1932 Manitoba general election
The 1932 Manitoba general election was held on June 16, 1932 to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.
This was the second election in Manitoba where two types of preferential voting was used in all electoral divisions. Winnipeg elected ten members through single transferable ballot, while all other constituencies elected one member by instant runoff voting.
The election was called soon after the announcement of an alliance between the governing Progressive Party of John Bracken and the Liberal Party led by Murdoch Mackay. These parties were ideologically similar, and had a common interest in preventing the Conservative Party from coming to power. National Liberal leader William Lyon Mackenzie King supported this alliance, out of concern that a Conservative victory would strengthen the hand of Conservative Prime Minister Richard Bennett.
Bracken tried to bring the Conservatives into his coalition, but was rebuffed by Conservative leader Fawcett Taylor. Taylor's refusal to consider a consensus government was used against him in the campaign.
The election was also contested by the social democratic Independent Labour Party, under the leadership of John Queen. Though it was the second-largest party in the legislature after the 1920 election, Labour had slumped to only three seats in 1927 amid a general period of decline in the Canadian left. While the ILP was poised to improve its showing in the 1932 campaign, it was not a serious contender for government. In the event it elected only five MLAs, four in Winnipeg and one in St. Boniface, evidence of the benefits of preferential balloting to a minority party.
Some members of the provincial Liberal Party opposed the Liberal-Progressive alliance, and contested the election as "continuing Liberals". Their leader was David Campbell, the mayor of St. Boniface.
Leslie Morris and Jacob Penner of the Communist Party campaigned in the city of Winnipeg, and other Communist candidates ran in the outlying areas. As the Communist Party was under legal restrictions at the time, they ran as "United Front Workers" candidates. Former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) George Armstrong ran as a candidate of the Socialist Party, and Jessie MacLennan campaigned as a labour candidate unaffiliated with the ILP.
The result was a resounding victory for the governing alliance, as Liberals, Progressives and their allies won 38 out of 55 seats. The Conservatives fell from fifteen seats to ten. Having lost his third consecutive election, Fawcett Taylor resigned as Conservative leader in 1933. The Independent Labour Party managed a modest recovery after its poor showing in 1927, increasing its caucus to five members. No other parties' candidates were elected, although two former Progressives were elected as independents. The Continuing Liberals fared especially poorly, and disappeared after the election.
Leslie Morris came 309 votes short of winning the tenth seat in Winnipeg. Had he won, he would have been the first Communist elected to a provincial legislature in Canada.
Results
Party | Party Leader | # of candidates |
Seats | Popular Vote | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1927 | Elected | Change | # | % | % Change | ||||
Liberal-Progressive | John Bracken | 53 | 36 | 38 | +2 | 39.6% | -13.5% | ||
Conservative | Fawcett Taylor | 49 | 15 | 10 | -5 | 35.4% | +8.2% | ||
Independent Labour | John Queen | 15 | 3 | 5 | +2 | 16.5% | +6.0% | ||
Continuing Liberal | David Campbell | 13 | - | 0 | - | 2.0% | n/a | ||
United Front | 4 | 0 | 0 | - | |||||
Socialist | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | |||||
Independent | 11 | 1 | 2 | +1 | |||||
Total | 55 | 55 | 100% |
Preceded by 1927 Manitoba election |
List of Manitoba elections | Succeeded by 1936 Manitoba election |
Of the 17 opposition MLAs, 7 were elected in Winnipeg through STV.
See also
Results by electoral division
(LP/P = Liberal Party/Progressive) L = continuing Liberal group led by Campbell (45 single-member seats, winner determined through Alternative Voting; 10 Winnipeg seats, winners determined through STV)
Arthur:
- (x)Duncan Lloyd McLeod (LP/P) 1835
- J. Arthur Ross (C) 881
Assiniboia:
First Count
- Ralph Webb (C) 2813
- John McLean (ILP) 2349
- John George Smith (LP) 1008
Smith was eliminated.
Second Count
- Ralph Webb (C) 3015
- John McLean (ILP) 2911
Beautiful Plains:
- (x)Adalbert Poole (LP/P) 2378
- John Poole (C) 1729
Birtle:
- (x)John Pratt (Ind/P) 1954
- William C. Wroth (C) 1315
Brandon City:
First Count
- George Dinsdale (C) 2647
- Harry Spafford (ILP) 1574
- David E. Clement (LP/L) 1423
- Harry William Cater (L) 893
Cater was eliminated. Clement was eliminated on the second count with 1555 votes.
