M. J. Coldwell

M. J. Coldwell
2nd Leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
In office
July 29, 1942 – August 10, 1960
Preceded byJ. S. Woodsworth
Succeeded byHazen Argue
2nd National Chairman of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
In office
1938–1942
Preceded byJ. S. Woodsworth
Succeeded byF. R. Scott
Member of Parliament
for Rosetown—Biggar
In office
October 14, 1935 – March 30, 1958
Preceded byNew Constituency
Succeeded byClarence Owen Cooper
1st National Secretary of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
In office
1934–1936
Preceded bynew office
Succeeded byDavid Lewis
1st Leader of the Saskatchewan Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
In office
1932–1936
Preceded bynew office
Succeeded byGeorge Hara Williams
Member of the Regina City Council
In office
1922–1932
Personal details
Born
Major James William Coldwell

(1888-12-02)December 2, 1888
Seaton, Devon, England
DiedAugust 25, 1974(1974-08-25) (aged 85)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Political party
Spouse
Norah Dunsford Coldwell
(m. 1912)
Children2[1]
Residence(s)Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Occupation
  • Author
  • principal
  • teacher

Major James William Coldwell [a] PC CC (December 2, 1888 – August 25, 1974) was a Canadian democratic socialist politician, and leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) party from 1942 to 1960.

Born in England, he immigrated to Canada in 1910. Prior to his political career, he was an educator and union activist. In 1935, he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada, representing the Rosetown—Biggar electoral district. He was re-elected five more times before he was defeated in the 1958 Diefenbaker sweep. He became the CCF's first national secretary in 1934 and became its national leader upon the death of J. S. Woodsworth in 1942. He remained leader until 1960, when there was a parliamentary caucus revolt against him. When the CCF disbanded in 1961, he joined its successor, the New Democratic Party.

Coldwell is remembered mainly for helping to introduce "welfare state" policies to Canada, by persuading the Canadian government to introduce an Old Age Security programme and child benefits during the mid-1940s. He turned down several offers to join the governing Liberal Party of Canada, including one offer that would have made him Prime Minister. After his defeat in 1958, he was offered an appointment to the Senate, but he declined this as well. In 1964 he was sworn into the Privy Council, and in 1967 he was one of the initial inductees into the Order of Canada.

  1. ^ Estorick, Eric (1945). "Preface". Left turn, Canada; with an introduction by Eric Estorick. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce. p. viii.


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