Douglas Lloyd Campbell

Douglas Lloyd Campbell , OC (born May 27, 1895 in Portage la Prairie , Manitoba , † April 23, 1995 ) was a Canadian politician . He was a member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly from 1922 to 1969 . After serving in the governments of John Bracken and Stuart Garson , he ruled the province from November 13, 1948 to June 30, 1958 as Prime Minister. During this time he was also chairman of the Manitoba Liberal Party .

biography

Campbell worked as a farmer and teacher , and he was the lodge master of the Masonic lodge at Portage la Prairie. As a candidate for the Progressive Party of Manitoba , he ran in the July 1922 legislative assembly elections and was elected in the Lakeside constituency. He was re-elected eleven times in a row. In 1932, the progressives joined forces with the Manitoba Liberal Party. From December 1936, Campbell served as Secretary of Agriculture in the cabinet of John Bracken. In February 1944, Stuart Garson made him head of the Ministry responsible for the Manitoba Power Commission . In this role he led an electrification program for remote areas.

When Garson switched to federal politics and became Canadian Minister of Justice, Campbell succeeded him as Prime Minister Manitoba on November 13, 1948. At the same time he took over the chairmanship of the Manitoba Liberal Party. His government was reserved and conservative. They shied away from investing in public institutions (especially education), which is why the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba in 1950 terminated the coalition. Until 1955, all towns in the province were connected to the electricity network. Another achievement was the establishment of Canada's first independent electoral commission.

The elections in June 1958 did not result in a clear majority. Campbell initially wanted to form a coalition with the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation . When the negotiations were unsuccessful, he resigned as Prime Minister on September 30, 1958, whereupon Dufferin Roblin formed a new government. Campbell remained party chairman and opposition leader until 1961. In 1969 he did not seek re-election. He represented Lakeside for 47 years, making him the longest-serving MP in the province's history. In the 1980s he made another political appearance when he publicly supported populist movements; first the Confederation of Regions Party , then the Reform Party of Canada . Campbell passed away five weeks before his 100th birthday.

Web links

• Biography on the Manitoba Historical Society website
• Article Douglas Lloyd Campbell in the Canadian Encyclopedia
• Entry into the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame