British Columbia Social Credit Party
Encyclopedia
The British Columbia Social Credit Party, whose members are known as Socreds, was the governing political party
of British Columbia
, Canada
, for more than 30 years between the 1952 provincial election
and the 1991 election
. For four decades, the party dominated the British Columbian political scene, with the only break occurring between the 1972
and 1975 elections
when the New Democratic Party of British Columbia
was in power.
Although founded to promote social credit
policies of monetary reform
, the Social Credit Party became a political vehicle for fiscal conservatives and later social conservatives in BC, who discarded the social credit ideology.
After its defeat in 1991 the party essentially collapsed.
, but did not do so in the 1941 election
.
In the 1945 election
, these factions formed an alliance to field 16 candidates, who won a total of 6,627 votes (1.42% of the provincial total.)
This alliance broke down before the 1949 election
, and three separate groups nominated candidates:
Collectively, they nominated 28 candidates, who won a total of 14,326 votes, 2.05% of the popular vote in that election.
under the interim leadership of the Reverend Ernest George Hansell
, Member of the federal Parliament for the Alberta riding of Macleod since 1935. Hansell was hand-picked by Alberta premier Ernest Manning
as the Alberta Socreds still dominated its BC sister. Following the election, BC party president Lyle Wicks
called a leadership convention at which only elected MLAs could vote. The 19 newly elected Social Credit Members of the Legislative Assembly
(MLAs) chose former BC Conservative
MLA W. A. C. Bennett to lead the new government over Philip Gaglardi
. Social Credit had effectively become a vehicle for Conservatives and Liberals:
"When W. A .C. Bennett left the Tory party to join Social Credit, he did so with the tacit support of most of the federal Conservative MPs. They were justifiably angered that the provincial Conservatives had been advised not to take part in the 1945 and 1949 federal election campaigns in order to avoid embarrassing their provincial Coalition colleagues in the Liberal Party."
Although the party was ostensibly the British Columbia wing of the Canadian social credit movement
, Bennett added a mixture of populism
and conservatism
in the party. It became a political vehicle to unite opponents of the socialist Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, and to keep the CCF and its social democratic successor, the New Democratic Party (NDP), out of power. Bennett's Socreds took power in 1952, forming a minority government
and, after changing the electoral system, swept to a majority the next year, staying in power until 1972. Bennett's party encouraged development of the economy through megaproject
s and highway construction.
The BC Social Credit Party drifted away from both Social Credit and from the federal Social Credit Party:
"Since Social Credit enjoyed the active support of many federal Conservatives and federal Liberals, internal relations were often confused and strained.... The Social Credit Party in British Columbia had very loose links with its national counterpart, and although W. A. C. Bennett made one or two forays out of the province on behalf of national Social Credit, the relationship was always tenuous. In 1971, to facilitate the adherence of staunch federal Tories or Liberals, the BC party formally severed connection with the national Social Credit Party."
Despite being a free enterprise
party, the Bennett government formed BC Hydro in 1961 by nationalizing
the province's largest private hydroelectric concern to make sure that it could not oppose the government's hydroelectric dam construction program. It also formed the BC Ferries
in 1958, and established the Bank of British Columbia
, which was 25% owned by the provincial government.
by the NDP, W.A.C. Bennett's son, William R. Bennett, took over the leadership of the party, and modernized it, putting populism behind and becoming an uneasy coalition of federal Liberals
, Christian conservatives from the province's Bible Belt, and fiscal conservatives from the corporate sector with the latter firmly in control. On its return to power in the 1975 election
, the party, for the most part, eschewed the megaprojects of the elder Bennett (with the exception of Expo 86
and the Coquihalla Highway), and embraced a fiscally conservative program.
As a result, the party built up a small political engine that managed to win the 1983 election
, in spite of Bennett's controversial "Restraint" program. This was nicknamed the "Baby Blue Machine", and consisted of political advisors primarily imported from the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party. It never became a major political apparatus like the Big Blue Machine
in Ontario did, as Bennett decided to retire in 1986.
All Socred governments attempted to curb the power of trade unions and also limited social welfare spending.
. This process was exacerbated by Vander Zalm's eccentricity, and the constant scandals that plagued his government. As well, Vander Zalm allowed his principal secretary, David Poole, to amass a substantial amount of power, despite being unelected. Grace McCarthy
, who served long under Bennett, resigned from Vander Zalm's cabinet in protest.
scandal, and was succeeded as party leader and premier by longtime associate Rita Johnston
, who became the first female head of government at any level in Canada. Johnston then defeated McCarthy in the subsequent leadership election and continued as premier. Many viewed this as a mistake as Johnston was close to the Vander Zalm legacy. Even NDP opposition leader Mike Harcourt
admitted later that he preferred Johnston over McCarthy, as the latter would likely have been a much tougher opponent in an election.
