Hart ministry

Hart ministry

23rd ministry of British Columbia
Date formedDecember 9, 1941 (1941-12-09)
Date dissolvedDecember 29, 1947 (1947-12-29)
People and organisations
MonarchGeorge VI
Lieutenant Governor
PremierJohn Hart
Member parties
  •   Liberal Party
  •   Conservative Party
Status in legislatureMajority (coalition)
Opposition partyCo-Operative Commonwealth Federation
Opposition leaderHarold Winch
History
Election1945
Legislature terms
PredecessorPattullo ministry
SuccessorJohnson ministry

The Hart ministry was the combined Cabinet (formally the Executive Council of British Columbia) that governed British Columbia from December 9, 1941, to December 29, 1947. It was led by John Hart, the 23rd premier of British Columbia, and was a coalition government that comprised members of both the Liberal Party and Conservative Party.

The Hart ministry was established shortly after the 1941 election. The incumbent Pattullo ministry, a single-party Liberal government, lost its majority in the Legislature, but Premier Duff Pattullo resisted calls to form a coalition.[1] In response, Liberal delegates voted to establish a coalition government, and elected John Hart, who supported a coalition, as their new leader.[2] The next day, Pattullo announced his resignation as premier, and Hart invited Royal Maitland, the Conservative leader, to join his government.[3] The Pattullo ministry was thus replaced by the Hart ministry on December 9, 1941.[4]

The Hart ministry governed through all of the 20th Parliament of British Columbia and, following its re-election in the 1945 election, continued into the 21st Parliament of British Columbia. On October 2, 1947, Hart announced his intention to retire.[5] It was succeeded by the Johnson ministry on December 29, 1947.[6]

  1. ^ "'We Elected The Largest Group'". Vancouver Sun. November 15, 1941. pp. A1.
  2. ^ Nesbitt, J.K. (December 3, 1941). "Liberals Vote for Coalition 477 to 312, Hart Succeeds Pattullo as Liberal Chief". Victoria Daily Times. pp. A13.
  3. ^ "House to Recess So Hart, Maitland Can Set Up Gov't". Vancouver Sun. December 4, 1941. pp. A1.
  4. ^ Hutchinson, Bruce (December 3, 1941). "New 8-Man B.C. Cabinet Announced". Vancouver Sun. pp. A1, A10.
  5. ^ "John Hart Announces Retirement". Vancouver Sun. October 2, 1947. pp. A1.
  6. ^ "Premier Johnson Formally Sworn In With Cabinet". Victoria Daily Times. December 29, 1947. pp. A1.