Eldon Woolliams
Encyclopedia
Eldon Mattison Woolliams, QC
(12 April 1916 – 24 September 2001) was a Progressive Conservative party
member of the Canadian House of Commons
. He was born in Rosetown, Saskatchewan
and his career included law and education. He was shadow Justice Minister and Chairman of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. As a 'perry mason' style trial lawyer, he had over two dozen murder trials where he successfully won the cases as barrister for the accused. He was a descendant of Sir Matthew Hale, Lord Chief Justice of England.
Woolliams first represented Alberta's Bow River electoral district
. His first attempt to win the riding in the 1957 federal election
was unsuccessful, but would defeat incumbent Charles Edward Johnston
in the 1958 election
. Woolliams won re-election there in 1962
, 1963
and 1965
. In the 1960s Woolliams was one of the Rt Hon. John Diefenbaker's top friends, having fought defense trials together in Saskatchewan and Alberta. He was responsible with colleague Erik Nielsen in so bringing pressure on the Pearson and Trudeau government's that a few cabinet ministers, particularly in the Justice Minister position, had to resign their portfolios.
When riding boundaries were rearranged in 1966, Woolliams won election at the Calgary North
riding in the 1968 election
and was re-elected there in 1972
, 1974
and 1979
. In his last years in the House of Commons, he sat on the front bench of the Tories, and remained a formidable opponent of Liberal policies of the governments of Pierre Trudeau. Chiefly, as Shadow Justice Minister, Woolliams in many speeches warned of the Napoleonic legal philosophy of the Liberals. This socio-political engineering was warned against with the move to Trudeau's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Woolliams saw it as a move towards the erosion of ancient British guarantees of individual rights in favour of a politically correct philosophy of group rights and legislation from the Supreme Court that would cause troubles in the future for the maintenance of democracy and true justice and freedom. It was a singular blow therefore that he would not be given the Justice Ministry under the new Conservative leader Rt Hon Joe Clark in 1979. He warned as well Mr Clark upon leaving out the Quebec Creditistes from his minority government that proved to be exactly the case when the merely 9 month Clark government was defeated on the 1980 budget. He therefore sadly left national politics in 1980 and did not campaign in that year's national elections after serving eight successive terms from the 24th
to the 31st Canadian Parliament
s. The Clark government was defeated by a rejuvenated Liberal regime again under Pierre Trudeau. After the return of the Tories under Brian Mulroney, Eldon M Woolliams served in the capacity of emeritus adviser and Chairman of the Justices Commission, which were given more financial resources for their time on the bench.
He studied at Saskatchewan Teacher's College and the University of Saskatchewan and was appointed Queen's Counsel
.John Diefenbaker called Woolliams the best defense trial lawyer in Canada during his day. He also was made special Lecturer on Peace through Law in Belgrade, Yugoslavia during his service in Canada's Parliament. A scholarship fund in his name exists at the University of Saskatchewan
College of Law.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(12 April 1916 – 24 September 2001) was a Progressive Conservative party
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
member of 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...
. He was born in Rosetown, Saskatchewan
Rosetown, Saskatchewan
-History:On September 14, 1905, James and Anne Rose migrated from Lancashire, England to an area of Saskatchewan, Canada. They were the first settlers in the area now known as Rosetown. Later, in 1907, a group of people from the area, wanting a post office, made an application for one...
and his career included law and education. He was shadow Justice Minister and Chairman of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. As a 'perry mason' style trial lawyer, he had over two dozen murder trials where he successfully won the cases as barrister for the accused. He was a descendant of Sir Matthew Hale, Lord Chief Justice of England.
Woolliams first represented Alberta's Bow River electoral district
Bow River (electoral district)
Bow River was a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1968 and from 1979 to 1988.This riding was created in 1914 from Macleod riding...
. His first attempt to win the riding in the 1957 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1957
The Canadian federal election of 1957 was held June 10, 1957, to select the 265 members of the House of Commons of Canada. In one of the great upsets in Canadian political history, the Progressive Conservative Party , led by John Diefenbaker, brought an end to 22 years of Liberal rule, as the...
was unsuccessful, but would defeat incumbent Charles Edward Johnston
Charles Edward Johnston
Charles Edward Johnston was a teacher and a long serving Canadian politician. He served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons for the opposition federal Social Credit party from 1935 to 1958...
in the 1958 election
Canadian federal election, 1958
The Canadian federal election of 1958 was the 24th general election in Canada's history. It was held to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 24th Parliament of Canada on March 31, 1958, just nine months after the 23rd election...