Johnston was unable to make up any ground, and Social Credit was roundly defeated in the 1991 election
by the NDP. Johnston lost her own seat. Furthermore, many moderate Socred supporters switched their support to the British Columbia Liberal Party
, relegating the Socreds to third place, with only seven seats.
More party infighting occurred as McCarthy was elected to replace Johnston.
1994 was a key year in the decline of Social Credit. In February, newly-elected leader Grace McCarthy lost a by-election for a BC Legislature seat in the once safe riding of Matsqui (Liberal Mike de Jong
won the seat by fewer than 100 votes). After that defeat, four of the six remaining Social Credit MLAs elected in 1991 left the party to join the British Columbia Reform Party, leaving Social Credit without official party status in the BC Legislature. McCarthy resigned as leader shortly thereafter.
After that, Abbotsford MLA Harry de Jong resigned (and briefly contemplating taking up the leadership of the Family Coalition Party
). In the resulting by-election the BC Liberals beat the BC Reform by a slightly less narrow margin.
By 1995, the Social Credit Party was therefore left with just one remaining Member, Cliff Serwa from Okanagan-West. Vancouver Sun legislative columnist Vaughn Palmer commented at the time on the irony of Kelowna, centre of the Social Credit dynasty from 1952 to 1986, being entirely represented by two fringe party MLAs: Serwa and Progressive Democratic Alliance
MLA Judi Tyabji
.
In the 1996 provincial election
, Social Credit lost all of its remaining seats in the legislature, and received only 0.4% of the vote, under the leadership of Larry Gillanders. Gillanders was included in the debate of leaders of major parties. At this point, the party was largely considered a dead force in BC politics with most of its remaining members joining the socially conservative BC Reform Party
or the centrist Liberal Party.
In 2001, at the behest of former leader Vander Zalm, the Social Credit Party merged with other provincial right-wing parties to form the Unity Party
, but soon left due to dissatisfaction with the way the party was run. In the 2001 provincial election
, the Socreds ran only two candidates. Grant Mitton
achieved a respectable showing in Peace River South
, placing second with 1,726 votes (17.4%). He subsequently left to become leader of the British Columbia Party
. The other candidate, Carrol Barbara Woolsey, in Vancouver-Hastings
, placed 5th of 6 candidates with 222 votes (1.15% of the total).
In the 2005 election
, the remains of the party nominated two candidates: Woolsey, who won 254 votes (1.28% of the total in Vancouver-Hastings, and Anthony Yao, who won 225 votes (0.95% of the total) in Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain
.
The party continues to exist, but is essentially a fringe party. , the Social Credit Party does not have an official leader, though party president Carrol Barbara Woolsey acts as its de facto leader.
The party did not field any candidates in the 2009 general election
.
Eric Buckley left Social Credit in October 2000 to join the British Columbia Party
. The position of party leader has been vacant since that time.
In the 1941 election
, no candidates ran under the social credit banner.
In the 1945 election, an alliance of social credit groups nominated candidates. None were elected.
In the 1949 election, three different social credit groups nominated candidates. None were successful.
In subsequent elections, only the Social Credit Party of British Columbia emerged as the only social credit party, although it quickly abandoned social credit theories.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
of 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...
, 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...
, for more than 30 years between the 1952 provincial election
British Columbia general election, 1952
The British Columbia general election, 1952 was the 23rd 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 10, 1952, and held on June 12, 1952. The new legislature met for the...
and the 1991 election
British Columbia general election, 1991
The British Columbia general election of 1991 was the 35th provincial 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 September 19, 1991, and held on October 17, 1991...
. For four decades, the party dominated the British Columbian political scene, with the only break occurring between the 1972
British Columbia general election, 1972
The 30th general election for the Canadian province of British Columbia was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on July 24, 1972, and held on August 30, 1972...
and 1975 elections
British Columbia general election, 1975
The British Columbia general election of 1975 was the 31st 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 November 3, 1975, and held on December 11, 1975...
when the New Democratic Party of British Columbia
New Democratic Party of British Columbia
The New Democratic Party of British Columbia is a social-democratic political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party currently forms the official opposition to the governing British Columbia Liberal Party following the 2009 provincial election in British Columbia.The BC NDP is the provincial...
was in power.
