Northwest Territories Liberal Party
Encyclopedia
The Northwest Territories Liberal Party was a short-lived branch of the Liberal Party of Canada
in the Northwest Territories
.
The party existed between 1898 and 1905. In 1905, the provinces of Alberta
and Saskatchewan
were created from the heavily populated areas of the Northwest Territories. The members of the NWT Liberal Party joined the Alberta Liberal Party
or the Saskatchewan Liberal Party
. With almost no voting population in the remaining parts of the Northwest Territories, its political parties disbanded when the Government of Canada
returned to its former policy of appointing members of the Territories' legislative assembly
The assembly went back to the consensus
model of government.
The consensus model of government that had been used prior to the election of 1898
had its influences in the party system: Conservative leader and Government Leader Frederick W. A. G. Haultain
appointed two Liberals to his cabinet and one Conservative, even though they formed the opposition, from 1898 to 1905. This led Conservatives to accuse the government of being a "grit hive", after the election of 1902
. To appease party supporters, Haultain appointed one Liberal and two Conservatives to the cabinet.
The Calgary Herald attacked the Territorial Liberals in October 1902, after they held a convention in which they failed to adopt policies towards the creation of a provincial government. This set off a bitter editorial war against the Liberal and Conservative media.
Robert Brett was the Leader of the party from the beginning until, he made a surprise move to drop out of the race just days before the election of 1902
.
Donald H. McDonald
, filled his place, and became leader of the opposition, until the provinces were created in 1905.
Leaders of the Party
, Northwest Territories MLA from 1979 - 1983. Efforts by Liberals towards reviving party politics have not been officially organized.
Liberal Party of Canada
The 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...
in the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
.
The party existed between 1898 and 1905. In 1905, the provinces of Alberta
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...
and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
were created from the heavily populated areas of the Northwest Territories. The members of the NWT Liberal Party joined the Alberta Liberal Party
Alberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
or the Saskatchewan Liberal Party
Saskatchewan Liberal Party
The Saskatchewan Liberal Party is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.-Early history :The party dominated Saskatchewan politics for the province's first forty years providing six of the first seven Premiers, and being in power for all but five of the years between the...
. With almost no voting population in the remaining parts of the Northwest Territories, its political parties disbanded when the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
returned to its former policy of appointing members of the Territories' legislative assembly
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
The assembly went back to the consensus
Consensus government
Consensus government is a form of consensus democracy government in Canada in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, as well as Nunatsiavut, an autonomous area in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador....
model of government.
The consensus model of government that had been used prior to the election of 1898
Northwest Territories general election, 1898
The Northwest Territories general election of 1898 took place on 4 November 1898. This was the fourth general election in the history of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories....
had its influences in the party system: Conservative leader and Government Leader Frederick W. A. G. Haultain
Frederick W. A. G. Haultain
Sir Frederick William Alpin Gordon Haultain was a lawyer and a long serving Canadian politician and judge. His career in provincial and territorial legislatures stretched into four decades...
appointed two Liberals to his cabinet and one Conservative, even though they formed the opposition, from 1898 to 1905. This led Conservatives to accuse the government of being a "grit hive", after the election of 1902
Northwest Territories general election, 1902
The Northwest Territories general election of 1902, occurred on 21 May 1902 and was the fifth general election in the history of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. This was the last election held until 1951,...
. To appease party supporters, Haultain appointed one Liberal and two Conservatives to the cabinet.
The Calgary Herald attacked the Territorial Liberals in October 1902, after they held a convention in which they failed to adopt policies towards the creation of a provincial government. This set off a bitter editorial war against the Liberal and Conservative media.
Robert Brett was the Leader of the party from the beginning until, he made a surprise move to drop out of the race just days before the election of 1902
Northwest Territories general election, 1902
The Northwest Territories general election of 1902, occurred on 21 May 1902 and was the fifth general election in the history of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. This was the last election held until 1951,...
.
Donald H. McDonald
Donald H. McDonald
Donald Hogarth McDonald was a Canadian politician.Born in 1867 in Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan, Donald was first elected to the North-West Territories Legislature in a 1896 by-election, he was re-elected for 2 more terms until 1905....
, filled his place, and became leader of the opposition, until the provinces were created in 1905.
Leaders of the Party
- Robert BrettRobert BrettRobert George Brett was a politician and physician in the North-West Territories and later Alberta, Canada....
(1897–1902) - Donald H. McDonaldDonald H. McDonaldDonald Hogarth McDonald was a Canadian politician.Born in 1867 in Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan, Donald was first elected to the North-West Territories Legislature in a 1896 by-election, he was re-elected for 2 more terms until 1905....
(1902–1905)
Modern era
Under the current consensus government, political parties are not currently recognized in Northwest Territories law, but a few scattered candidates have run in recent elections claiming to represent the Liberal party. The most notable of which is Lynda SorensonLynda Sorenson
Lynda Sorenson is a politician in Northwest Territories, Canada.Lynda served one term in the Legislative Assembly of Northwest Territories she was elected in the 1979 Northwest Territories general election...
, Northwest Territories MLA from 1979 - 1983. Efforts by Liberals towards reviving party politics have not been officially organized.
See also
- Northwest Territories Liberal-Conservative PartyNorthwest Territories Liberal-Conservative PartyThe Northwest Territories Liberal-Conservative Party also known formally as the Liberal-Conservative Association prior to 1903 and the Territorial Conservative Association after 1903, was a short lived political party in the Northwest Territories, Canada. from 1897-1905...
- List of Northwest Territories political parties
- List of Northwest Territories general elections