. Woolliams won re-election there in 1962
Canadian federal election, 1962
The Canadian federal election of 1962 was held on June 18, 1962 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 25th Parliament of Canada...
, 1963
Canadian federal election, 1963
The Canadian federal election of 1963 was held on April 8 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 26th Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of the minority Progressive Conservative government of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.-Overview:During the Tories' last year in...
and 1965
Canadian federal election, 1965
The Canadian federal election of 1965 was held on November 8 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 27th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal Party of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson was re-elected with a larger number of seats in the House...
. In the 1960s Woolliams was one of the Rt Hon. John Diefenbaker's top friends, having fought defense trials together in Saskatchewan and Alberta. He was responsible with colleague Erik Nielsen in so bringing pressure on the Pearson and Trudeau government's that a few cabinet ministers, particularly in the Justice Minister position, had to resign their portfolios.
When riding boundaries were rearranged in 1966, Woolliams won election at the Calgary North
Calgary North
Calgary North was a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1953 to 1997.This riding was created in 1952 from parts of the Bow River, Calgary West and East Calgary ridings....
riding in the 1968 election
Canadian federal election, 1968
The Canadian federal election of 1968 was held on June 25, 1968, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 28th Parliament of Canada...
and was re-elected there in 1972
Canadian federal election, 1972
The Canadian federal election of 1972 was held on October 30, 1972 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 29th Parliament of Canada. It resulted in a slim victory for the governing Liberal Party, which won 109 seats, compared to 107 seats for the opposition Progressive...
, 1974
Canadian federal election, 1974
The Canadian federal election of 1974 was held on July 8, 1974 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 30th Parliament of Canada. The governing Liberal Party won its first majority government since 1968, and gave Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau his third term...
and 1979
Canadian federal election, 1979
The Canadian federal election of 1979 was held on May 22, 1979 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 31st Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of Liberal Party of Canada after 11 years in power under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Joe Clark led the Progressive...
. In his last years in the House of Commons, he sat on the front bench of the Tories, and remained a formidable opponent of Liberal policies of the governments of Pierre Trudeau. Chiefly, as Shadow Justice Minister, Woolliams in many speeches warned of the Napoleonic legal philosophy of the Liberals. This socio-political engineering was warned against with the move to Trudeau's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Woolliams saw it as a move towards the erosion of ancient British guarantees of individual rights in favour of a politically correct philosophy of group rights and legislation from the Supreme Court that would cause troubles in the future for the maintenance of democracy and true justice and freedom. It was a singular blow therefore that he would not be given the Justice Ministry under the new Conservative leader Rt Hon Joe Clark in 1979. He warned as well Mr Clark upon leaving out the Quebec Creditistes from his minority government that proved to be exactly the case when the merely 9 month Clark government was defeated on the 1980 budget. He therefore sadly left national politics in 1980 and did not campaign in that year's national elections after serving eight successive terms from the 24th
24th Canadian Parliament
The 24th Canadian Parliament was in session from May 12, 1958 until April 19, 1962. The membership was set by the 1958 federal election on March 31, 1958, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1962 election.It was controlled by a...
to the 31st Canadian Parliament
31st Canadian Parliament
The 31st Canadian Parliament was a briefly lived parliament in session from October 9 until December 14, 1979. The membership was set by the 1979 federal election on May 22, 1979, and it was dissolved after the minority government of Joe Clark failed to pass a Motion of Confidence on December 13,...
s. The Clark government was defeated by a rejuvenated Liberal regime again under Pierre Trudeau. After the return of the Tories under Brian Mulroney, Eldon M Woolliams served in the capacity of emeritus adviser and Chairman of the Justices Commission, which were given more financial resources for their time on the bench.
He studied at Saskatchewan Teacher's College and the University of Saskatchewan and was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
.John Diefenbaker called Woolliams the best defense trial lawyer in Canada during his day. He also was made special Lecturer on Peace through Law in Belgrade, Yugoslavia during his service in Canada's Parliament. A scholarship fund in his name exists at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
College of Law.