Richard McBride
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard McBride, KCMG (December 15, 1870 – August 6, 1917) was a British Columbian politician and is often considered the founder of the British Columbia Conservative Party
. McBride was first elected to the provincial legislature
in the 1898 election
, and served in the cabinet
of James Dunsmuir
from 1900 to 1901. McBride believed that the province's system of non-party government
was unstable and hindered development. After the lieutenant-governor appointed him the 16th Premier
in June 1903 and McBride announced that his government was a Conservative Party administration and would contest the upcoming election along party lines. On October 3, 1903 McBride's party, the British Columbia Conservative Party
won the first provincial election
to be fought along party lines with a two seat majority
.
The new Conservative government attempted to stabilize the economy by cutting spending and raising new taxes. It also introduced progressive reforms of the province's labour law. In 1909 McBride unveiled plans for a provincial university and promised to build more railway lines. The party won commanding majorities in the 1909
and 1912 elections
, almost shutting the Opposition out of the legislature.
McBride's Conservatives were aligned with the federal Conservatives
of Robert Borden
, and helped them take power in the 1911 federal election
. On the first day of the First World War, the provincial government purchased and took possession of two submarines (HMCS CC-1
and HMCS CC-2
) to defend the province from the threat of German attack. As provinces are not constitutionally allowed to maintain militaries, they were quickly transferred by order to the federal government within 48 hours and entered service with the Royal Canadian Navy
in August 1914.
His government was also responsible for the creation of the province's first university
, the University of British Columbia
, which opened its doors in 1915.
The government's popularity waned as an economic downturn hit the province along with the mounting railway debts. McBride resigned on December 15, 1915 to become the province's representative in London
, where he died in 1917.
Richard McBride is interred in the Ross Bay Cemetery
in Victoria, British Columbia
.
was named after this premier during the time he was in office. Also named for the premier, the McBride River in northern British Columbia is a major tributary of the Stikine
.
Sir Richard McBride Elementary School
in Vancouver was named after him in 1911 during his tenure as Premier.
Also named for him is McBride Boulevard in New Westminster which is the western ramp for the Pattullo Bridge.
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...
. McBride was first elected to the provincial legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
in the 1898 election
British Columbia general election, 1898
The British Columbia general election of 1898 was the eighth general election for the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.-Party politics:...
, and served in the cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of James Dunsmuir
James Dunsmuir
James Dunsmuir was a British Columbian industrialist and politician. Son of Robert Dunsmuir, he was heir to his family's coal fortune. The Dunsmuir family dominated the province's economy in the late nineteenth century and were a leading force in opposing organized labour...
from 1900 to 1901. McBride believed that the province's system of non-party government
Non-partisan democracy
Nonpartisan democracy is a system of representative government or organization such that universal and periodic elections take place without reference to political parties.-Overview:...
was unstable and hindered development. After the lieutenant-governor appointed him the 16th Premier
Premier of British Columbia
The Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
in June 1903 and McBride announced that his government was a Conservative Party administration and would contest the upcoming election along party lines. On October 3, 1903 McBride's party, the British Columbia Conservative Party
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...
won the first provincial election
British Columbia general election, 1903
The British Columbia general election of 1903 was the tenth general 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 September 5, 1903, and held on October 3, 1903...
to be fought along party lines with a two seat majority
Majority government
A majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
.
The new Conservative government attempted to stabilize the economy by cutting spending and raising new taxes. It also introduced progressive reforms of the province's labour law. In 1909 McBride unveiled plans for a provincial university and promised to build more railway lines. The party won commanding majorities in the 1909
British Columbia general election, 1909
The British Columbia general election of 1909 was the twelfth general 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 October 20, 1909, and held on November 25, 1909'...
and 1912 elections
British Columbia general election, 1912
The British Columbia general election of 1912 was the thirteenth general 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 February 27, 1912, and held on March 28, 1912...
, almost shutting the Opposition out of the legislature.
McBride's Conservatives were aligned with the federal Conservatives
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
of Robert Borden
Robert Borden
Sir Robert Laird Borden, PC, GCMG, KC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as the eighth Prime Minister of Canada from October 10, 1911 to July 10, 1920, and was the third Nova Scotian to hold this office...
, and helped them take power in the 1911 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1911
The Canadian federal election of 1911 was held on September 21 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Canada.-Summary:...
. On the first day of the First World War, the provincial government purchased and took possession of two submarines (HMCS CC-1
HMCS CC-1
HMCS CC-1 was a CC class submarine used by the Royal Canadian Navy. The ship was launched in 1913 in Seattle, Washington as the submarine Iquique for Chile. This deal fell through and the boat, along with , was offered to British Columbia's premier Sir Richard McBride, just nine days before the...
and HMCS CC-2
HMCS CC-2
HMCS CC-2 was a CC class submarine used by the Royal Canadian Navy. The ship was launched in 1913 in Seattle, Washington as the submarine Antofagasta for Chile. This deal fell through and the boat, along with , was offered to British Columbia's premier Sir Richard McBride, just nine days before the...
) to defend the province from the threat of German attack. As provinces are not constitutionally allowed to maintain militaries, they were quickly transferred by order to the federal government within 48 hours and entered service with the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
in August 1914.
His government was also responsible for the creation of the province's first university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
, the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
, which opened its doors in 1915.
The government's popularity waned as an economic downturn hit the province along with the mounting railway debts. McBride resigned on December 15, 1915 to become the province's representative in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he died in 1917.
Richard McBride is interred in the Ross Bay Cemetery
Ross Bay Cemetery
Ross Bay Cemetery is located at 1516 Fairfield Road in Victoria, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island, Canada.-History:The cemetery was opened in 1873. The 27.5 acre cemetery is part of a public park and its south side faces Ross Bay on the Pacific Ocean...
in Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
.
Legacy
The small community of McBride, British ColumbiaMcBride, British Columbia
Situated on the Yellowhead Highway , McBride is a small community in the Robson Valley region of British Columbia, Canada, located southeast of Prince George, west of the Alberta border, and west of Jasper, Alberta....
was named after this premier during the time he was in office. Also named for the premier, the McBride River in northern British Columbia is a major tributary of the Stikine
Stikine River
The Stikine River is a river, historically also the Stickeen River, approximately 610 km long, in northwestern British Columbia in Canada and southeastern Alaska in the United States...
.
Sir Richard McBride Elementary School
Sir Richard McBride Elementary School
Sir Richard McBride Elementary is a public elementary school in Vancouver, British Columbia, part of School District 39 Vancouver.- History :Sir Richard Mcbride Elementary School was founded in 1911, named after Richard McBride...
in Vancouver was named after him in 1911 during his tenure as Premier.
Also named for him is McBride Boulevard in New Westminster which is the western ramp for the Pattullo Bridge.