Socialist Party of Canada (in Manitoba)
Encyclopedia
The Socialist Party of Canada
was a revolutionary Marxist organization, founded in 1904 as a merger of the Socialist Party of British Columbia and related groups in Manitoba
and Ontario
, Canada
.
Although strongest in British Columbia
, the SPC was also a credible force in Winnipeg. One member of the party was elected to the Manitoba
legislature in the 1920 provincial election
.
During its early years, the Winnipeg SPC was a rival to larger reformist groups such as Arthur Puttee
's Winnipeg Labour Party
, from which many Socialists members had split. It was active in the local trade unions, and participated in the city's elections.
The party ran John Donald Houston in Winnipeg for the federal election of 1908
. He finished third, behind the Liberal and Conservative candidates.
In the 1910 provincial election
, the SPC ran candidates in three of Winnipeg's four ridings. They finished a distant third in all three, but may have been responsible for the defeat of reformist Manitoba Labour Party
candidate Fred Dixon
in Winnipeg Centre. Dixon's loss provoked a backlash against the SPC from Winnipeg's labour unions, weakening the party. Many of its members joined the newly formed Social Democratic Party of Canada
, which became stronger in Winnipeg than any other city in western Canada.
In the 1914 provincial election
, the SPC ran George Armstrong
and Bill Hoop for the two Winnipeg Centre seats, but did not challenge the SDP in Winnipeg North. Both SPC candidates finished a distant third in their ridings. Armstrong ran against Dixon, but could not prevent his election as an independent.
The SPC was further marginalized in the 1915 provincial election
. Its only candidate was Armstrong, who again placed third against Dixon. Subsequent events, however, would briefly revive the party's fortunes in the city.
In 1919, the city of Winnipeg was shaken by a General Strike which pitted unionized and non-unionized workers against the city's employers. The strike was suppressed by force, but labour radicalism within the city was greatly increased. There were increased calls for labour unity in the city. For the 1920 provincial election, the SPC, SDP and reformist labour parties forged an electoral alliance to contest Winnipeg's ten seats (which were determined by a single transferable ballot). The labour list received more votes than any other party, and elected four candidates to the Legislature. Armstrong was elected, along with three candidates from the other parties.
The 1920 election proved to be the party's greatest success in Manitoba
. In 1921, the SPC lost many of its members to the newly formed Workers Party (which was the legal wing of the Communist Party of Canada
) and ceased to function as a viable organization. Armstrong ran again as an SPC candidate in the 1922 election
, and was frequently heckled by Workers Party candidates for his alliance with the reformist Independent Labour Party
. Armstrong was defeated, and the party formally dissolved in 1925.
Armstrong resurfaced as an SPC candidate in the 1932 provincial election
, but fared poorly. The party does not appear to have functioned in the city for long after the election.
In 1945, a recreated SPC
ran James Milne in Winnipeg for Manitoba's provincial election. Milne claimed that neither the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation nor the Labour Progressive Party was serious about eroding capitalism and poverty. He was defeated, and the party does not appear to have participated in any further Manitoba elections.
Cummings was nominated by the SPC as a spoiler candidate in Winnipeg Centre, opposing Fred Dixon
who was backed by the Manitoba Liberal Party
and the Manitoba Labour Representation Committee
. Dixon's supporters alleged that the Conservative
were assisting his campaign, and historian Ross McCormack has indicated there may have been some truth to this charge. Cummings finished a distant third with 99 votes (2.44%). Conservative candidate Thomas Taylor defeated Dixon by 73 votes. The SPC was blamed for Dixon's loss, and became marginalized in Winnipeg's labour community until 1919. Little is known of Cummings, aside from the fact that he contested this election.
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...
was a revolutionary Marxist organization, founded in 1904 as a merger of the Socialist Party of British Columbia and related groups in Manitoba
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...
and Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, 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...
.
Although strongest in 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...
, the SPC was also a credible force in Winnipeg. One member of the party was elected to the Manitoba
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...
legislature in the 1920 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1920
Manitoba's general election of 29 June 1920 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.-Background:...
.
During its early years, the Winnipeg SPC was a rival to larger reformist groups such as 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...
's 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...
, from which many Socialists members had split. It was active in the local trade unions, and participated in the city's elections.
The party ran John Donald Houston in Winnipeg for the federal election of 1908
Canadian federal election, 1908
The Canadian federal election of 1908 was held on October 26 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 11th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier's Liberal Party of Canada was re-elected for a fourth consecutive term in government with a majority government...