Although founded to promote social credit
Social Credit
Social Credit is an economic philosophy developed by C. H. Douglas , a British engineer, who wrote a book by that name in 1924. Social Credit is described by Douglas as "the policy of a philosophy"; he called his philosophy "practical Christianity"...
policies of monetary reform
Monetary reform
Monetary reform describes any movement or theory that proposes a different system of supplying money and financing the economy from the current system.Monetary reformers may advocate any of the following, among other proposals:...
, the Social Credit Party became a political vehicle for fiscal conservatives and later social conservatives in BC, who discarded the social credit ideology.
After its defeat in 1991 the party essentially collapsed.
Pre-1952
Prior to 1952, the social credit movement in British Columbia was divided between various factions. The Social Credit League of British Columbia nominated candidates for the first time in the 1937 electionBritish 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 did not do so in the 1941 election
British Columbia general election, 1941
The British Columbia general election, 1941 was the twentieth 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 September 9, 1941, and held on October 21, 1941.After the election, a...
.
In the 1945 election
British Columbia general election, 1945
The British Columbia general election of 1945 was the twenty-first 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 August 31, 1945, and held on October 25, 1945...
, these factions formed an alliance to field 16 candidates, who won a total of 6,627 votes (1.42% of the provincial total.)
This alliance broke down before the 1949 election
British Columbia general election, 1949
The British Columbia general election of 1949 was the 22nd 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 16, 1949, and held on June 15, 1949...
, and three separate groups nominated candidates:
- the Social Credit Party,
- the British Columbia Social Credit League, and
- the Union of Electors.
Collectively, they nominated 28 candidates, who won a total of 14,326 votes, 2.05% of the popular vote in that election.
W.A.C. Bennett era
The British Columbia Social Credit League won the largest number of seats in the 1952 provincial electionBritish Columbia general election, 1952
The British Columbia general election, 1952 was the 23rd 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 10, 1952, and held on June 12, 1952. The new legislature met for the...
under the interim leadership of the Reverend Ernest George 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...
, Member of the federal Parliament for the Alberta riding of Macleod since 1935. Hansell was hand-picked by Alberta premier Ernest Manning
Ernest Manning
Ernest Charles Manning, , a Canadian politician, was the eighth Premier of Alberta between 1943 and 1968 for the Social Credit Party of Alberta. He served longer than any premier in the province's history, and was the second longest serving provincial premier in Canadian history...
as the Alberta Socreds still dominated its BC sister. Following the election, BC party president Lyle Wicks
Lyle Wicks
Lyle Wicks was a British Columbia politician.Born in Calgary, Wicks graduated from McLean High School in Haney, British Columbia, Canada in 1930...
called a leadership convention at which only elected MLAs could vote. The 19 newly elected Social Credit Members of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
(MLAs) chose former BC Conservative
British Columbia Conservative Party
The British Columbia Conservative Party is a political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected as the government in 1903, the party went into decline after 1933...
MLA W. A. C. Bennett to lead the new government over Philip Gaglardi
Philip Gaglardi
Philip Arthur Gaglardi , sometimes known as Flying Phil or even Sorry Phil, was a politician in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
. Social Credit had effectively become a vehicle for Conservatives and Liberals:
"When W. A .C. Bennett left the Tory party to join Social Credit, he did so with the tacit support of most of the federal Conservative MPs. They were justifiably angered that the provincial Conservatives had been advised not to take part in the 1945 and 1949 federal election campaigns in order to avoid embarrassing their provincial Coalition colleagues in the Liberal Party."
Although the party was ostensibly the British Columbia wing of the Canadian social credit movement
Canadian social credit movement
The Canadian social credit movement was a Canadian political movement originally based on the Social Credit theory of Major C. H. Douglas. Its supporters were colloquially known as Socreds...
, Bennett added a mixture of populism
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
and conservatism
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
in the party. It became a political vehicle to unite opponents of the socialist Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, and to keep the CCF and its social democratic successor, the New Democratic Party (NDP), out of power. Bennett's Socreds took power in 1952, forming a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
and, after changing the electoral system, swept to a majority the next year, staying in power until 1972. Bennett's party encouraged development of the economy through megaproject
Megaproject
A megaproject is an extremely large-scale investment project. Megaprojects are typically defined as costing more than US$1 billion and attracting a lot of public attention because of substantial impacts on communities, environment, and budgets. Megaprojects can also be defined as "initiatives that...
s and highway construction.
