Simon Fraser Tolmie

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Simon Fraser Tolmie

Simon Fraser Tolmie , PC (born January 25, 1867 in Victoria , British Columbia , † October 13, 1937 ibid) was a Canadian politician , veterinarian and farmer . He was Canada's Minister of Agriculture from 1919 to 1921 and 1926. He then took over the chairmanship of the British Columbia Conservative Party and was Prime Minister of British Columbia from August 21, 1928 to November 15, 1933.

biography

Tolmie came from one of the first families to settle in Victoria. Both his father, William Fraser Tolmie, and his maternal grandfather held influential positions in the Hudson's Bay Company . Tolmie grew up on the family's Hillside farm near Victoria. He went to Guelph , where he graduated from Ontario Veterinary College with a degree in veterinary medicine in 1891 . Later he was promoted to the highest cattle inspector in the country and also worked as a farmer.

On December 17, 1917 Tolmie was in the general election elected a deputy of the constituency Victoria. In the House of Commons he was a member of the Unionist Party , after which the Conservative Party was dissolved . Under Robert Borden and Arthur Meighen he was Canada's Minister of Agriculture from August 1919 to December 1921 and from July to September 1926.

In 1926 Tolmie was elected chairman of the British Columbia Conservative Party, but remained a member of the Canadian House of Commons until 1928. In the election for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in July 1928, the Conservatives obtained an absolute majority; Tolmie himself was successful in the Saanich constituency . On August 21, 1928, he took up the post of provincial prime minister, in addition he was also minister for railways.

The government reacted extremely hesitantly to the global economic crisis . By 1931 the unemployment rate rose to 28% and Tolmie had labor camps set up in the deserted interior. Massive cuts in social services led to a powerful protest movement. The Conservative Party was so torn by internal power struggles that the party leadership decided not to nominate any official candidates for the November 1933 election. The party split into several groups and suffered a heavy electoral defeat. On November 15, 1933, Tolmie, who had lost his seat, resigned.

In 1936, Tolmie regained his old lower house in Victoria in a by-election, but died a year later. He was the last Conservative Prime Minister of British Columbia.

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personal data
SURNAME Tolmie, Simon Fraser
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Canadian politician
DATE OF BIRTH January 25, 1867
PLACE OF BIRTH Victoria (British Columbia)
DATE OF DEATH October 13, 1937
Place of death Victoria (British Columbia)