Gideon Robertson
Encyclopedia
Gideon Decker Robertson, PC
(August 26, 1874 – August 5, 1933) was a Canadian Senator
and Canadian Cabinet minister.
Robertson was a telegrapher by profession and had links with conservatives in the labour movement
. In January 1917, he was appointed to the Senate as a Conservative as a means of bringing in labour representation during the First World War
. When Prime Minister
Sir Robert Borden
formed a Unionist
government in October as a means of creating a national government
for the war effort, he made Robertson minister without portfolio
in order to give Cabinet representation from labour. On November 8, 1918, Robertson became Minister of Labour
.
He held this portfolio in 1919 during the Winnipeg General Strike. At the beginning of the action Robertson and Minister of Interior Arthur Meighen
went to the city to meet the "Citizens' Committee of 1000" which had been formed by local businessmen and professionals in opposition to the strike. He refused to meet the Central Strike Committee to hear their demands. Robertson ordered federal government employees to return to work or lose their jobs. On June 17, he ordered the arrest of the twelve principal strike leaders, including J.S. Woodsworth. Robertson also supported the government's decision to send in the Royal North-West Mounted Police
to crush the strike in an action that became known as "Bloody Saturday".
Robertson earned the longstanding enmity of the left and labour movement for his role in the strike and, despite his background, was not considered a legitimate representative of workers by most of the working class. Robertson retained his position as labour minister when Arthur Meighen became Prime Minister of Canada
until the government's defeat in the 1921 federal election
. Robertson returned to government when R.B. Bennett's Conservatives won the 1930 election
, and again became Minister of Labour, but remained unpopular with his constituents. When visiting Winnipeg in 1932, six thousand workers met him at the railway station with the slogan: "A Faker Comes to Town." He stepped down as Labour minister in February and died the next year.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(August 26, 1874 – August 5, 1933) was a Canadian Senator
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
and Canadian Cabinet minister.
Robertson was a telegrapher by profession and had links with conservatives in the labour movement
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
. In January 1917, he was appointed to the Senate as a Conservative as a means of bringing in labour representation during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. When Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Sir Robert Borden
Robert Borden
Sir Robert Laird Borden, PC, GCMG, KC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as the eighth Prime Minister of Canada from October 10, 1911 to July 10, 1920, and was the third Nova Scotian to hold this office...
formed a Unionist
Unionist Party (Canada)
The Unionist Party was formed in 1917 by Members of Parliament in Canada who supported the "Union government" formed by Sir Robert Borden during the First World War....
government in October as a means of creating a national government
National unity government
A national unity government, government of national unity, or national union government is a broad coalition government consisting of all parties in the legislature, usually formed during a time of war or other national emergency.- Canada :During World War I the Conservative government of Sir...
for the war effort, he made Robertson minister without portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
in order to give Cabinet representation from labour. On November 8, 1918, Robertson became Minister of Labour
Minister of Labour (Canada)
The Minister of Labour is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for setting national labour standards and federal labour dispute mechanisms...
.
He held this portfolio in 1919 during the Winnipeg General Strike. At the beginning of the action Robertson and Minister of Interior Arthur Meighen
Arthur Meighen
Arthur Meighen, PC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served two terms as the ninth Prime Minister of Canada: from July 10, 1920 to December 29, 1921; and from June 29 to September 25, 1926. He was the first Prime Minister born after Confederation, and the only one to represent a riding...
went to the city to meet the "Citizens' Committee of 1000" which had been formed by local businessmen and professionals in opposition to the strike. He refused to meet the Central Strike Committee to hear their demands. Robertson ordered federal government employees to return to work or lose their jobs. On June 17, he ordered the arrest of the twelve principal strike leaders, including J.S. Woodsworth. Robertson also supported the government's decision to send in the Royal North-West Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
to crush the strike in an action that became known as "Bloody Saturday".
Robertson earned the longstanding enmity of the left and labour movement for his role in the strike and, despite his background, was not considered a legitimate representative of workers by most of the working class. Robertson retained his position as labour minister when Arthur Meighen became Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
until the government's defeat in the 1921 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1921
The Canadian federal election of 1921 was held on December 6, 1921 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 14th Parliament of Canada. The Union government that had governed Canada through the First World War was defeated, and replaced by a Liberal government under the young leader...
. Robertson returned to government when R.B. Bennett's Conservatives won the 1930 election
Canadian federal election, 1930
The Canadian federal election of 1930 was held on July 28, 1930 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 17th Parliament of Canada...
, and again became Minister of Labour, but remained unpopular with his constituents. When visiting Winnipeg in 1932, six thousand workers met him at the railway station with the slogan: "A Faker Comes to Town." He stepped down as Labour minister in February and died the next year.