The BC Social Credit Party drifted away from both Social Credit and from the federal Social Credit Party:
"Since Social Credit enjoyed the active support of many federal Conservatives and federal Liberals, internal relations were often confused and strained.... The Social Credit Party in British Columbia had very loose links with its national counterpart, and although W. A. C. Bennett made one or two forays out of the province on behalf of national Social Credit, the relationship was always tenuous. In 1971, to facilitate the adherence of staunch federal Tories or Liberals, the BC party formally severed connection with the national Social Credit Party."
Despite being a free enterprise
Free enterprise
-Transport:* Free Enterprise I, a ferry in service with European Ferries between 1962 and 1980.* Free Enterprise II, a ferry in service with European Ferries between 1965 and 1982....
party, the Bennett government formed BC Hydro in 1961 by nationalizing
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
the province's largest private hydroelectric concern to make sure that it could not oppose the government's hydroelectric dam construction program. It also formed the BC Ferries
BC Ferries
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. or BC Ferries is a de facto Crown Corporation that provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry services for coastal and island communities in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
in 1958, and established the Bank of British Columbia
Bank of British Columbia
There have been two Canadian banks with the name Bank of British Columbia.-The first bank:The first was established by Royal Charter in 1862, with its head office in London. Between 1862 and 1871 it issued dollar banknotes. By 1885 it had branches in San Francisco, Portland, Oregon , Victoria,...
, which was 25% owned by the provincial government.
Bill Bennett era
Following the party's defeat in the 1972 electionBritish Columbia general election, 1972
The 30th general election for the Canadian province of British Columbia was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on July 24, 1972, and held on August 30, 1972...
by the NDP, W.A.C. Bennett's son, William R. Bennett, took over the leadership of the party, and modernized it, putting populism behind and becoming an uneasy coalition of federal Liberals
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...
, Christian conservatives from the province's Bible Belt, and fiscal conservatives from the corporate sector with the latter firmly in control. On its return to power in the 1975 election
British Columbia general election, 1975
The British Columbia general election of 1975 was the 31st 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 November 3, 1975, and held on December 11, 1975...
, the party, for the most part, eschewed the megaprojects of the elder Bennett (with the exception of Expo 86
Expo 86
The 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, or simply Expo '86, was a World's Fair held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from Friday, May 2 until Monday, October 13, 1986...
and the Coquihalla Highway), and embraced a fiscally conservative program.
As a result, the party built up a small political engine that managed to win the 1983 election
British Columbia general election, 1983
The British Columbia general election of 1983 was the 33rd provincial election for 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 7, 1983. The election was held on May 5, 1983...
, in spite of Bennett's controversial "Restraint" program. This was nicknamed the "Baby Blue Machine", and consisted of political advisors primarily imported from the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party. It never became a major political apparatus like the Big Blue Machine
Big Blue Machine
The Big Blue Machine was a nickname for the group of strategists and advisors to the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party in Ontario, Canada, in the 1970s and 1980s. The moniker was coined by journalist Claire Hoy of the Toronto Star in April 1971...
in Ontario did, as Bennett decided to retire in 1986.
All Socred governments attempted to curb the power of trade unions and also limited social welfare spending.
Bill Vander Zalm era
Under Bennett's successor, Bill Vander Zalm, control of the party shifted from urban fiscal conservatives to social conservatives, causing the coalition to unravel and this would drive moderate Socreds to the LiberalsBritish Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
. This process was exacerbated by Vander Zalm's eccentricity, and the constant scandals that plagued his government. As well, Vander Zalm allowed his principal secretary, David Poole, to amass a substantial amount of power, despite being unelected. Grace McCarthy
Grace McCarthy
Grace Mary McCarthy, OC, OBC is a former Canadian politician and florist in British Columbia. Nicknamed Amazing Grace by members of her longtime political party, the Social Credit Party of B.C, she was largely responsible for rebuilding the party after its defeat in the 1972 provincial...
, who served long under Bennett, resigned from Vander Zalm's cabinet in protest.
Decline
Vander Zalm was forced to resign in a conflict of interestConflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
scandal, and was succeeded as party leader and premier by longtime associate Rita Johnston
Rita Johnston
Rita Margaret Johnston was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. Johnston became the first female premier in Canadian history when she succeeded William Vander Zalm in 1991 to become the 29th Premier of British Columbia.Much of her early life was spent running a successful trailer park in the...
