Home > Stuart Garson

Born in St. Catharines, Ontario, Garson was first elected to the Manitoba legislature for the riding of Fairford in 1927, defeating incumbent Liberal Albert Kirvan . He defeated again Kirvan in 1932, and faced only minor competition for the remainder of his time in the Manitoba legislature. In early 1932, Garson was one of the founding members of the province's Liberal-Progressive coalition.

Garson was sworn in as provincial treasurer on September 21September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). There are 101 days remaining. Events 1745 Battle of Prestonpans Hanoverian army under the command of John Cope is defeated, in ten minutes, by the Jacobite forces of Prince Charles Edward St, 1936Events January-February January 15 The first building to be completely covered in glass is completed in Toledo, Ohio, for the Owens-Illinois Glass Company. January 20 Death of George V of the United Kingdom. His son Edward VIII succeedes him as King of th. He also became minister of the Manitoba Power Commission on November 4November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 57 days remaining. Events 1576 Eighty Years' War: In Belgium, Spain captures Antwerp (after three days the city was nearly destroyed). 1612 Moscow China Town tak, 1940Events January-February January 5 FM radio is demonstrated to the FCC for the first time. January 6 World War II: Mass execution of Poles, committed by Germans in the Poznan, Warthegau. January 12 World War II: Russia bombs cities in Finland. February 2 F, and Minister of Public Utilities on May 15May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). There are 230 days remaining. Events 1602 Bartholomew Gosnold becomes the first European to discover Cape Cod. 1618 Johannes Kepler confirms his previously rejected disco, 19411941 is also the title of a Steven Spielberg movie made in 1979 see 1941 (film). Events January January 6 Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivers his Four Freedoms Speech in the State of the Union Address. January 10 Lend-Lease is introduced into the United St. He continued to hold all of these positions after being sworn in as Premier on January 14, 1943, though he resigned the MPC and Utilities portfolios in 1944.

Garson's government was perhaps slightly more interventionist than were the ministries of his fellow Liberal-Progressives John Bracken and Douglas Campbell. It began a program of rapid rural electrification, and made some effort to service the needs of returning soldiers after World War II. All the same, he rejected demanded from the CCF to introduce programs in public housing and old-age pensions.

Under Garson, the "Liberal-Progressives" alliance effectively became a united party, albeit one that was dominated by former Progressive politicians. His ministry was also retained close ties to the federal Liberal government of William Lyon Mackenzie King.

Garson moved to federal politics in 1948, at the behest of new Liberal Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent. On November 15, 1948, Garson was sworn in as Minister of Justice and Attorney General; he was elected to the federal parliament in a by-election the next month. For the next nine years, Garson would be the dominant cabinet minister from Manitoba in St. Laurent's government. He also served as Solicitor General of Canada from August 7, 1950 to October 14, 1952.

Garson lost his seat in 1957, the year that Progressive Conservative leader John Diefenbaker formed a minority government. He did not return to active political life thereafter. In 1971, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.