The 1952 British Columbia general election was the 23rd general election in the Canadian province of

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, alongside a plebiscite on daylight saving time and liquor. The election was called on April 10, 1952, and held on June 12, 1952. The new legislature met for the first time on February 3, 1953. It was the first BC general election to use a

preferential ballot The term ranked voting (also known as preferential voting or ranked choice voting) refers to any voting system in which voters rank their candidates (or options) in a sequence of first or second (or third, etc.) on their respective ballots. Ran ...

, a short-lived phenomenon in the province. The presence of multi-member districts, such as Victoria City with 3 MLAs, in conjunction with the alternative voting system called for an innovation where the district's candidates were split into three "ballots", each with one candidate from each party. Due to the preferential ballot, the election resulted in a surprise victory for the new Social Credit Party. Not even the Socreds had expected to win the election; the party had no official leader, and was nominally lead through the election by

Ernest George Hansell Ernest George Hansell (14 May 1895 in Norwich, England – 9 December 1965) was an ordained minister as well as a Canadian federal and provincial politician. Federal politics Hansell ran as a Social Credit Party of Canada, Social Credit candidat ...

, an Alberta MP who did not contest a seat himself. The newly elected caucus selected

W. A. C. Bennett William Andrew Cecil Bennett (September 6, 1900 – February 23, 1979) was a Canadians, Canadian politician. He was the 25th premier of British Columbia from 1952 to 1972. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-s ...

, a former Conservative MLA, to be their leader and premier-designate. This began what would be 21 years of uninterrupted Social Credit rule in British Columbia. This would also be the last election to produce a minority government until the 2017 election.

Background

The government until not long before the election had been a

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

– Progressive Conservative coalition (the Conservatives had recently changed their name to match that of the federal party). After the coalition had collapsed, the Liberals felt threatened by the rising popularity of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. To lock out the CCF, the government adopted the

alternative voting Instant-runoff voting (IRV) is a type of ranked preferential voting method. It uses a majority voting rule in single-winner elections where there are more than two candidates. It is commonly referred to as ranked-choice voting (RCV) in the Un ...

system instead of leaving the existing system in place or switching to the

single transferable vote Single transferable vote (STV) is a multi-winner electoral system in which voters cast a single vote in the form of a ranked-choice ballot. Voters have the option to rank candidates, and their vote may be transferred according to alternate ...

system. While they ran candidates separately under their own names, Liberal and Conservative party leaders believed that if Liberal voters picked the local Tory candidate as their second preference and vice versa, one of the candidates of the two parties would have enough votes to be elected in many districts, hopefully ensuring the coalition's retention of power.

Campaign

However, the Liberal and PC leaders had not reckoned on being so unpopular with the province's voters. The combined Liberal and PC vote total was 120,000 fewer votes than in the previous election, while the Social Credit party received almost 200,000 more votes than in 1949. The combined Liberal and Conservative vote totals surpassed 50 percent in only eight seat contests, so even if the party voters had adhered to coalition discipline, the coalition did not have enough votes to be elected in most of the districts. They received only a comparative few votes through vote transfers from CCF and SC candidates, whose supporters aided each other where possible."1871-1986 Electoral History of BC" In districts where CCF candidates were eliminated, back-up preferences were marked overwhelmingly for the British Columbia Social Credit League (BCSCL). Combined with many second-preference votes transferred from eliminated Liberal and Conservative candidates, this gave the Social Credit party five seats in addition to the 14 seats where its candidates had a plurality in the first counts. In the end, the Social Credit party captured 19 seats. The CCF received 18 seats, helped in many cases by transfers from eliminated SC candidates. The coalition was almost wiped out, winning only 10 seats between both parties. Both Premier Byron "Boss" Johnson and Tory leader

Herbert Anscomb Herbert Bertie Anscomb (February 23, 1892 – November 12, 1972) was a Conservative politician and British Columbia cabinet minister. He was born in England and moved to Canada in 1911. He settled in Victoria, British Columbia where he found w ...

lost their seats. Not even the Socreds had expected to win the election. The party had no official leader. Alberta Social Credit Member of Parliament

had led the party during the election campaign without contesting a seat himself. The Socreds persuaded

Tom Uphill Thomas Hubert Uphill (June 26, 1874 – February 17, 1962) was a socialist politician in British Columbia, longtime mayor of the town of Fernie and also represented the riding named for the town in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for ...