, who became the first female head of government at any level in Canada. Johnston then defeated McCarthy in the subsequent leadership election and continued as premier. Many viewed this as a mistake as Johnston was close to the Vander Zalm legacy. Even NDP opposition leader Mike Harcourt
Mike Harcourt
Michael Franklin Harcourt served as the 30th Premier of the province of British Columbia in Canada from 1991 to 1996, and before that as the 34th mayor of BC's major city, Vancouver from 1980 to 1986....
admitted later that he preferred Johnston over McCarthy, as the latter would likely have been a much tougher opponent in an election.
Johnston was unable to make up any ground, and Social Credit was roundly defeated in the 1991 election
British Columbia general election, 1991
The British Columbia general election of 1991 was the 35th provincial 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 September 19, 1991, and held on October 17, 1991...
by the NDP. Johnston lost her own seat. Furthermore, many moderate Socred supporters switched their support to the British Columbia Liberal Party
British Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
, relegating the Socreds to third place, with only seven seats.
More party infighting occurred as McCarthy was elected to replace Johnston.
1994 was a key year in the decline of Social Credit. In February, newly-elected leader Grace McCarthy lost a by-election for a BC Legislature seat in the once safe riding of Matsqui (Liberal Mike de Jong
Mike de Jong
Mike de Jong, Q.C. is a politician from British Columbia, Canada.-Politics and career:He was appointed Minister of Health Mike de Jong on March 14, 2011. He has previously held the post of Attorney General and Government House Leader, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Minister of...
won the seat by fewer than 100 votes). After that defeat, four of the six remaining Social Credit MLAs elected in 1991 left the party to join the British Columbia Reform Party, leaving Social Credit without official party status in the BC Legislature. McCarthy resigned as leader shortly thereafter.
After that, Abbotsford MLA Harry de Jong resigned (and briefly contemplating taking up the leadership of the Family Coalition Party
Family Coalition Party of British Columbia
The Family Coalition Party of British Columbia was a conservative, pro-life political party in British Columbia, Canada.In the 1991 election, it nominated 8 candidates in the province's 75 ridings. They won a total of 1,310 votes, or 0.09% of the provincial total. In the 1996 election, it nominated...
). In the resulting by-election the BC Liberals beat the BC Reform by a slightly less narrow margin.
By 1995, the Social Credit Party was therefore left with just one remaining Member, Cliff Serwa from Okanagan-West. Vancouver Sun legislative columnist Vaughn Palmer commented at the time on the irony of Kelowna, centre of the Social Credit dynasty from 1952 to 1986, being entirely represented by two fringe party MLAs: Serwa and Progressive Democratic Alliance
Progressive Democratic Alliance
The Progressive Democratic Alliance was a centrist political party in British Columbia, Canada founded by Gordon Wilson, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Powell River—Sunshine Coast....
MLA Judi Tyabji
Judi Tyabji
Judeline Kim Mary "Judi" Tyabji is a former British Columbia politician and the wife of former provincial Leader of the Opposition Gordon Wilson...
.
In the 1996 provincial election
British Columbia general election, 1996
The British Columbia general election of 1996 was the thirty sixth provincial 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 30, 1996, and held on May 28, 1996...
, Social Credit lost all of its remaining seats in the legislature, and received only 0.4% of the vote, under the leadership of Larry Gillanders. Gillanders was included in the debate of leaders of major parties. At this point, the party was largely considered a dead force in BC politics with most of its remaining members joining the socially conservative BC Reform Party
Reform Party of British Columbia
The Reform Party of British Columbia is a populist right wing political party in British Columbia, Canada. Although its name is similar to the defunct Reform Party of Canada, the provincial party was founded before the federal party was and it did not have any formal association with...
or the centrist Liberal Party.
In 2001, at the behest of former leader Vander Zalm, the Social Credit Party merged with other provincial right-wing parties to form the Unity Party
British Columbia Unity Party
The British Columbia Unity Party was a political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party was founded as an attempted union of five conservative parties: the Reform Party of British Columbia, the British Columbia Social Credit Party, the British Columbia Conservative Party, the British Columbia...
, but soon left due to dissatisfaction with the way the party was run. In the 2001 provincial election
British Columbia general election, 2001
The British Columbia general election of 2001 was the 37th provincial 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 18, 2001, and held on May 16, 2001...
, the Socreds ran only two candidates. Grant Mitton
Grant Mitton (politician)
Grant Mitton is a former radio talk show host on CJDC Radio's open line program and political leader in British Columbia, Canada...
achieved a respectable showing in Peace River South
Peace River South
Peace River South is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. It was created under the name South Peace River by the Constitution Amendment Act, 1955, which split the old riding of Peace River into northern and southern portions for the 1956 B.C....