Third Count
- George Dinsdale (C) 3021
- Harry Spafford (ILP) 2192
Carillon:
- (x)Albert Prefontaine (LP/P) 2590
- Maurice Duprey (C) 804
Cypress:
- James Christie (LP) 1795
- (x)William H. Spinks (C) 1539
Dauphin:
First Count
- Robert Hawkins (LP) 1668
- Ernest N. McGirr (C) 1525
- W.S. Wicks (ILP) 578
Wicks was eliminated.
Second Count
- Robert Hawkins (LP) 1861
- Ernest N. McGirr (C) 1595
Deloraine:
- (x)Hugh McKenzie (LP/P) 2003
- John Agnew (C) 1523
Dufferin:
- (x)John Munn (LP/P) 2568
- Arthur B. Roblin (C) 1966
Emerson:
First Count
- (x)Robert Curran (LP) 1987
- William Richard Johnston (C) 1742
- William Kolodzinski (Ind Farmer-Labour) 559
Kolodzinski was eliminated.
Second Count
- (x)Robert Curran (LP) 2028
- William Richard Johnston (C) 1788
Ethelbert:
- (x)Nicholas Hryhorczuk (LP/Ind Farmer) 2331
- Nicholas Bilash (ILP) 1682
Fairford:
- (x)Stuart Garson (LP/P) 1011
- A.W. Kirvan (L) 677
Fisher:
First Count
- (x)Nicholas Bachynsky (LP/P) 845
- W.N. Kolisnyk (United Front Workers) 364
- W.E. Hodgins (C) 352
- J.G. Hamilton (Ind LP) 195
Hamilton was eliminated. Note that one source lists Hamilton as a Continuing Liberal.
Second Count
- (x)Nicholas Bachynsky (LP/P) 851
- W.N. Kolisnyk (United Front Workers) 388
- W.E. Hodgins (C) 388
Gilbert Plains:
- (x)Arthur Berry (LP/P) 1601
- H.A. Alley (C) 1312
Gimli:
First Count
- Einar Jonasson (LP/L) 1340
- (x)Ingimar Ingaldson (LP/P) 1069
- Gunnar Thorvaldson (C) 858
- Iwan Kapusta (United Front Workers) 710
- Michael Ewanchuk (L) 236
Ewanchuk was eliminated. Kapusta was eliminated on the second count with 716 votes, and Thorvaldson was eliminated on the third count with 858 votes.
Fourth Count
- Einar Jonasson (LP/L) 1704
- (x)Ingimar Ingaldson (LP/P) 1410
Gladstone:
- (x)William Morton (LP) 1902
- George M. Hall (C) 1144
Glenwood:
- (x)James Breakey (LP/L) 2020
- Arnaud E. Smith (C) 1087
Hamiota:
- (x)Thomas Wolstenholme (LP/P) 1847
- W.J. Burgess (C) 1223
Iberville:
- (x)Arthur R. Boivin (LP/Ind) 1488
- R.R. Pattinson (C) 807
- Laurier A. Regnier (L) 304
Kildonan and St. Andrews:
First Count
- (x)James McLenaghen (C) 2564
- W.H. Gibbs (LP/L) 2334
- Charles H. Cook (ILP) 1313
Cook was eliminated.
Second Count
- (x)James McLenaghen (C) 2664
- W.H. Gibbs (LP/L) 2625
Killarney:
- Andrew Foster (LP) 1571
- (x)John Bell Laughlin (C) 1481
Lakeside:
- (x)Douglas Campbell (LP/P) 1969
- John P. Bend (C) 1522
Lansdowne:
- (x)Donald McKenzie (LP) 2193
- G.R.D. Lyon (C) 1095
- R.C. Borton (Ind) 302
- William C. Griggs (L) 189
La Verendrye:
First Count
- Philippe Adjutor Talbot (LP/P) 1587
- R.J.E. Arpin (C) 1473
- Allan Ramsay (Ind) 374
Ramsay was eliminated.
Second Count
- Philippe Adjutor Talbot (LP/P) 1627
- R.J.E. Arpin (C) 1551
Manitou:
- Frank McIntosh (LP) 2268
- (x)Joseph Lusignan (C) 1776
Minnedosa:
First Count
- (x)Earl Rutledge (C) 2336
- Neil Cameron (LP) 2210
- Cecil L. St. John (Ind) 396
St. John was eliminated.
