Robert Connell
Encyclopedia
Robert Connell was a clergyman and politician in British Columbia
. He was the first leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
in British Columbia
(now the British Columbia New Democratic Party).
Raised in Glasgow, Scotland, Connell worked for a shipping company before coming to Canada at the age of 17 After seven years working in various jobs he moved to Calgary to train to become a Church of England
minister. He was ordained a priest
in 1896 and moved to Victoria, British Columbia
in 1901 after several years of mission work in Alberta
. He served as a vicar in various parishes (including two years in California
) before retiring from the pulpit in 1923.
Connell was also involved with education occasionally teaching art at a private boy's school and botany at Victoria High School. He also wrote a weekly column on nature and geology for the Victoria Daily Times and later the Victoria Daily Colonist.
In 1932, Connell joined the League for Social Reconstruction
and also joined the BC Reconstructionist Party formed by some supporters of the LSR in British Columbia. The short-lived party quickly joined the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation after it was formed in August of the same year.
Connell agreed to run for the provincial legislature as a CCF candidate in the 1933 provincial election
, the new party won seven seats, including Connell's Victoria City
riding. With the collapse of the governing Conservative Party, which was in such disarray it decided not to run any candidates, and the election of a Liberal government the CCF found itself as the official opposition in the British Columbia legislature. Leaderless, the party caucus met and agreed to appoint Connell as Leader of the Opposition
.
Connell was a fervent believer of the social gospel
movement. He was a moderate when compared to many more radical members of the party, including a majority of the party executive and much of the caucus, many who came to the CCF from the Socialist Party of Canada. The SPC which had co-founded the CCF in BC and remained in existence as a distinct entity. Connell urged co-operation with the Liberals and Conservatives on certain issues and was criticized by CCFers such as T. Guy Sheppard for refusing to call for a general strike
against the Liberal government of "Duff" Pattullo. He also was the target of criticism for his opposition to class-based politics in the pages of the SPC's newspaper, The BC Clarion.
Tensions between Connell and the left-wing of the party emerged publicly when he stood up in the legislature
to denounce the radical language of fellow CCF MP Ernest Winch
who had given a speech on the merits of communism
. At the 1936 party convention, Connell survived a vote of non-confidence in his leadership by a margin of 138-76. Connell's leadership again came under fire when he publicly opposed a resolution in favour of socializing
banking and credit several weeks after it was approved. In July 1936, he issued a statement to the party executive and to the media revoking his support for the party platform approved by the convention three weeks earlier. The policy disagreement, which came to be known as the "Connell Affair" brought to a head a conflict in the party between moderates such as Connell and "revolution
ary" Marxists
such as Winch. Connell was expelled from the party in August and he promptly formed a new political party, the "Social Constructives
" with three fellow MLAs from the CCF's 7 person caucus
- Jack Price, R.B. Swailes and Ernest Bakewell. Also joining Connell was Victor Midgely, former leader of the One Big Union
, and Bill Pritchard, editor and owner of The Commonwealth. Pritchard's defection left the BC CCF without a party newspaper.
With four MLAs in Connell's new "Social Constructive" caucus versus three remaining in the CCF, Connell was able to retain his position as Leader of the Official Opposition for the remainder of the life of the legislature.
The "Social Constructives" stood 14 candidates (out of a possible 48) in the 1937 general election
but failed to win any seats. The party received 8,086 votes to the CCF's 119,400.
With the end of his political career, Connell returned to spiritual work becoming Archdeacon
of Comox
in 1940.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. He was the first leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
(now the British Columbia New Democratic Party).
Raised in Glasgow, Scotland, Connell worked for a shipping company before coming to Canada at the age of 17 After seven years working in various jobs he moved to Calgary to train to become a Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
minister. He was ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 1896 and moved to Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
in 1901 after several years of mission work in 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...
. He served as a vicar in various parishes (including two years in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) before retiring from the pulpit in 1923.
Connell was also involved with education occasionally teaching art at a private boy's school and botany at Victoria High School. He also wrote a weekly column on nature and geology for the Victoria Daily Times and later the Victoria Daily Colonist.
In 1932, Connell joined the League for Social Reconstruction
League for Social Reconstruction
The League for Social Reconstruction was a circle of Canadian socialist intellectuals officially formed in 1932, though it had its beginnings during a camping retreat in 1931. These academics were advocating radical social and economic reforms and political education. Industrialization,...
and also joined the BC Reconstructionist Party formed by some supporters of the LSR in British Columbia. The short-lived party quickly joined the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation after it was formed in August of the same year.
