Edward Brown (Manitoba politician)
Encyclopedia
Edward Brown was a Manitoba
politician. He served briefly as leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
(1906–07), and was later a cabinet minister in Tobias C. Norris's government (1915–1922).
Brown made his electoral debut in the provincial campaign of 1903, narrowly losing to Conservative Hugh Armstrong
in Portage La Prairie. He subsequently became a leading organizer for the Liberals, and was acclaimed as party leader on March 28, 1906 (replacing Charles Mickle
). He was again defeated by Armstrong in the election of 1907, however, and resigned as party leader shortly thereafter. Brown lost a third electoral contest in 1910, falling to Lendrum McMeans
in Winnipeg South, 2545 votes to 2496.
Brown finally entered parliament in 1915, running in a deferred election in the northern riding of The Pas. Liberal Premier Tobias C. Norris had already won a landslide victory in the rest of the province, and Brown had joined his cabinet as Provincial Treasurer
; perhaps not surprisingly, he was unopposed for his riding. Brown held his cabinet position until the Norris government was defeated in 1922. In the election of 1920, he fended off a weak challenge from Labour
candidate A. Norgrove.
In 1922, Brown supported efforts to reunite the "Unionist
" and "Laurier Liberal" factions of the Liberal Party in Canada and Manitoba (see Wilfrid Laurier
). While these efforts were successful, they led to a popular perception that the previously-independent Norris government would henceforth be subservient to the federal Liberals. Opposition parties used this to their advantage in the election of 1922, which the United Farmers of Manitoba
won in a landslide.
Brown was not a candidate in 1922, and did not return to political life thereafter.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
politician. He served briefly as leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
(1906–07), and was later a cabinet minister in Tobias C. Norris's government (1915–1922).
Brown made his electoral debut in the provincial campaign of 1903, narrowly losing to Conservative Hugh Armstrong
Hugh Armstrong
Hugh Armstrong was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1892 to 1896 and from 1902 to 1915, and was a senior cabinet minister in the government of Rodmond P. Roblin...
in Portage La Prairie. He subsequently became a leading organizer for the Liberals, and was acclaimed as party leader on March 28, 1906 (replacing Charles Mickle
Charles Mickle
Charles Julius Mickle was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a provincial cabinet minister for three years, and on two occasions served as the leader of the Liberal Party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.Mickle trained as a lawyer, and was admitted to the bar in 1872...
). He was again defeated by Armstrong in the election of 1907, however, and resigned as party leader shortly thereafter. Brown lost a third electoral contest in 1910, falling to Lendrum McMeans
Lendrum McMeans
Lendrum McMeans was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1910 to 1914, and was later appointed to the Canadian Senate. McMeans was a member of the Conservative Party....
in Winnipeg South, 2545 votes to 2496.
Brown finally entered parliament in 1915, running in a deferred election in the northern riding of The Pas. Liberal Premier Tobias C. Norris had already won a landslide victory in the rest of the province, and Brown had joined his cabinet as Provincial Treasurer
Provincial Treasurer
In Canadian politics the Provincial Treasurer is a senior protfolio in the Executive Council of provincial governments. The position is the provincial equivalent of the Minister of Finance and is responsible for setting the provincial budget. In most provinces the title of the position has changed...
; perhaps not surprisingly, he was unopposed for his riding. Brown held his cabinet position until the Norris government was defeated in 1922. In the election of 1920, he fended off a weak challenge from Labour
Dominion Labour Party (in Manitoba)
The Dominion Labour Party was a reformist labour party, formed in Canada in 1918. The party enjoyed itsgreatest success in the province of Manitoba....
candidate A. Norgrove.
In 1922, Brown supported efforts to reunite the "Unionist
Liberal-Unionist
For the British party see Liberal Unionist PartyLiberal-Unionists were supporters of the Liberal Party of Canada who, as a result of the Conscription Crisis of 1917 rejected Sir Wilfrid Laurier's leadership and supported the coalition Unionist government of Sir Robert Borden.Much of the Ontario...
" and "Laurier Liberal" factions of the Liberal Party in Canada and Manitoba (see Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
). While these efforts were successful, they led to a popular perception that the previously-independent Norris government would henceforth be subservient to the federal Liberals. Opposition parties used this to their advantage in the election of 1922, which the United Farmers of Manitoba
Progressive Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Party of Manitoba, Canada, was a political party that developed from the United Farmers of Manitoba, an agrarian movement that became politically active following World War I...
won in a landslide.
Brown was not a candidate in 1922, and did not return to political life thereafter.