, a Labour member of the Legislature (MLA), to support the party, and so the Socreds were able to form a minority government. (Otherwise, having to provide the Speaker meant that the SC seat total would have been reduced to only the same as the CCF's seat count.)

Aftermath

The party's next task was to choose the province's new premier. In a vote of the newly elected caucus,

W.A.C. Bennett William Andrew Cecil Bennett (September 6, 1900 – February 23, 1979) was a Canadian politician. He was the 25th premier of British Columbia from 1952 to 1972. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving prem ...

, a former Conservative MLA who joined the Socreds after losing a bid for the Tory leadership, won a caucus vote and became premier-designate on July 15, 1952. This began what would be 21 years of uninterrupted Social Credit rule in British Columbia. The party held power for 36 of the following 39 years. It would also be the last British Columbia election to produce a minority government until the 2017 election. In hopes of getting a stronger mandate, Bennett deliberately lost a confidence vote in 1953. This forced an election in June 1953 in which Social Credit won a majority of the seats.

Results

Note: * Party did not nominate candidates in the previous election. ¹ In the previous election, the Liberal and Conservative parties ran candidates jointly as "Coalition" candidates, electing 39 MLAs. The Conservatives withdrew from the coalition in 1951 hastening the government's collapse.

Results by riding

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William Ralph Talbot Chetwynd The Honourable William Ralph Talbot Chetwynd (July 28, 1890 – April 3, 1957) was a British-Canadian businessman and politician. The town of Chetwynd, British Columbia was named in his honor. Born in Staffordshire, England, he was the young ...

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Stanley John Squire Stanley John Squire (November 24, 1915 – 1998) was a machinist and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Alberni in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1966 as a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and ...

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William Kenneth Kiernan William Kenneth Kiernan (July 25, 1916 – August 26, 1997) was a Canadian businessman and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Chilliwack in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1972 as a Social Credit membe ...

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Chilliwack Chilliwack ( )( hur, Ts'elxwéyeqw) is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Chilliwack is surrounded by mountains and home to recreational areas such as Cultus Lake and Chilliwack Lake Provincial Parks. There are numerous outdo ...

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Frank Calder Frank Sellick Calder (November 17, 1877 – February 4, 1943) was a British-born Canadian ice hockey executive, journalist, and athlete. Calder was the first president of the National Hockey League (NHL), from 1917 until his death in 1943. He ...

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Burnaby Burnaby is a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada. Located in the centre of the Burrard Peninsula, it neighbours the City of Vancouver to the west, the District of North Vancouver across the confluence of the Burrard I ...

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Ernest Edward Winch Ernest Edward Winch (March 22, 1879 – January 11, 1957) was a British Columbia politician, trade unionist and socialist. He was a BC Co-operative Commonwealth Federation MLA in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly from 1933 until his ...

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William Campbell Moore William Campbell "Bill" Moore (1923 – August 1982) was a printer and political figure in British Columbia, Canada. He represented Comox from 1952 to 1956 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. He was born in Vancouver, British Colum ...

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Lyle Wicks Lyle Wicks (November 1, 1912 - February 3, 2004) was a British Columbia politician. Born in Calgary, Alberta, Wicks graduated from McLean High School in Haney, British Columbia, Canada in 1930. He was one of the first employees of the BC Plywoo ...

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Cowichan-Newcastle Cowichan-Newcastle was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It appeared in two separate eras, the later in the British Columbia elections of 1960 and 1963 elections. Demographics Political geography ...

