Charles McDonald (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
Charles M. McDonald was a Canadian politician who served in the Saskatchewan legislature and in the Parliament of Canada
. He has the distinction of having served in both the Canadian House of Commons
and the Canadian Senate
for less than a year.
McDonald was a pharmacist by profession. He was born in Scotland
and immigrated to Canada. By the time of the 1901 census he was living in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
with his wife.
He first attracted public attention in 1918 when he assisted in the capture of two bandits sought for the slaying of a law enforcement officer.
He was first elected to the Saskatchewan legislature
as a Liberal MLA in the 1917 provincial election
representing the provincial constituency of Prince Albert
and was re-elected in the 1921 provincial election
by acclamation
.
After two terms in the Saskatchewan legislature, McDonald switched to federal politics and contested the federal riding of Prince Albert
in the 1925 federal election
and was elected with more than 50% of the vote defeating both incumbent Progressive
MP Andrew Knox
and John George Diefenbaker, the Conservative candidate and future prime minister.
The federal Liberals
were re-elected with a minority government
. Despite having fewer seats than the Conservatives they were able to stay in power with the support of Progressive and independent MPs. However, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King
was personally defeated in his riding of York North
and needed to find a new constituency. On January 15, 1926, McDonald agreed to resign his seat immediately after his election so that Mackenzie King could contest it in a by-election
which was held a month later.
McDonald returned to his pharmacy and eventually moved to British Columbia
. In December 1935, Prime Minister Mackenzie King, who had just been returned to government after five years of Tory rule, appointed McDonald to the Canadian Senate
as a representative for British Columbia. However, McDonald's tenure was short lived as he died in office less than a year later. His combined service in both the House of Commons and the Senate is 361 days.
McDonald died in Vancouver after a nine month illness.
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
. He has the distinction of having served in both 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...
and the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
for less than a year.
McDonald was a pharmacist by profession. He was born in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and immigrated to Canada. By the time of the 1901 census he was living in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert is the third-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is situated in the centre of the province on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. The city is known as the "Gateway to the North" because it is the last major centre along the route to the resources of northern Saskatchewan...
with his wife.
He first attracted public attention in 1918 when he assisted in the capture of two bandits sought for the slaying of a law enforcement officer.
He was first elected to the Saskatchewan legislature
Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
The 25th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan was in power from 2003 until November 20, 2007. It was controlled by the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party under premier Lorne Calvert.-Members:-By-elections:...
as a Liberal MLA in the 1917 provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 1917
The Saskatchewan general election of 1917 was the fourth provincial election in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 26, 1917, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
representing the provincial constituency of Prince Albert
Prince Albert City
Prince Albert City was a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. This constituency was one of 25 created for the 1st Saskatchewan general election in 1905....
and was re-elected in the 1921 provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 1921
The Saskatchewan general election of 1921 was the fifth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 9, 1921 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
by acclamation
Acclamation
An acclamation, in its most common sense, is a form of election that does not use a ballot. "Acclamation" or "acclamatio" can also signify a kind of ritual greeting and expression of approval in certain social contexts in ancient Rome.-Voting:...
.
After two terms in the Saskatchewan legislature, McDonald switched to federal politics and contested the federal riding of Prince Albert
Prince Albert (electoral district)
Prince Albert is a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1908 to 1988, and since 1997.-Geography:...
in the 1925 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1925
The Canadian federal election of 1925 was held on October 29 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 15th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's Liberal Party formed a minority government. This precipitated the "King-Byng Affair".The Liberals under...
and was elected with more than 50% of the vote defeating both incumbent Progressive
Progressive Party of Canada
The Progressive Party of Canada was a political party in Canada in the 1920s and 1930s. It was linked with the provincial United Farmers parties in several provinces and, in Manitoba, ran candidates and formed governments as the Progressive Party of Manitoba...
MP Andrew Knox
Andrew Knox (Canadian politician)
Andrew Knox was an Irish-born farmer and political figure in Saskatchewan, Canada. He represented Prince Albert in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1925. He was elected to Parliament in the 1917 federal election as a Liberal-Unionist supporter of Sir Robert Borden's wartime Union...
and John George Diefenbaker, the Conservative candidate and future prime minister.
The 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...
were re-elected with 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...
. Despite having fewer seats than the Conservatives they were able to stay in power with the support of Progressive and independent MPs. However, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
was personally defeated in his riding of York North
York North
York North was an electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from Confederation in 1867 until 2004. It is also an electoral district that was represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1867 to 2007...
and needed to find a new constituency. On January 15, 1926, McDonald agreed to resign his seat immediately after his election so that Mackenzie King could contest it in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
which was held a month later.
McDonald returned to his pharmacy and eventually moved to 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...
. In December 1935, Prime Minister Mackenzie King, who had just been returned to government after five years of Tory rule, appointed McDonald to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
as a representative for British Columbia. However, McDonald's tenure was short lived as he died in office less than a year later. His combined service in both the House of Commons and the Senate is 361 days.
McDonald died in Vancouver after a nine month illness.