British Columbia Social Constructive Party
Encyclopedia
The British Columbia Social Constructive Party (also known as the Social Constructives and the B.C. Reconstructive Party) was formed in 1936 by a breakaway from the British Columbia Co-operative Commonwealth Federation after Reverend Robert Connell
was expelled from the party over doctrinal differences. Connell had been leader of the CCF until his expulsion. Three other MLAs of the seven person CCF caucus
, Jack Price, R.B. Swailes and Ernest Bakewell, left the party and joined Connell to form the Social Constructives. The four member caucus, having one more MLA than the CCF, was large enough to allow Connell to remain Leader of the Opposition
in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly. Other defectors included Victor Midgely, former leader of the One Big Union
, and Bill Pritchard, editor and owner of the BC CCF's newspaper, The Commonwealth. The party worked closely with Rolf Wallgren Bruhn
an Independent MLA who had formerly been a Conservative. Bruhn helped write the new party's platform and conducted a speaking tour with Connell during the 1937 general election
but declined to join the party and stood for re-election as an Independent though with the Constructives' endorsement.
Connell was expelled for publicly rejecting the party platform adopted by the BC CCF at its 1936 convention as too radical for calling for the socialization
of banking and credit.
The new party ran on a moderate left of centre program standing between the governing Liberal Party of British Columbia and the CCF. The new party lacked the organizational strength of either the CCF or the Liberals and was unable to field candidates in even one-third of the province's electoral districts. The party also refused to hold nominating conventions for candidates in order to prevent groups from taking over the party. Instead, individuals were invited to stand as candidates and then appointed. In the context of the Great Depression
, the party's platform of moderate reformism
proved unable to distinguish itself from a Liberal Party that was leaning left and using the slogan of "socialized capitalism".
The "Social Constructives" stood 14 candidates (out of a possible 48) in the 1937 general election
but failed to win any seats. The party received 8,086 votes to the CCF's 119,400. Disappointed with the results, Connell came to the conclusion that change was not possible through a third party
but only through working within mainstream parties.
Robert Connell
Robert Connell was a clergyman and politician in British Columbia. He was the first leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in British Columbia ....
was expelled from the party over doctrinal differences. Connell had been leader of the CCF until his expulsion. Three other MLAs of the seven person CCF caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
, Jack Price, R.B. Swailes and Ernest Bakewell, left the party and joined Connell to form the Social Constructives. The four member caucus, having one more MLA than the CCF, was large enough to allow Connell to remain Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (British Columbia)
The Leader of the Opposition in British Columbia is the MLA in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia who leads the political party recognized as the Official Opposition. This status generally goes to the leader of the second largest party in the Legislative Assembly....
in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly. Other defectors included Victor Midgely, former leader of the One Big Union
One Big Union (Canada)
The One Big Union was a Canadian syndicalist trade union active primarily in the Western part of the country. It was formally founded in Calgary on June 4, 1919 but lost most members by 1922. It finally merged into the Canadian Labour Congress in 1956.-Background:Towards the end of World War I, a...
, and Bill Pritchard, editor and owner of the BC CCF's newspaper, The Commonwealth. The party worked closely with Rolf Wallgren Bruhn
Rolf Wallgren Bruhn
Rolf Wallgren Bruhn was a Swedish-born farmer, lumberman and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Salmon Arm in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1924 to 1942 as a Conservative....
an Independent MLA who had formerly been a Conservative. Bruhn helped write the new party's platform and conducted a speaking tour with Connell during the 1937 general election
British Columbia general election, 1937
The British Columbia general election of 1937 was the nineteenth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 14, 1937, and held on June 1, 1937...
but declined to join the party and stood for re-election as an Independent though with the Constructives' endorsement.
Connell was expelled for publicly rejecting the party platform adopted by the BC CCF at its 1936 convention as too radical for calling for the socialization
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
of banking and credit.
The new party ran on a moderate left of centre program standing between the governing Liberal Party of British Columbia and the CCF. The new party lacked the organizational strength of either the CCF or the Liberals and was unable to field candidates in even one-third of the province's electoral districts. The party also refused to hold nominating conventions for candidates in order to prevent groups from taking over the party. Instead, individuals were invited to stand as candidates and then appointed. In the context 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...
, the party's platform of moderate reformism
Reformism
Reformism is the belief that gradual democratic changes in a society can ultimately change a society's fundamental economic relations and political structures...
proved unable to distinguish itself from a Liberal Party that was leaning left and using the slogan of "socialized capitalism".
The "Social Constructives" stood 14 candidates (out of a possible 48) in the 1937 general election
British Columbia general election, 1937
The British Columbia general election of 1937 was the nineteenth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 14, 1937, and held on June 1, 1937...
but failed to win any seats. The party received 8,086 votes to the CCF's 119,400. Disappointed with the results, Connell came to the conclusion that change was not possible through a third party
Third party (politics)
In a two-party system of politics, the term third party is sometimes applied to a party other than the two dominant ones. While technically the term is limited to the third largest party or third oldest party, it is common, though innumerate, shorthand for any smaller party.For instance, in the...
but only through working within mainstream parties.