Second Count
- (x)Earl Rutledge (C) 2432
- Neil Cameron (LP) 2378
Morris:
- (x)William Clubb (LP/P) 2526
- C.B. McNulty (C) 1077
Mountain:
- (x)Ivan Schultz (LP/L) 3076
- Robert Perfect (C) 1182
- C.W. Wiebe (LP) 2837
- (x)Hugh McGavin (C) 2390
Norfolk:
- (x)John Muirhead (LP/P) 1773
- R.J. Waugh (C) 1537
Portage la Prairie:
- (x)Fawcett Taylor (C) 2016
- Ewan McPherson (LP/L) 1051
Roblin:
- William Westwood (LP/Ind) 1847
- (x)Frederic Newton (C) 1238
Rockwood:
First Count
- (x)William McKinnell (LP/P) 2114
- H.M. Hannesson (C) 1136
- B.E. Lewis (Ind Farmer) 997
Lewis was eliminated.
Second Count
- (x)William McKinnell (LP/P) 2667
- H. Hannesson (C) 1250
Rupertsland (16 July):
First Count
- Ewan McPherson (LP/L) 312
- (x)Herbert G. Beresford (LP/P) 215
- Capt. Evans Atkinson (Ind) 111
Atkinson was eliminated.
Second Count
- Ewan McPherson (LP/L) 319
- (x)Herbert G. Beresford (LP/P) 229
Russell:
- (x)Isaac Griffiths (LP/P) 2523
- E.H. Whelpley (C) 1237
St. Boniface: Valid votes: 11,359 majority required to win on First Count: 5680
First Count
- (x)Joseph Bernier (C) 3483
- Harold Lawrence (ILP) 3477
- L.P. Gagnon (LP/L) 3283
- David Campbell (L) 1116
2nd Count Campbell was eliminated. His 1116 votes were transferred to other candidates according to voters' marked preferences or put aside as "exhausted." 3rd Count Gagnon was eliminated. His 3560 votes were transferred.
After 3rd Count
- Harold Lawrence (ILP) 4954
- (x)Joseph Bernier (C) 4470
Lawrence with a majority of the remaining votes in the district was declared elected. At the end there were 9424 votes still in play. The others were "exhausted." They had run out of marked preferences so were no longer in use.
St. Clements:
First Count
- (x)Robert Hoey (LP/P) 3234
- R.J. Bate (C) 2046
- Thomas Dunn (ILP) 1774
- R.A. Smith (L) 412
Smith was eliminated. Dunn was eliminated after the second count with 1824 votes.
Second Count
- (x)Robert Hoey (LP/P) 3655
- R.J. Bate (C) 2285
St. George:
- (x)Skuli Sigfusson (LP/L) 1604
- Robert Kerr Jr. (C) 1104
Ste. Rose:
- (x)Maurice Dane MacCarthy (LP/P) 1959
- Robert Doucette (C) 1203
Springfield:
First Count
- Clifford Barclay (Ind/Farmer-Labour) 3035
- (x)Murdoch Mackay (LP/L) 2407
- W.B.K. McRury (C) 1080
- James Grant (ILP) 235
- John A. Matheson (L) 232
Matheson was eliminated. McRury and Grant were eliminated after the second count with 1113 and 251 votes, respectively.
Third Count
- Clifford Barclay (Ind/Farmer-Labour) 3192
- (x)Murdoch Mackay (LP/L) 2540
Swan River:
First Count
- George Renouf (C) 1698
- Sam Einarson (Ind) 1279
- Charles H. Goodman (LP) 1034
Goodman was eliminated.