Connell agreed to run for the provincial legislature as a CCF candidate in the 1933 provincial election
British Columbia general election, 1933
The British Columbia general election of 1933 was the eighteenth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 13, 1933, and held on November 2, 1933...
, the new party won seven seats, including Connell's Victoria City
Victoria City (provincial electoral district)
Victoria City was one of the first twelve provincial electoral districts in the province of British Columbia, Canada, upon its entry into Confederation that year. It was originally a four-member riding, and elected to the Legislature several prominent Members of the Legislative Assembly and...
riding. With the collapse of the governing Conservative Party, which was in such disarray it decided not to run any candidates, and the election of a Liberal government the CCF found itself as the official opposition in the British Columbia legislature. Leaderless, the party caucus met and agreed to appoint Connell as Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (British Columbia)
The Leader of the Opposition in British Columbia is the MLA in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia who leads the political party recognized as the Official Opposition. This status generally goes to the leader of the second largest party in the Legislative Assembly....
.
Connell was a fervent believer of the social gospel
Social Gospel
The Social Gospel movement is a Protestant Christian intellectual movement that was most prominent in the early 20th century United States and Canada...
movement. He was a moderate when compared to many more radical members of the party, including a majority of the party executive and much of the caucus, many who came to the CCF from the Socialist Party of Canada. The SPC which had co-founded the CCF in BC and remained in existence as a distinct entity. Connell urged co-operation with the Liberals and Conservatives on certain issues and was criticized by CCFers such as T. Guy Sheppard for refusing to call for a general strike
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
against the Liberal government of "Duff" Pattullo. He also was the target of criticism for his opposition to class-based politics in the pages of the SPC's newspaper, The BC Clarion.
Tensions between Connell and the left-wing of the party emerged publicly when he stood up in the legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
to denounce the radical language of fellow CCF MP Ernest Winch
Ernest Winch
Ernest Edward Winch was a British Columbia politician, trade unionist and socialist. He was a BC Co-operative Commonwealth Federation MLA in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly from 1933 until his death in 1957....
who had given a speech on the merits of communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
. At the 1936 party convention, Connell survived a vote of non-confidence in his leadership by a margin of 138-76. Connell's leadership again came under fire when he publicly opposed a resolution in favour of socializing
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,...
banking and credit several weeks after it was approved. In July 1936, he issued a statement to the party executive and to the media revoking his support for the party platform approved by the convention three weeks earlier. The policy disagreement, which came to be known as the "Connell Affair" brought to a head a conflict in the party between moderates such as Connell and "revolution
Revolution
A revolution is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time.Aristotle described two types of political revolution:...
ary" Marxists
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...
such as Winch. Connell was expelled from the party in August and he promptly formed a new political party, the "Social Constructives
British Columbia Social Constructive Party
The British Columbia Social Constructive Party was formed in 1936 by a breakaway from the British Columbia Co-operative Commonwealth Federation after Reverend Robert Connell was expelled from the party over doctrinal differences. Connell had been leader of the CCF until his expulsion...
" with three fellow MLAs from the CCF's 7 person caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
- Jack Price, R.B. Swailes and Ernest Bakewell. Also joining Connell was Victor Midgely, former leader of the One Big Union
One Big Union (Canada)
The One Big Union was a Canadian syndicalist trade union active primarily in the Western part of the country. It was formally founded in Calgary on June 4, 1919 but lost most members by 1922. It finally merged into the Canadian Labour Congress in 1956.-Background:Towards the end of World War I, a...
, and Bill Pritchard, editor and owner of The Commonwealth. Pritchard's defection left the BC CCF without a party newspaper.
With four MLAs in Connell's new "Social Constructive" caucus versus three remaining in the CCF, Connell was able to retain his position as Leader of the Official Opposition for the remainder of the life of the legislature.
The "Social Constructives" stood 14 candidates (out of a possible 48) in the 1937 general election
British Columbia general election, 1937
The British Columbia general election of 1937 was the nineteenth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 14, 1937, and held on June 1, 1937...
but failed to win any seats. The party received 8,086 votes to the CCF's 119,400.
With the end of his political career, Connell returned to spiritual work becoming Archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of Comox
Comox
Comox is a name from the Kwak'wala language, meaning "plenty" and "riches". The Kwakwaka'wakw people of British Columbia, Canada applied it as a metonym to the Salish people living in the area of the present-day town of the same name...
in 1940.
External links
- "A Very Conservative Radical": Reverend Robert Connell's encounter with Marxism in the BC CCF by Christine Price, Simon Fraser University MA Thesis, 2006