Manitoba Labour Representation Committee
Encyclopedia
The Labour Representation Committee was a reformist labour organization in Manitoba
, Canada
, and was the ideological successor to groups such as the Winnipeg Labour Party
, the Independent Labour Party and the Manitoba Labour Party
. It was founded in late 1912, and was based on a British organization of the same name
.
The LRC cooperated with the Social Democratic Party of Canada
in the municipal elections of 1913, and the two parties did not compete against each other in the 1914 provincial election. This was a marked contrast to the hostility which had previously existed between reformist labour groups and the Socialist Party of Canada
(from which the SDPC had split).
The party's candidates in 1914 were W.J. Bartlett (Assiniboia) and R.S. Ward (Elmwood). All of these candidates placed third, behind their Conservative
and Liberal
opponents. Fred Dixon
was not a candidate of the LRC in 1914, but sympathized with most of its goals and was from the same reformist tradition. Unofficially supported by many in the LRC, Dixon was elected as an independent candidate in a Winnipeg constituency.
For the provincial election of 1915, the LRC supported the two SDPC candidates in Winnipeg North
(one of whom was successful), and also nominated William Bayley
in Assiniboia. Bayley finished ahead of John Thomas Haig
, the riding's Tory incumbent, and came within 55 votes of defeating Liberal John Wilton. Dixon again ran as an independent.
The candidates nominated by the LRC in 1914-15 officially ran as "Independent Labour".
This organization dissolved after the election of 1915. Three years later, some of its supporters (including Dixon and Arthur Puttee
) started the Dominion Labour Party
in Winnipeg.
See also: Canadian political parties
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...
, 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...
, and was the ideological successor to groups such as the Winnipeg Labour Party
Winnipeg Labour Party
The Winnipeg Labour Party was a reformist organization in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, representing labour interests. Founded in 1896, it was based on an earlier Winnipeg organization known as the Independent Labour Party .The party initially received support from both...
, the Independent Labour Party and the Manitoba Labour Party
Manitoba Labour Party
The Manitoba Labour Party was a reformist, non-Marxist labour party in Manitoba, Canada. It was created in early May 1910 as a successor to the province's second Independent Labour Party . Former Member of Parliament A.W. Puttee was a leading MLP organizer...
. It was founded in late 1912, and was based on a British organization of the same name
Labour Representation Committee
Labour Representation Committee may refer to:* Labour Representation Committee, the original name of the British Labour Party* Labour Representation Committee , a 21st century pressure group within the British Labour Party...
.
The LRC cooperated with the Social Democratic Party of Canada
Social Democratic Party of Canada
The Social Democratic Party was a social democratic political party in Canada founded in 1911 by members of the right wing of the Socialist Party of Canada. these members were dissatisfied with what they saw as that party's rigid, doctrinaire approach...
in the municipal elections of 1913, and the two parties did not compete against each other in the 1914 provincial election. This was a marked contrast to the hostility which had previously existed between reformist labour groups and the Socialist Party of Canada
Socialist Party of Canada
There have been two different but related political parties in Canada that called themselves the Socialist Party of Canada . The current Socialist Party is an electorally inactive and unregistered federal political party in Canada...
(from which the SDPC had split).
The party's candidates in 1914 were W.J. Bartlett (Assiniboia) and R.S. Ward (Elmwood). All of these candidates placed third, behind their Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
and Liberal
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 :...
opponents. Fred Dixon
Fred Dixon
Fred Dixon was a Manitoba politician, and was for several years the dominant figure in the province's mainstream labour movement.Born in Englefield, England, Dixon was not a socialist...
was not a candidate of the LRC in 1914, but sympathized with most of its goals and was from the same reformist tradition. Unofficially supported by many in the LRC, Dixon was elected as an independent candidate in a Winnipeg constituency.
For the provincial election of 1915, the LRC supported the two SDPC candidates in Winnipeg North
Winnipeg North
For information on the historical provincial constituency, see Winnipeg North .Winnipeg North is a federal electoral district that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1917...
(one of whom was successful), and also nominated William Bayley
William Bayley
William Dowell Bayley was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1920 to 1927....
in Assiniboia. Bayley finished ahead of John Thomas Haig
John Thomas Haig
John Thomas Haig, PC was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as parliamentary leader of the Manitoba Conservative Party in 1921-22....
, the riding's Tory incumbent, and came within 55 votes of defeating Liberal John Wilton. Dixon again ran as an independent.
The candidates nominated by the LRC in 1914-15 officially ran as "Independent Labour".
This organization dissolved after the election of 1915. Three years later, some of its supporters (including Dixon and Arthur Puttee
Arthur Puttee
Arthur W. Puttee was the first Labour Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons.Puttee was a printer by training. Born in England, he immigrated to North America in 1888. He settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1891...
) started the Dominion Labour Party
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....
in Winnipeg.
See also: Canadian political parties