Jacob Penner
Encyclopedia
Jacob Penner was a popular socialist
politician in Canada
. Penner was born and raised in a Mennonite
family in Russia
and emigrated to Winnipeg in 1904. In 1908, he met his wife Rose Shapack, a Jewish Russian immigrant, during an address by Emma Goldman
at the Winnipeg Radical Club. They married in 1912.
A Marxist
, he helped found the Social Democratic Party of Canada
and was an opponent of conscription during the Conscription crisis of 1917
and was an organiser of the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919.
In 1921, he participated in the founding of the Communist Party of Canada
and was the party's western organiser. In 1933, he was elected to Winnipeg's city council
as an alderman
, a position he held until 1960 becoming the longest serving elected Communist alderman in North America. When he retired, fellow Communist Joseph Zuken
succeeded him on City Council and was to serve until the 1980s.
Penner was very popular among his constituents in the city's impoverished north end and attracted support from across party lines. He was an early advocate of a minimum wage
and unemployment insurance and used his political position to campaign for these reforms. His son, Roland Penner
joined the Manitoba New Democratic Party and served as the province's Attorney-General in the 1980s. Another son, Norman Penner
, was a professor at York University
.
During World War II
, Penner was interned from June 1940 until July 1942 under the Defence of Canada Regulations
for his Communist Party activity.
In addition to his service in municipal politics, Jacob Penner also sought federal or provincial office on four occasions:
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
politician in 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...
. Penner was born and raised in a Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
family in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and emigrated to Winnipeg in 1904. In 1908, he met his wife Rose Shapack, a Jewish Russian immigrant, during an address by Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman was an anarchist known for her political activism, writing and speeches. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the twentieth century....
at the Winnipeg Radical Club. They married in 1912.
A Marxist
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
, he helped found the Social Democratic Party of Canada
Social Democratic Party of Canada
The Social Democratic Party was a social democratic political party in Canada founded in 1911 by members of the right wing of the Socialist Party of Canada. these members were dissatisfied with what they saw as that party's rigid, doctrinaire approach...
and was an opponent of conscription during the Conscription crisis of 1917
Conscription Crisis of 1917
The Conscription Crisis of 1917 was a political and military crisis in Canada during World War I.-Background:...
and was an organiser of the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919.
In 1921, he participated in the founding 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...
and was the party's western organiser. In 1933, he was elected to Winnipeg's city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
, a position he held until 1960 becoming the longest serving elected Communist alderman in North America. When he retired, fellow Communist Joseph Zuken
Joseph Zuken
Joseph Zuken was a popular Communist politician in Winnipeg and the longest serving elected Communist party politician in North America....
succeeded him on City Council and was to serve until the 1980s.
Penner was very popular among his constituents in the city's impoverished north end and attracted support from across party lines. He was an early advocate of a minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
and unemployment insurance and used his political position to campaign for these reforms. His son, Roland Penner
Roland Penner
Roland Penner was Dean of Law at the University of Manitoba and a is a former politician and Manitoba Cabinet minister.Penner was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the son of Winnipeg alderman Jacob Penner...
joined the Manitoba New Democratic Party and served as the province's Attorney-General in the 1980s. Another son, Norman Penner
Norman Penner
Norman Penner was professor emeritus at York University, a writer and historian, a war veteran and a former activist in the Communist Party of Canada and the Labour-Progressive Party who broke with the party as a result of the events of 1956.Penner was the son of Jacob Penner, a leading member of...
, was a professor at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Penner was interned from June 1940 until July 1942 under the Defence of Canada Regulations
Defence of Canada Regulations
The Defence of Canada Regulations were a set of emergency measures implemented under the War Measures Act a week before Canada's entry into World War II in the fall of 1939....
for his Communist Party activity.
In addition to his service in municipal politics, Jacob Penner also sought federal or provincial office on four occasions:
- Winnipeg NorthWinnipeg NorthFor information on the historical provincial constituency, see Winnipeg North .Winnipeg North is a federal electoral district that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1917...
, 1921 (federal), 565 votes (winner: Edward James McMurrayEdward James McMurrayEdward James McMurray, PC was a Canadian politician.Born in Thorndale, Ontario, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the Manitoba riding of Winnipeg North in the 1921 federal election. A Liberal, he was defeated in 1925. From 1923 to 1925, he was the Solicitor General of...
, LiberalLiberal Party of CanadaThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
) - Winnipeg, 1927 (provincial), 2015 votes on the first count, not elected (Winnipeg elected ten members by preferential balloting during this period)
- Winnipeg, 1932 (provincial), 1106 votes on the first count, not elected
- St. Johns, 1958 (provincial), 588 votes (winner: David OrlikowDavid OrlikowDavid Orlikow was a Canadian politician, and a long-serving member of the Canadian House of Commons. He represented the riding of Winnipeg North from 1962 to 1988 as a member of the New Democratic Party.-Family:...
, Co-operative Commonwealth FederationManitoba Co-operative Commonwealth FederationThe Cooperative Commonwealth Federation , known informally as the Manitoba CCF, was a provincial branch of the national Canadian party by the same name. The national CCF was the dominant social-democratic party in Canada from the 1930s to the early 1960s, when it merged with the labour movement...
)