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Robert Martin Strachan Robert Martin Strachan (December 1, 1913 – July 21, 1981) was a trade unionist and politician. He was the longest serving Leader of the Opposition in British Columbia history.Canadian Press, "Robert Strachan Led CCF-NDP in opposition for 13 y ...

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Leo Thomas Nimsick Leo Thomas Nimsick (January 26, 1908 – February 8, 1999) was a political figure in British Columbia. He represented Cranbrook from 1949 to 1966 and Kootenay from 1966 to 1975 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as a Co-operat ...

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Philip Arthur Gaglardi Philip Arthur Gaglardi (January 13, 1913 – September 23, 1995), sometimes known as Flying Phil, was a politician in the Canadian province of British Columbia. He is best known for his service as Minister of Highways in the BC government fro ...

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Esquimalt The Township of Esquimalt is a municipality at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is bordered to the east by the provincial capital, Victoria, to the south by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, to the west by Esquim ...

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Wesley Drewett Black Wesley Drewett Black (November 27, 1910 – January 10, 2000) was an educator and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Nelson-Creston in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1972 as a Social Credit member ...

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Nelson-Creston Nelson-Creston is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. It made its first appearance on the hustings in the general election of 1933 following a redistribution of the earlier Nelson riding. ...

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Grand Forks-Greenwood Grand Forks-Greenwood was the name of a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia centred on the town of Grand Forks, in the Boundary Country between the Okanagan and Kootenay Countries. The riding first appeared i ...

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Kaslo-Slocan Kaslo-Slocan was the name of a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia centred on the town of Kaslo on Kootenay Lake as well as the mining towns of the "Silvery Slocan". The riding first appeared in the 1924 el ...

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Cyril Morley Shelford Cyril Morley Shelford (April 8, 1921 – November 8, 2001) was a rancher, author and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Omineca from 1952 to 1972 and Skeena from 1975 to 1979 in the Legislative Assembly of British Colum ...

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Mackenzie Mackenzie, Mckenzie, MacKenzie, or McKenzie may refer to: People * Mackenzie (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) * Mackenzie (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) * Clan Mackenzie, a S ...

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Peace River The Peace River (french: links=no, rivière de la Paix) is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River joins the Athabasca River in th ...

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New Westminster New Westminster (colloquially known as New West) is a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Metro Vancouver Regional District. It was founded by Major-General Richard Moody as the capi ...

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Rae Eddie John McRae (Rae) Eddie (August 23, 1900 – February 6, 1977) was a Canadian politician, who served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1969, representing the riding of New Westminster. He was a member of ...

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Robert Edward Sommers Robert Edward Sommers (January 3, 1911 – October 28, 2000) was a Canadians, Canadian elementary school principal and a politician. Sommers served as a British Columbia Social Credit Party, Social Credit Member of the Legislative Assembly ...

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Rossland-Trail Rossland-Trail was the name of a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia centred on the towns of Rossland and Trail, in the West Kootenay. The riding first appeared in the 1924 election as the result of a redistr ...

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George Edwin Hills George Edwin Hills (June 30, 1905 – April 3, 1978) was an English-born painter, contractor and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Prince Rupert in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in 1953 as a Co-operative ...

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James Allan Reid James Allan Reid (May 8, 1897 – March 2, 1978) was a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1960 from the electoral district of Salmon Arm Salmon Arm is a city in the Columbia Shuswap ...

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Salmon Arm Salmon Arm is a city in the Columbia Shuswap Regional District of the Southern Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia that has a population of 17,706 (2016). Salmon Arm was incorporated as a municipal district on May 15, 1905. The ...

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William Andrew Cecil Bennett William Andrew Cecil Bennett (September 6, 1900 – February 23, 1979) was a Canadian politician. He was the 25th premier of British Columbia from 1952 to 1972. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving prem ...

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South Okanagan South Okanagan was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia beginning with the election of 1916. Following the 1975 election boundary revisions accompanied the riding's renaming to Okanagan South. The riding ...

