Communist Party (Alberta)
Encyclopedia
Communist Party – Alberta is a provincial political party in Alberta
, Canada
. It is a provincial branch of the Communist Party of Canada
.
" because the name "Communist" had been banned by the federal government. (see also United Progressive which the party used in the 1940 election in Vegreville)
)
The party started using the Communist name again in 1963.
The Communist Party first ran in the Edmonton
by-election of January 9, 1931. It contested two more by-elections after that, the last of which was a by-election held on October 7, 1937 in the Edmonton
electoral district in which Jan Lakeman Leader of the Communists finished third. The party has not contested another by-election since.
While the Communist Party had marginally better results under the old Single Transferable Vote
system that Alberta used between 1926 and 1959, its candidates rarely ever made it past the first vote transfer.
The Communist Party was less successful than other left wing parties in the province, such as the Labour Party and the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation
. In the 1975 provincial election
, the Communist Party split the far left wing vote with the Constitutional Socialist Party.
The Communist Party did not run in the 1967 and 1971 elections. The party has managed to run at least one candidate in every general election since then. In recent years, the Communist Party has not been able to attract more than a couple candidates with vote totals that rarely top 100 in each electoral district contested.
The Communist Party – Alberta is a full provincial wing of the federal Communist Party of Canada
.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is a provincial branch of the Communist Party of Canada
Communist Party of Canada
The Communist Party of Canada is a communist political party in Canada. Although is it currently a minor or small political party without representation in the Federal Parliament or in provincial legislatures, historically the Party has elected representatives in Federal Parliament, Ontario...
.
History
The party was created some time around 1930. The party has been a very minor force in Alberta's traditionally conservative provincial politics, it achieved its best results in the 1940s with a couple of distant second place finishes. In those elections, it called itself the "Labour-Progressive PartyLabour-Progressive Party
For the Labour-Progressive Coalition Government in New Zealand see the Fifth Labour Government of New ZealandThe Labor-Progressive Party was the legal political organization of the Communist Party of Canada between 1943 and 1959....
" because the name "Communist" had been banned by the federal government. (see also United Progressive which the party used in the 1940 election in Vegreville)
Vegreville (electoral district)
Vegreville was a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1925 to 1997.This riding was created in 1924 from parts of Strathcona and Victoria ridings....
)
The party started using the Communist name again in 1963.
The Communist Party first ran in the Edmonton
Edmonton (provincial electoral district)
Edmonton provincial electoral district existed in two incarnations from 1905 - 1909 and again from 1921 - 1955. The district was created when Alberta first became a province....
by-election of January 9, 1931. It contested two more by-elections after that, the last of which was a by-election held on October 7, 1937 in the Edmonton
Edmonton (provincial electoral district)
Edmonton provincial electoral district existed in two incarnations from 1905 - 1909 and again from 1921 - 1955. The district was created when Alberta first became a province....
electoral district in which Jan Lakeman Leader of the Communists finished third. The party has not contested another by-election since.
While the Communist Party had marginally better results under the old Single Transferable Vote
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
system that Alberta used between 1926 and 1959, its candidates rarely ever made it past the first vote transfer.
The Communist Party was less successful than other left wing parties in the province, such as the Labour Party and the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation
Alberta New Democratic Party
The Alberta New Democratic Party or Alberta NDP is a social-democratic political party in Alberta, Canada, which was originally founded as the Alberta section of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
. In the 1975 provincial election
Alberta general election, 1975
The Alberta general election of 1975 was the eighteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 25, 1975 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, the Communist Party split the far left wing vote with the Constitutional Socialist Party.
The Communist Party did not run in the 1967 and 1971 elections. The party has managed to run at least one candidate in every general election since then. In recent years, the Communist Party has not been able to attract more than a couple candidates with vote totals that rarely top 100 in each electoral district contested.
The Communist Party – Alberta is a full provincial wing of the federal Communist Party of Canada
Communist Party of Canada
The Communist Party of Canada is a communist political party in Canada. Although is it currently a minor or small political party without representation in the Federal Parliament or in provincial legislatures, historically the Party has elected representatives in Federal Parliament, Ontario...
.
Party leaders
- Jan LakemanJan LakemanJohn "Jan" Lakeman was a mid 20th century Labour rights activist, perennial election candidate and former leader of the provincial Communist Party in Alberta, Canada.-Political career:...
1930 - ? - James A. MacPherson ? - ?
- David Wallis ? 1986?