Second Count
- George Renouf (C) 1827
- Sam Einarson (Ind) 1776
Turtle Mountain:
- (x)Alexander Welch (C) 1322
- Frederick V. Bird (LP) 1277
The Pas (deferred):
- (x)John Bracken (LP/P) 1915
- N.S. McDonald (ILP) 1072
- H.F. Maulson (Ind C) 173
Virden:
- (x)Robert Mooney (LP/P) 2101
- J.H. Heenan (C) 1669
- S.L. McBain (L) 249
Winnipeg (ten members):
First Count (quota: 7000 votes): Evans and Queen declared elected
- (x)William Sanford Evans (C) 13507
- (x)John Queen (ILP) 9302
- (x)William Major (LP/P) 5940
- (x)Seymour Farmer (ILP) 5053
- (x)John Thomas Haig (C) 4432
- John Stewart McDiarmid (LP/L) 3540
- Huntly Ketchen (C) 3530
- Leslie Morris (United Front Workers) 3455
- Marcus Hyman (ILP) 3366
- Ralph Maybank (LP/L) 2945
- C. Andrusyshen (Ind Ukrainian) 2693
- (x)William Ivens (ILP) 2262
- (x)William V. Tobias (C) 1991
- R.W.B. Swail (C) 1951
- (x)Edward William Montgomery (LP) 1614
- Jessie MacLennan (Lab) 1600
- James Alexander Barry (C) 1549
- F.W. Russell (Ind) 1339
- Jacob Penner (United Front Workers) 1106
- V.B. Anderson (ILP) 1061
- Beatrice Brigden (ILP) 894
- George Armstrong (SPC) 848
- H.P.A. Hermanson (L) 688
- Duncan Cameron (LP) 597
- John Y. Reid (L) 588
- Clarence G. Keith (L) 548
- D.M. Elcheshen (C) 314
- W.J. Fulton (LP) 182
- Thomas Gargan (Ind) 96
- Second Count: Evans surplus
- Third Count: Queen surplus
- Fourth count: Fulton and Gargan eliminated
- Fifth count: Elcheshen eliminated (378 votes; Haig elected, 7019 votes)
- Sixth count: Haig surplus
- Seventh count: Keith eliminated (588 votes)
- Eighth count: Cameron eliminated
- Ninth count: Reid eliminated (812 votes)
- Tenth count: Armstrong eliminated (880 votes)
- Eleventh count: Brigden eliminated (1084 votes; Farmer elected, 7105 votes)
- Twelfth count: Farmer surplus
- Thirteenth count: Penner eliminated
- Fourteenth count: Hermanson eliminated (1331 votes)
- Fifteenth count: Anderson eliminated
- Sixteenth count: Russell eliminated (1570 votes)
- Seventeenth count: MacLennan eliminated (2082 votes; Major elected, 7044 votes)
- Eighteenth count: Major surplus
- Nineteenth count: Montgomery eliminated (2177 votes)
- Twentieth count: Tobias eliminated (2425 votes)
- Twenty-first count: Andrusychen eliminated (2923 votes)
- Twenty-second count: Swail eliminated (3457 votes; Ketchen elected, 7486 votes)
- Twenty-third count: Ketchen surplus
- Twenty-fourth count: Barry eliminated (4780 votes)
- (x)William Evans (C) 7000
- (x)John Queen (ILP) 7000
- (x)John Haig (C) 7000
- (x)Seymour Farmer (ILP) 7000
- (x)William Major (LP/P) 7000
- Huntly Ketchen (C) 7000
- Marcus Hyman (ILP) 6593
- John McDiarmid (LP/L) 6060
- (x)William Ivens (ILP) 5470
- Ralph Maybank (LP/L) 5268
- Leslie Morris (United Front Workers) 4959
- Twenty-fifth count: Morris was eliminated, leaving Hyman (ILP), John McDiarmid (LP/L), William Ivens (ILP) and
Ralph Maybank (LP/L) to take the last empty seats.
These were elected:
- (x)William Evans (C) 7000
- (x)John Queen (ILP) 7000
- (x)John Haig (C) 7000
- (x)Seymour Farmer (ILP) 7000
- (x)William Major (LP/P) 7000
- Huntly Ketchen (C) 7000
- Marcus Hyman (ILP) 6593
- John McDiarmid (LP/L) 6060
- (x)William Ivens (ILP) 5470
- Ralph Maybank (LP/L) 5268
Sources
The first ballot results for Winnipeg and results for all other constituencies are taken from an official Manitoba government publication entitled "Manitoba elections, 1920-1941", cross-referenced with an appendix to the government's report of the 2003 provincial election. The Canadian parliamentary guide lists slightly different results from Kildonan & St. Andrews, Lansdowne, La Verendrye, Morris, Springfield and Turtle Mountain; the other two sources are more comprehensive, however, and may be taken as more reliable.
All ballot results for Winnipeg after the first count are taken from reports in the Winnipeg Free Press newspaper. It is possible that some errors appeared in the original publication.
Post-election changes
Portage la Prairie (res. Fawcett Taylor, 1933), November 27, 1933:
- Toby Sexsmith (C) 1166, 1261
- E.A. Gilroy (Ind [LP]) 851, 1024
- H.A. Ireland (Ind-Lab) 597
Arthur (dec. Duncan McLeod, May 10, 1935), June 24, 1935:
- John R. Pitt (LP) accl.
Russell (Isaac Griffiths to cabinet, May 28, 1935), July 4, 1935:
- Isaac Griffiths (LP) accl.
Carillon (dec. Albert Prefontaine, 1935), July 4, 1935:
- Edmond Prefontaine (LP) 1948
- Louis-P. Gagnon 1793
Gimli (res. Einar Jonasson, 1935)
Winnipeg (res. Ralph Maybank, October 1, 1935)
Winnipeg (res. John Thomas Haig, 1935)