, placing second with 1,726 votes (17.4%). He subsequently left to become leader of the British Columbia Party
British Columbia Party
The British Columbia Party is a right-wing political party in the Canadian province of British Columbia, founded in 1998 as a populist party by John Motiuk, a North Vancouver lawyer.The party did not nominate candidates in the 2001 provincial election...
. The other candidate, Carrol Barbara Woolsey, in Vancouver-Hastings
Vancouver-Hastings
Vancouver-Hastings is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada.- Demographics :- Member of Legislative Assembly :Its MLA is Shane Simpson. He was first elected in 2005...
, placed 5th of 6 candidates with 222 votes (1.15% of the total).
In the 2005 election
British Columbia general election, 2005
The 38th British Columbia general election was held on May 17, 2005, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia , Canada. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell...
, the remains of the party nominated two candidates: Woolsey, who won 254 votes (1.28% of the total in Vancouver-Hastings, and Anthony Yao, who won 225 votes (0.95% of the total) in Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain
Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain
Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain was a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada from 2001 to 2009.- Demographics :-1999 Redistribution:...
.
The party continues to exist, but is essentially a fringe party. , the Social Credit Party does not have an official leader, though party president Carrol Barbara Woolsey acts as its de facto leader.
The party did not field any candidates in the 2009 general election
British Columbia general election, 2009
The 39th British Columbia general election was held on May 12, 2009 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell...
.
Party leaders
- Andrew Henry Jukes, 1937-48, leader of the Union of Electors faction, 1948-49.
- No leader as such of the Social Credit Party/Social Credit League emerged until the 1952 election. However, Eric Martin and Lyle WicksLyle WicksLyle Wicks was a British Columbia politician.Born in Calgary, Wicks graduated from McLean High School in Haney, British Columbia, Canada in 1930...
were the most obvious figures of a collective leadership. At the 1952 party convention Wicks, W.A.C. Bennett and Rev. Hansell were nominated for the party leadership. Wicks and Bennett both withdrew in favour of Hansell who was the hand-picked choice of Alberta Social Credit leader and Premier Ernest ManningErnest ManningErnest Charles Manning, , a Canadian politician, was the eighth Premier of Alberta between 1943 and 1968 for the Social Credit Party of Alberta. He served longer than any premier in the province's history, and was the second longest serving provincial premier in Canadian history...
. Following the election, Wicks, who was party president, called a second leadership convention at which only Social Credit MLAs could vote. This was won by Bennett. - Reverend Ernest George HansellErnest George HansellRev. 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...
, M.P. for Macleod (Alberta), leader for the 1952 election. - W. A. C. Bennett (July 15, 1952 - November 24, 1973) *
- William R. Bennett (November 24, 1973 - July 30, 1986) *
- William Vander Zalm (July 30, 1986 - April 1, 1991) *
- Rita JohnstonRita JohnstonRita Margaret Johnston was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. Johnston became the first female premier in Canadian history when she succeeded William Vander Zalm in 1991 to become the 29th Premier of British Columbia.Much of her early life was spent running a successful trailer park in the...
(April 2, 1991 - March 7, 1992) * - Jack WeisgerberJack WeisgerberJohn Sylvester Weisgerber is a Canadian politician and businessman. He is a former member of the Legislative Assembly in British Columbia. During his political career he was briefly the leader of both the British Columbia Social Credit Party and the Reform Party of British Columbia...
(interim) (March 7, 1992 - November 6, 1993) - Grace McCarthyGrace McCarthyGrace Mary McCarthy, OC, OBC is a former Canadian politician and florist in British Columbia. Nicknamed Amazing Grace by members of her longtime political party, the Social Credit Party of B.C, she was largely responsible for rebuilding the party after its defeat in the 1972 provincial...
(November 6, 1993 - May 1994) - Lyall Franklin Hanson (interim) (May 1994)
- Cliff Serwa (interim) (May - November 1994)
- Larry Gillanders (November 4, 1994 - May 24, 1996)
- Ken Endean (interim) (May 1996 - March 1997)
- Mike Culos (April 1997 - April 2000)
- Eric Buckley (April 2000 - October 2000)
Eric Buckley left Social Credit in October 2000 to join the British Columbia Party
British Columbia Party
The British Columbia Party is a right-wing political party in the Canadian province of British Columbia, founded in 1998 as a populist party by John Motiuk, a North Vancouver lawyer.The party did not nominate candidates in the 2001 provincial election...
. The position of party leader has been vacant since that time.
