Stuart Garson
Encyclopedia
Stuart Sinclair Garson, (December 1, 1898 – May 5, 1977) was a Canadian
politician and lawyer. He served as the 12th Premier of Manitoba
from 1943 to 1948, and later became a federal cabinet minister.
Born in St. Catharines
, Ontario
, the son of William Garson
and Margaret Annable, Garson came to Manitoba with his parents in 1901. He received a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Manitoba
in 1918 and was called to the bar a year later. He practised law in Ashern, Manitoba
from 1919 to 1928. Garson was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
for the riding
of Fairford in 1927, defeating incumbent Liberal
Albert Kirvan
. He defeated again Kirvan in 1932, and faced only minor competition for the remainder of his time in the Manitoba legislature. In early 1932, Garson was one of the founding members of the province's Liberal-Progressive coalition
.
Garson was sworn in as provincial Treasurer on September 21, 1936. He also became minister of the Manitoba Power Commission
on November 4, 1940, and Minister of Public Utilities on May 15, 1941. He continued to hold all of these positions after being sworn in as Premier on January 14, 1943. He resigned the MPC and Utilities portfolios in 1944.
Garson's government was perhaps slightly more interventionist than those of fellow Liberal-Progressives John Bracken
and Douglas Campbell
. Garson's ministry began a program of rapid rural electrification
, and made some effort to service the needs of returning soldiers after World War II
. All the same, he rejected demanded from the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
to introduce programs in public housing and old-age pensions.
Under Garson's leadership, the "Liberal-Progressive" alliance became a united party—albeit one that was dominated by former Progressive politicians. His ministry also retained close ties to the federal Liberal government of William Lyon Mackenzie King
.
Garson moved to federal politics in 1948, at the behest of new Liberal Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent
. On November 15, 1948, Garson was sworn in as Minister of Justice and Attorney General
; he was elected to the federal parliament in a by-election the next month. For the next nine years, Garson would be the dominant cabinet minister from Manitoba
in St. Laurent's government. He also served as Solicitor General of Canada from August 7, 1950 to October 14, 1952.
Garson lost his seat in 1957, the year that Progressive Conservative leader John Diefenbaker
formed a minority government. He did not return to active political life thereafter. In 1971, he was made a Companion of the Order of 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...
politician and lawyer. He served as the 12th Premier of Manitoba
Premier of Manitoba
The Premier of Manitoba is the first minister for the Canadian province of Manitoba. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. Until the early 1970s, the title "Prime Minister of Manitoba" was used frequently. Afterwards, the word Premier, derived from the French...
from 1943 to 1948, and later became a federal cabinet minister.
Born in St. Catharines
St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines is the largest city in Canada's Niagara Region and the sixth largest urban area in Ontario, Canada, with 97.11 square kilometres of land...
, 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....
, the son of William Garson
William Garson
William C. W. Garson was a Scottish-born Ontario and Manitoba businessman and political figure. He represented Lincoln in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal member from 1886 to 1890....
and Margaret Annable, Garson came to Manitoba with his parents in 1901. He received a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
in 1918 and was called to the bar a year later. He practised law in Ashern, Manitoba
Ashern, Manitoba
Ashern is a Canadian community located in the Rural Municipality of Siglunes, in Manitoba's Interlake region. The RM of Siglunes was incorporated in 1917. The village of Ashern was named after A. S...
from 1919 to 1928. Garson was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
for the riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Fairford in 1927, defeating incumbent 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 :...
Albert Kirvan
Albert Kirvan
Albert Walmsley Kirvan was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1920 to 1927, as a member of the Manitoba Liberal Party....
. He defeated again Kirvan in 1932, and faced only minor competition for the remainder of his time in the Manitoba legislature. In early 1932, Garson was one of the founding members of the province's Liberal-Progressive coalition
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 :...
.
Garson was sworn in as provincial Treasurer on September 21, 1936. He also became minister of the Manitoba Power Commission
Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro is the electric power and natural gas utility in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1961, it is a provincial Crown Corporation, governed by the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board and the Manitoba Hydro Act. Today the company operates 15 interconnected generating stations. It has...
on November 4, 1940, and Minister of Public Utilities on May 15, 1941. He continued to hold all of these positions after being sworn in as Premier on January 14, 1943. He resigned the MPC and Utilities portfolios in 1944.
Garson's government was perhaps slightly more interventionist than those of fellow Liberal-Progressives John Bracken
John Bracken
John Bracken, PC was an agronomist, the 11th Premier of Manitoba and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ....
and Douglas Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell, OC was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as the 13th Premier of Manitoba from 1948 to 1958...
. Garson's ministry began a program of rapid rural electrification
Electrification
Electrification originally referred to the build out of the electrical generating and distribution systems which occurred in the United States, England and other countries from the mid 1880's until around 1940 and is in progress in developing countries. This also included the change over from line...
, and made some effort to service the needs of returning soldiers after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. All the same, he rejected demanded from the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Cooperative Commonwealth Federation , known informally as the Manitoba CCF, was a provincial branch of the national Canadian party by the same name. The national CCF was the dominant social-democratic party in Canada from the 1930s to the early 1960s, when it merged with the labour movement...
to introduce programs in public housing and old-age pensions.
Under Garson's leadership, the "Liberal-Progressive" alliance became a united party—albeit one that was dominated by former Progressive politicians. His ministry also retained close ties to the federal Liberal government of William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
.
Garson moved to federal politics in 1948, at the behest of new Liberal Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent
Louis St. Laurent
Louis Stephen St. Laurent, PC, CC, QC , was the 12th Prime Minister of Canada from 15 November 1948, to 21 June 1957....
. On November 15, 1948, Garson was sworn in as Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
; he was elected to the federal parliament in a by-election the next month. For the next nine years, Garson would be the dominant cabinet minister from 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 St. Laurent's government. He also served as Solicitor General of Canada from August 7, 1950 to October 14, 1952.
Garson lost his seat in 1957, the year that Progressive Conservative leader John Diefenbaker
John Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
formed a minority government. He did not return to active political life thereafter. In 1971, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
External links
- Synopsis of federal political experience from the Library of Parliament
- Stuart Sinclair Garson at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...
- University of Manitoba profile