- Norman BrudyNorman BrudyNorman Brudy was a salesman, government lobbyist and a Canadian Communist politician and election candidate. He served for a time as leader of the Communist Party of Alberta.-Political career:...
1986? - 1992 - Naomi RankinNaomi RankinNaomi Rankin is the current leader of the Communist Party of Alberta in Alberta, Canada.She has been leader of the Communist Party since 1992 and has run in every provincial and federal election in Alberta since 1982, for the Communist Party or the Communist Party of Canada...
1992 - Current
General elections
| Election | Affiliation | # of Candidates | Votes | Pop. % | Best Candidate | Votes | District |
| 1935 Alberta general election, 1935 The Alberta general election of 1935 was the eighth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 22, 1935 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
Communist | 9 | 5,771 | 1.91% | Jan Lakeman Jan Lakeman John "Jan" Lakeman was a mid 20th century Labour rights activist, perennial election candidate and former leader of the provincial Communist Party in Alberta, Canada.-Political career:... |
1,096 | Edmonton Edmonton (provincial electoral district) Edmonton provincial electoral district existed in two incarnations from 1905 - 1909 and again from 1921 - 1955. The district was created when Alberta first became a province.... |
| 1940 Alberta general election, 1940 The Alberta general election of 1940 was the ninth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada, was held on March 21, 1940 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
Communist | 1 | 1,067 | 0.35% | James A. MacPherson | 1,067 | Edmonton Edmonton (provincial electoral district) Edmonton provincial electoral district existed in two incarnations from 1905 - 1909 and again from 1921 - 1955. The district was created when Alberta first became a province.... |
| 1944 Alberta general election, 1944 The Alberta general election of 1944 was the tenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. The Assembly was dissolved on July 8, 1944 and the vote for was held on August 8, 1944 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
Labour Progressive | 30 | 12,003 | 4.26% | William Teresio | 999 | Vermilion |
| 1948 Alberta general election, 1948 The Alberta general election of 1948 was the eleventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 17, 1948 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
Labour Progressive | 2 | 1,372 | 0.47% | Bernard Swankey | 856 | Pincher-Creek Crowsnest |
| 1952 Alberta general election, 1952 The Alberta general election of 1952 was the twelfth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 5, 1952 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.Ernest C... |
Labour Progressive | 2 | 1,132 | 0.38% | Bernard Swankey | 824 | Edmonton Edmonton (provincial electoral district) Edmonton provincial electoral district existed in two incarnations from 1905 - 1909 and again from 1921 - 1955. The district was created when Alberta first became a province.... |
| 1955 Alberta general election, 1955 The Alberta general election of 1955 was the thirteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 29, 1955 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
Labour Progressive | 9 | 3,420 | 0.90% | William Harasym | 947 | Edmonton Edmonton (provincial electoral district) Edmonton provincial electoral district existed in two incarnations from 1905 - 1909 and again from 1921 - 1955. The district was created when Alberta first became a province.... |
| 1959 Alberta general election, 1959 The Alberta general election of 1959 was the fourteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 18, 1959 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.Ernest C... |
Labour Progressive | 4 | 884 | 0.21% | William Tuomi | 251 | Edmonton Norwood |
| 1963 Alberta general election, 1963 The Alberta general election of 1963 was the fifteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 17, 1963 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.The Social Credit Party, led by Ernest C... |
Communist | 4 | 527 | 0.13% | Dan Gamache | 215 | St. Paul St. Paul (provincial electoral district) St. Paul was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 to 1993.-1957 liquor plebiscite:... |
| 1975 Alberta general election, 1975 The Alberta general election of 1975 was the eighteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 25, 1975 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
Communist | 14 | 768 | 0.13% | Neil Stenberg | 116 | Redwater-Andrew |
| 1979 Alberta general election, 1979 The Alberta general election of 1979 was the nineteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 14, 1979 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
Communist | 7 | 357 | 0.05% | William Tuomi | 80 | Edmonton Highlands |
| 1982 Alberta general election, 1982 The Alberta general election of 1982 was the twentieth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 2, 1982 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
Communist | 8 | 389 | 0.04% | Naomi Rankin Naomi Rankin Naomi Rankin is the current leader of the Communist Party of Alberta in Alberta, Canada.She has been leader of the Communist Party since 1992 and has run in every provincial and federal election in Alberta since 1982, for the Communist Party or the Communist Party of Canada... |
66 | Edmonton Highlands |