Other prominent Socred politicians
- Garde GardomGarde GardomGarde Basil Gardom, QC, OBC is a Canadian politician, lawyer, and the 26th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.Born in Banff, Alberta, he obtained his BA and LLB degrees from the University of British Columbia. During his undergraduate years, he was an active member of the BC Alpha Chapter of...
. - Rafe MairRafe MairRafe Mair, born , is a lawyer, political commentator and former radio personality and politician in British Columbia, Canada.Mair was born in Vancouver, British Columbia where he worked as a lawyer for many years....
. - Tom NorthcottTom NorthcottTom Northcott is a Canadian folk-rock singer with hits in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was nominated as best male vocalist for a Juno Award in 1971. Later he co-founded Mushroom Studios in Vancouver and produced records...
, a prominent singer, stood unsuccessfully for the provincial legislature.
Electoral results
In the 1937 election, the British Columbia Social Credit League endorsed candidates, but none were elected.| 1937 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... |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of candidates | Seats | Popular vote | % | |
| 18 | 0 | 4,812 | 1.15% | |
In the 1941 election
British Columbia general election, 1941
The British Columbia general election, 1941 was the twentieth 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 September 9, 1941, and held on October 21, 1941.After the election, a...
, no candidates ran under the social credit banner.
In the 1945 election, an alliance of social credit groups nominated candidates. None were elected.
| 1945 election British Columbia general election, 1945 The British Columbia general election of 1945 was the twenty-first 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 August 31, 1945, and held on October 25, 1945... |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of candidates | Seats | Popular vote | % | |
| 16 | 0 | 6,627 | 1.42% | |
In the 1949 election, three different social credit groups nominated candidates. None were successful.
| 1949 election British Columbia general election, 1949 The British Columbia general election of 1949 was the 22nd 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 16, 1949, and held on June 15, 1949... |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name of party | Number of candidates |
Seats | Popular vote | % |
| Social Credit Party | 7 | 0 | 8,464 | 1.21% |
| Social Credit League | 9 | 0 | 3,072 | 0.44% |
| Union of Electors | 12 | 0 | 2,790 | 0.40% |
| Total of social credit groups | 28 | 0 | 14,326 | 2.05% |
In subsequent elections, only the Social Credit Party of British Columbia emerged as the only social credit party, although it quickly abandoned social credit theories.
| Election | Party leader | Number of candidates |
Seats | Popular vote | Final round (1952-53 only) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Previous | After | % Change | Number | % | Change | Number | % | ||||
| 1952 British Columbia general election, 1952 The British Columbia general election, 1952 was the 23rd 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 10, 1952, and held on June 12, 1952. The new legislature met for the... |
Rev. Ernest George 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... |
47 | 0 | 19 | - | 209,049 | 27.20% | +25.99% | 203,932 | 30.18% | |
| 1953 British Columbia general election, 1953 The British Columbia general election of 1953 was the 24th 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 10, 1953, and held on June 9, 1953... |
W.A.C. Bennett W.A.C. Bennett William Andrew Cecil Bennett, PC, OC was the 25th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving premier in British Columbia history. He was usually referred to as W.A.C... |
48 | 19 | 28 | - | 274,771 | 37.75% | +10.55% | 300,372 | 45.54% | |
| 1956 British Columbia general election, 1956 The British Columbia general election of 1956 was the 25th 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 August 13, 1956, and held on September 19, 1956. The new legislature met... |
W.A.C. Bennett W.A.C. Bennett William Andrew Cecil Bennett, PC, OC was the 25th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving premier in British Columbia history. He was usually referred to as W.A.C... |
52 | 28 | 39 | 39.3% | 374,711 | 45.84% | +8.09% | |||
| 1960 British Columbia general election, 1960 The British Columbia general election of 1960 was the 26th 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 August 3, 1960, and held on September 12, 1960. The new legislature met... |
W.A.C. Bennett W.A.C. Bennett William Andrew Cecil Bennett, PC, OC was the 25th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving premier in British Columbia history. He was usually referred to as W.A.C... |
52 | 39 | 32 | -17.9% | 386,886 | 38.83% | -7.01% | |||
| 1963 British Columbia general election, 1963 The British Columbia general election of 1963 was the 27th 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 August 22, 1963, and held on September 30, 1963... |
W.A.C. Bennett W.A.C. Bennett William Andrew Cecil Bennett, PC, OC was the 25th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving premier in British Columbia history. He was usually referred to as W.A.C... |