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Vancouver Centre Vancouver Centre (french: Vancouver-Centre) is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1917. It is the riding with the biggest Japanese community in Canada. As ...

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James Campbell Bury James Campbell Bury (1916 – October 2005) was a packing house worker and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Vancouver Centre in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in 1953 as a Co-operative Commonwealth Federati ...

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Eric Charles Fitzgerald Martin Eric Charles Fitzgerald Martin (September 15, 1905 – April 23, 1973) was an accountant, stock broker and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Vancouver-Burrard in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1 ...

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Vancouver-Burrard Vancouver-Burrard was a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. It first appeared on the hustings in the 1933 general election and included the neighbourhoods of Kitsilano and Fairview. This ver ...

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Vancouver East Vancouver East (french: Vancouver-Est) is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1935. It is currently represented by New Democratic Party MP Jenny Kwan. The ...

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Arthur James Turner Arthur James Turner, CBE, FTI (1889 – October 1971) was a British scientist who worked in the field of textile technology. He was the first director of the Technological Laboratory created by the Indian Central Cotton Committee (ICCC) in Bom ...

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Vancouver-Point Grey Vancouver-Point Grey is a provincial electoral district (Canada), electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. It was first contested in the 1933 British Columbia general election, general election of 1933. It was ...

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Harold Edward Winch Harold Edward Winch (18 June 1907 – 1 February 1993) was a Canadian politician active with the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and its successor, the New Democratic Party (NDP). Winch was leader of the British Columbia CCF from 193 ...

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Irvine Finlay Corbett Irvine Finlay Corbett (February 12, 1915 – October 7, 1986) was a Canadian former politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1963, as a Social Credit member for the constituency of Yale. He died in 1986 ...

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Yale Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wor ...

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Lillooet Lillooet () is a district municipality in the Squamish-Lillooet region of southwestern British Columbia. The town is on the west shore of the Fraser River immediately north of the Seton River mouth. On BC Highway 99, the locality is by road abo ...

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Ernest Crawford Carson Ernest Crawford Carson (June 9, 1894 – October 21, 1952) was a rancher and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Lillooet in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1928 to 1933 as a Conservative and from 1941 to 1 ...

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Nanaimo and the Islands Nanaimo is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. Demographics Geography The riding contains most of the city of Nanaimo plus the uninhabited Five Finger Island, Snake Island and Hu ...

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Larry Giovando Larry Giovando also known formally as Lorenzo Giovando (March 10, 1905 – May 25, 1982) was twice MLA in British Columbia's Legislative Assembly for the Conservative Party of British Columbia for the seat of Nanaimo and the Islands. His 1 ...

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Albert Reginald MacDougall Albert Reginald MacDougall (October 17, 1902 – January 20, 1953) was a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1946 to 1953 from the electoral district of Vancouver-Point Grey, a member of the Pr ...

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Edward Tourtellotte Kenney Edward Tourtellotte Kenney (July 19, 1888 – September 18, 1974) was a merchant, real estate and insurance agent and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Skeena in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1933 to 1 ...

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Oak Bay Oak Bay is a municipality incorporated in 1906 that is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is one of thirteen member municipalities of the Capital Regional District, and is bordered ...

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Nancy Hodges Nancy Hodges (October 28, 1888 – December 15, 1969) was a Canadian journalist and politician. Over her career, she served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columb ...

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Daniel John Proudfoot Daniel John Proudfoot (September 21, 1897 – 1972) was a Canadian educator and political figure in British Columbia. Born in England, he fought with the Royal Scots Fusiliers during World War I before emigrating to Canada in 1929. He represe ...

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William Thomas Straith William Thomas Straith (August 5, 1894 – March 27, 1980) was a lawyer and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Victoria City in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1937 to 1953 as a Liberal. He was born in Inne ...

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Elections BC
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Background

Campaign

Aftermath

Results

Results by riding

See also

References

Further reading