. He finished third, behind the Liberal and Conservative candidates.
In the 1910 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1910
Manitoba's general election of July 11, 1910 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The result was a fourth consecutive majority government for the Conservative Party of Manitoba, led by premier Rodmond Palen Roblin. Roblin's electoral machine won...
, the SPC ran candidates in three of Winnipeg's four ridings. They finished a distant third in all three, but may have been responsible for the defeat of reformist 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...
candidate 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...
in Winnipeg Centre. Dixon's loss provoked a backlash against the SPC from Winnipeg's labour unions, weakening the party. Many of its members joined the newly formed 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...
, which became stronger in Winnipeg than any other city in western Canada.
In the 1914 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1914
Manitoba's general election of July 10, 1914 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The result was a fifth consecutive majority government for the Conservative Party, led by premier Rodmond P. Roblin...
, the SPC ran George Armstrong
George Armstrong (Manitoba politician)
George Armstrong was a politician and labour activist in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1920 to 1922, and is notable as the only member of the Socialist Party of Canada ever to serve in that institution.Armstrong was born in East York, Ontario, and...
and Bill Hoop for the two Winnipeg Centre seats, but did not challenge the SDP in Winnipeg North. Both SPC candidates finished a distant third in their ridings. Armstrong ran against Dixon, but could not prevent his election as an independent.
The SPC was further marginalized in the 1915 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1915
Manitoba's general election of August 6, 1915 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held only one year after the previous general election of 1914. In that election, the governing Conservatives of premier Rodmond P. Roblin were...
. Its only candidate was Armstrong, who again placed third against Dixon. Subsequent events, however, would briefly revive the party's fortunes in the city.
In 1919, the city of Winnipeg was shaken by a General Strike which pitted unionized and non-unionized workers against the city's employers. The strike was suppressed by force, but labour radicalism within the city was greatly increased. There were increased calls for labour unity in the city. For the 1920 provincial election, the SPC, SDP and reformist labour parties forged an electoral alliance to contest Winnipeg's ten seats (which were determined by a single transferable ballot). The labour list received more votes than any other party, and elected four candidates to the Legislature. Armstrong was elected, along with three candidates from the other parties.
The 1920 election proved to be the party's greatest success in Manitoba
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...
. In 1921, the SPC lost many of its members to the newly formed Workers Party (which was the legal wing of the Communist Party of Canada
Communist Party of Canada
The Communist Party of Canada is a communist political party in Canada. Although is it currently a minor or small political party without representation in the Federal Parliament or in provincial legislatures, historically the Party has elected representatives in Federal Parliament, Ontario...
) and ceased to function as a viable organization. Armstrong ran again as an SPC candidate in the 1922 election
Manitoba general election, 1922
Manitoba's general election of July 18, 1922 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.As in the previous election of 1920, the city of Winnipeg elected ten members by the single transferable ballot...
, and was frequently heckled by Workers Party candidates for his alliance with the reformist Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party (in Manitoba) (II)
Prior to 1920, there were a number of groups in Winnipeg which called themselves the "Independent Labour Party". For information on these groups, see Independent Labour Party ....
. Armstrong was defeated, and the party formally dissolved in 1925.
Armstrong resurfaced as an SPC candidate in the 1932 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1932
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1932 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This was the second election in Manitoba where the single transferable ballot was used in all electoral divisions...
, but fared poorly. The party does not appear to have functioned in the city for long after the election.
In 1945, a recreated SPC
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...
ran James Milne in Winnipeg for Manitoba's provincial election. Milne claimed that neither the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation nor the Labour Progressive Party was serious about eroding capitalism and poverty. He was defeated, and the party does not appear to have participated in any further Manitoba elections.
Candidates of the Socialist Party of Canada in Manitoba
1910 provincial election:- W.S. Cummings (Winnipeg Centre)
Cummings was nominated by the SPC as a spoiler candidate in Winnipeg Centre, opposing 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...
who was backed by 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 :...
and the Manitoba Labour Representation Committee
Manitoba Labour Representation Committee
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...
. Dixon's supporters alleged that the 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:...
were assisting his campaign, and historian Ross McCormack has indicated there may have been some truth to this charge. Cummings finished a distant third with 99 votes (2.44%). Conservative candidate Thomas Taylor defeated Dixon by 73 votes. The SPC was blamed for Dixon's loss, and became marginalized in Winnipeg's labour community until 1919. Little is known of Cummings, aside from the fact that he contested this election.