52 | 32 | 33 | +3.1% | 395,079 | 40.83% | +2.00% | |||
| 1966 British Columbia general election, 1966 The British Columbia general election of 1966 was the 28th 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 August 5, 1966 and held on September 12, 1966... |
W.A.C. Bennett W.A.C. Bennett William Andrew Cecil Bennett, PC, OC was the 25th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving premier in British Columbia history. He was usually referred to as W.A.C... |
55 | 33 | 33 | - | 342,751 | 45.59% | +4.76% | |||
| 1969 British Columbia general election, 1969 The British Columbia general election of 1969 was the 29th 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 July 21, 1969, and held on August 27, 1969... |
W.A.C. Bennett W.A.C. Bennett William Andrew Cecil Bennett, PC, OC was the 25th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving premier in British Columbia history. He was usually referred to as W.A.C... |
55 | 33 | 38 | +15.2% | 457,777 | 46.79% | +1.20% | |||
| 1972 British Columbia general election, 1972 The 30th general election for the Canadian province of British Columbia was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on July 24, 1972, and held on August 30, 1972... |
W.A.C. Bennett W.A.C. Bennett William Andrew Cecil Bennett, PC, OC was the 25th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving premier in British Columbia history. He was usually referred to as W.A.C... |
55 | 38 | 10 | -73.7% | 352,776 | 31.16% | -15.63% | |||
| 1975 British Columbia general election, 1975 The British Columbia general election of 1975 was the 31st 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 November 3, 1975, and held on December 11, 1975... |
Bill Bennett | 55 | 10 | 35 | +250% | 635,482 | 49.25% | +18.09% | |||
| 1979 British Columbia general election, 1979 The British Columbia general election of 1979 was the 32nd 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 3, 1979... |
Bill Bennett | 57 | 35 | 31 | -11.4% | 677,607 | 48.23% | -1.02% | |||
| 1983 British Columbia general election, 1983 The British Columbia general election of 1983 was the 33rd provincial election for 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 7, 1983. The election was held on May 5, 1983... |
Bill Bennett | 57 | 31 | 35 | +12.9% | 820,807 | 49.76% | +1.53% | |||
| 1986 British Columbia general election, 1986 The British Columbia general election of 1986 was the 34th 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 September 24, 1986... |
Bill Vander Zalm Bill Vander Zalm Wilhelmus Nicholaas Theodore Marie "Bill" Vander Zalm is a politician and entrepreneur in British Columbia, Canada. He was the 28th Premier of British Columbia from 1986 to 1991.-Early life:... |
69 | 35 | 47 | +34.3% | 954,516 | 49.32% | -0.44% | |||
| 1991 British Columbia general election, 1991 The British Columbia general election of 1991 was the 35th provincial 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 September 19, 1991, and held on October 17, 1991... |
Rita Johnston Rita Johnston Rita Margaret Johnston was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. Johnston became the first female premier in Canadian history when she succeeded William Vander Zalm in 1991 to become the 29th Premier of British Columbia.Much of her early life was spent running a successful trailer park in the... |
74 | 47 | 7 | -85.1% | 351,660 | 24.05% | -25.27% | |||
| 1996 British Columbia general election, 1996 The British Columbia general election of 1996 was the thirty sixth provincial 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 30, 1996, and held on May 28, 1996... |
Larry Gillanders | 38 | 7 | - | -100% | 6,276 | 0.40% | -23.65% | |||
| 2001 British Columbia general election, 2001 The British Columbia general election of 2001 was the 37th provincial 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 18, 2001, and held on May 16, 2001... |
(vacant) | 2 | - | - | - | 1,948 | 0.12% | -0.27% | |||
| 2005 British Columbia general election, 2005 The 38th British Columbia general election was held on May 17, 2005, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia , Canada. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell... |
(vacant) | 2 | - | - | - | 479 | 0.02% | -0.10% | |||
See also
- List of British Columbia general elections
- List of British Columbia political parties
- British Columbia Social Credit Party leadership elections
- British Columbia Conservative PartyBritish Columbia Conservative PartyThe British Columbia Conservative Party is a political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected as the government in 1903, the party went into decline after 1933...
- British Columbia Liberal PartyBritish Columbia Liberal PartyThe British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
- Social CreditSocial CreditSocial Credit is an economic philosophy developed by C. H. Douglas , a British engineer, who wrote a book by that name in 1924. Social Credit is described by Douglas as "the policy of a philosophy"; he called his philosophy "practical Christianity"...
- Canadian social credit movementCanadian social credit movementThe Canadian social credit movement was a Canadian political movement originally based on the Social Credit theory of Major C. H. Douglas. Its supporters were colloquially known as Socreds...