucus in government both times.-Political career:Tade...
who vacated his seat for Charles Ross the new Minister of Lands and Mines. Aberhart convinced Morrison to resign so that he could take the seat and provide cabinet representation to southern Alberta to quell complaints about the lack of ministers for the region.
After resigning Morrison regretted his decision telling the press that he made his decision with to much haste and he didn't have time to think about it. Backlash from Morrison's campaign supporters living in and around his home town in Blackie
Blackie, Alberta
Blackie is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within the Municipal District of Foothills No. 31. It is located approximately southeast of Calgary on Highway 799.- History :...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
spilled over to the federal election campaign
Canadian federal election, 1935
The Canadian federal election of 1935 was held on October 14, 1935 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 18th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal Party of William Lyon Mackenzie King won a majority government, defeating Prime Minister R.B. Bennett's Conservative Party.The central...
being waged in the Macleod
Macleod (electoral district)
Macleod is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1908 to 1968 and since 1988...
electoral district at the time. His supporters threatened to deliver half the votes that Morrison got in the provincial election away from Social Credit candidate Ernest Hansell
Ernest George Hansell
Rev. Ernest George Hansell was an ordained minister as well as a Canadian federal and provincial politician.-Federal politics:Hansell ran as a Social Credit candidate in the 1935 federal election...
incumbent George Coote
George Gibson Coote
George Gibson Coote was an accountant, bank manager, farmer, and Canadian federal politician.-Political career:...
to ensure his re-election. to However that support did not quite materialize and Coote was defeated.