| 1986 Alberta general election, 1986 The Alberta general election of 1986 was the twenty-first general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on May 8, 1986 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
Communist | 6 | 199 | 0.03% | Naomi Rankin Naomi Rankin Naomi Rankin is the current leader of the Communist Party of Alberta in Alberta, Canada.She has been leader of the Communist Party since 1992 and has run in every provincial and federal election in Alberta since 1982, for the Communist Party or the Communist Party of Canada... |
51 | Edmonton Highlands |
| 1989 Alberta general election, 1989 The Alberta general election of 1989 was the twenty-second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 20, 1989 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
Communist | 2 | 82 | 0.01% | Naomi Rankin Naomi Rankin Naomi Rankin is the current leader of the Communist Party of Alberta in Alberta, Canada.She has been leader of the Communist Party since 1992 and has run in every provincial and federal election in Alberta since 1982, for the Communist Party or the Communist Party of Canada... |
55 | Edmonton-Gold Bar |
| 1993 Alberta general election, 1993 The Alberta general election of 1993 was the twenty-third general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 15, 1993 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta... |
Communist | 1 | 47 | 0.005% | Naomi Rankin Naomi Rankin Naomi Rankin is the current leader of the Communist Party of Alberta in Alberta, Canada.She has been leader of the Communist Party since 1992 and has run in every provincial and federal election in Alberta since 1982, for the Communist Party or the Communist Party of Canada... |
47 | Edmonton Strathcona Edmonton Strathcona Edmonton Strathcona can refer to:*Edmonton—Strathcona, a federal electoral district*Edmonton-Strathcona... |
| 1997 Alberta general election, 1997 The Alberta general election of 1997 was the twenty-fourth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 11, 1997 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
Communist | 1 | 61 | 0.01% | Naomi Rankin Naomi Rankin Naomi Rankin is the current leader of the Communist Party of Alberta in Alberta, Canada.She has been leader of the Communist Party since 1992 and has run in every provincial and federal election in Alberta since 1982, for the Communist Party or the Communist Party of Canada... |
61 | Edmonton Riverview Edmonton Riverview Edmonton Riverview is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district is mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting.... |
| 2001 Alberta general election, 2001 The Alberta general election of 2001 was the twenty-fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 12, 2001 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
Communist | 2 | 117 | 0.01% | Naomi Rankin Naomi Rankin Naomi Rankin is the current leader of the Communist Party of Alberta in Alberta, Canada.She has been leader of the Communist Party since 1992 and has run in every provincial and federal election in Alberta since 1982, for the Communist Party or the Communist Party of Canada... |
76 | Edmonton Centre Edmonton Centre (provincial electoral district) Edmonton Centre is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.-Boundary history:- Members of the Legislative Assembly :-Provincial General Election results:-Senate nominee election district results:... |
| 2004 Alberta general election, 2004 The Alberta general election of 2004 was the twenty-sixth general election for the province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 22, 2004 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
Communist | 2 | 98 | 0.01% | Bonnie-Jean Collins | 56 | Calgary East Calgary East (provincial electoral district) Calgary-East formally styled Calgary East is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district is mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
| 2008 | Communist | 2 | 96 | 0.01% | Bonnie-Jean Collins | 55 | Calgary East Calgary East (provincial electoral district) Calgary-East formally styled Calgary East is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district is mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... |
By-elections
| Date | District | Candidate | Votes | % | Placement |
| January 9, 1931 | Edmonton Edmonton (provincial electoral district) Edmonton provincial electoral district existed in two incarnations from 1905 - 1909 and again from 1921 - 1955. The district was created when Alberta first became a province.... |
Jan Lakeman Jan Lakeman John "Jan" Lakeman was a mid 20th century Labour rights activist, perennial election candidate and former leader of the provincial Communist Party in Alberta, Canada.-Political career:... |
813 | 4.68% | 4th out of 4 |
| November 16, 1931 | Red Deer Red Deer (provincial electoral district) Red Deer was a provincial electoral district representing the city of Red Deer, Alberta in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1905 to 1986... |
F.G. Bray | 261 | 6.68% | 4th out of 4 |
| October 7, 1937 | Edmonton Edmonton (provincial electoral district) Edmonton provincial electoral district existed in two incarnations from 1905 - 1909 and again from 1921 - 1955. The district was created when Alberta first became a province.... |
Jan Lakeman Jan Lakeman John "Jan" Lakeman was a mid 20th century Labour rights activist, perennial election candidate and former leader of the provincial Communist Party in Alberta, Canada.-Political career:... |
1,779 | 5.72% | 3rd out of 5 |