Pattullo ministry
Cabinet of British Columbia, 1933–1941
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The Pattullo ministry was the combined Cabinet (formally the Executive Council of British Columbia) that governed British Columbia from November 15, 1933, to December 9, 1941. It was led by Duff Pattullo, the 22nd premier of British Columbia, and was composed of members of the Liberal Party.
- George V (1933–1936)
- Edward VIII (1936)
- George VI (1936–1941)
- John William Fordham Johnson (1933–1936)
- Eric Hamber (1936–1941)
- William Culham Woodward (1941))
Pattullo ministry | |
|---|---|
 22nd ministry of British Columbia | |
| Date formed | November 15, 1933 |
| Date dissolved | December 9, 1941 |
| People and organisations | |
Monarch |
|
| |
Premier | Duff Pattullo |
Member parties | Liberal Party |
Status in legislature | |
Opposition party |
|
Opposition leader |
|
| History | |
| Elections | 1933, 1937, 1941 |
| Legislature terms | |
| Predecessor | Tolmie ministry |
| Successor | Hart ministry |
The Pattullo ministry was established following the 1933 election, in which the Liberal Party won a majority government.[1] It governed for the entirety of the 18th Parliament of British Columbia and, after re-election in the 1937 election, the entirety of the 19th Parliament of British Columbia as well.
After the 1941 election, the Liberal Party lost its majority in the Legislature.[2] Pattullo faced calls to form a coalition government with the Conservative Party, including from within his own party, but opted instead to form a minority government.[3] His new cabinet was sworn in on November 14.[4] However, at the party's annual convention on December 3, delegates voted to establish a coalition government. Pattullo then resigned, and the convention elected John Hart, who endorsed a coalition, as leader.[5] The next day, Pattullo announced his resignation as premier, and Hart invited Royal Maitland, the Conservative leader, to join a coalition.[6] The Pattullo ministry was thus disestablished and replaced by the Hart ministry on December 9, 1941.[7]
List of ministers
| Portfolio | Minister | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | End | ||
| Premier of British Columbia | Duff Pattullo | November 15, 1933 | December 9, 1941 |
| Minister of Agriculture | Kenneth Cattanach MacDonald | November 15, 1933 | November 25, 1941 |
| Frank Putnam | November 26, 1941 | December 9, 1941 | |
| Attorney General | Gordon McGregor Sloan | November 15, 1933 | April 5, 1937 |
| Duff Pattullo | April 5, 1937 | July 5, 1937 | |
| Gordon Sylvester Wismer | July 5, 1937 | November 14, 1941 | |
| Norman William Whittaker | November 14, 1941 | November 19, 1941 | |
| Duff Pattullo | November 24, 1941 | December 9, 1941 | |
| Minister of Education | George Moir Weir | November 15, 1933 | November 18, 1941 |
| Duff Pattullo | November 18, 1941 | December 9, 1941 | |
| Minister of Finance | John Hart | November 15, 1933 | November 17, 1941 |
| Duff Pattullo | November 18, 1941 | December 9, 1941 | |
| Minister of Labour | George Sharratt Pearson | November 15, 1933 | November 14, 1941 |
| William James Asselstine | November 14, 1941 | December 9, 1941 | |
| Minister of Lands | Wells Gray | November 15, 1933 | December 9, 1941 |
| Minister of Mines | George Sharratt Pearson | November 15, 1933 | December 23, 1937 |
| William James Asselstine | December 23, 1937 | November 14, 1941 | |
| Charles Sidney Leary | November 14, 1941 | December 9, 1941 | |
| Minister of Municipal Affairs | Wells Gray | March 31, 1934 | December 9, 1941 |
| Provincial Secretary | George Moir Weir | November 15, 1933 | November 17, 1941 |
| Wells Gray | November 18, 1941 | December 9, 1941 | |
| Minister of Public Works | Frank Mitchell MacPherson | November 15, 1933 | September 27, 1939 |
| Duff Pattullo | September 27, 1939 | December 5, 1939 | |
| George Sharratt Pearson | December 5, 1939 | November 14, 1941 | |
| Thomas King | November 15, 1941 | December 9, 1941 | |
| Minister of Railways | Duff Pattullo | November 15, 1933 | December 23, 1937 |
| George Sharratt Pearson | December 23, 1937 | December 5, 1939 | |
| Charles Sidney Leary | December 5, 1939 | November 14, 1941 | |
| Thomas King | November 15, 1941 | December 9, 1941 | |
| Minister of Trade and Industry[a] | John Hart | December 1, 1933 | December 10, 1937 |
| William James Asselstine | December 23, 1937 | November 14, 1941 | |
| Charles Sidney Leary | November 14, 1941 | December 9, 1941 | |
Cabinet shuffles
A wave of resignations followed Pattullo's declaration of a minority government. On November 15, George Sharratt Pearson resigned from cabinet in protest. Pearson's resignation surprised Pattullo; the Vancouver Sun noted "never before had one of his cabinet gone against him so willfully".[8] Two days later, on November 17, Finance Minister John Hart stepped down over the coalition issue as well.[9] They were followed, on November 19, by Norman William Whittaker, who cited Hart and Pearson's resignations as evidence of Pattullo's crumbling support and authority.[10] Finally, K. C. MacDonald announced his resignation on November 20.[11] During this period, Pattullo took over the portfolios of education, finance[12] and attorney general himself.[13]
New ministries
On February 20, 1934, the government announced plans to establish a separate Department of Municipal Affairs.[14] Wells Gray was sworn in as the inaugural minister on March 31, 1934.[15]
On September 11, 1937, Pattullo announced plans to establish a Department of Trade and Industry, amalgamating the existing Department of Industries with the BC Economic Council and Bureau of Provincial Information.[16] William James Asselstine was named Minister of Trade and Industry as well as taking over as Minister of Mines, effectively combining administration of the two portfolios, on December 23, 1937.[17]
Notes
- "Industries" from November 15, 1933 to December 1, 1933.