Winnipeg Labour Party
Encyclopedia
The Winnipeg Labour Party was a reformist organization in Winnipeg, Manitoba
, Canada
, representing labour interests. Founded in 1896, it was based on an earlier Winnipeg organization known as the Independent Labour Party
(which was influenced by the British party of the same name
, but was not formally connected to any other group).
The party initially received support from both socialists and conservative trade unionists, and succeeded in electing Arthur Puttee
to the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1900 federal election
. The WLP was hostile to radical militancy in the labour movement, however, and lost the support of many socialists in the years which followed.
The WLP nominated two candidates for the provincial election of 1903: William Scott in Winnipeg Centre
and Robert Thoms in Winnipeg North
. Both finished well behind their Conservative
and Liberal
opponents.
Puttee was defeated in the 1904 election
, but he continued to promote labour causes in his newspaper, The Voice. In 1906, his organization was absorbed into another group calling itself the Independent Labour Party.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, 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...
, representing labour interests. Founded in 1896, it was based on an earlier Winnipeg organization known as the Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party (in Manitoba) (I)
Before World War I, there were at least two organizations in Winnipeg calling themselves the Independent Labour Party. The first of these was set up by British trade unionists in 1895, and collapsed soon thereafter....
(which was influenced by the British party of the same name
Independent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
, but was not formally connected to any other group).
The party initially received support from both socialists and conservative trade unionists, and succeeded in electing Arthur Puttee
Arthur Puttee
Arthur W. Puttee was the first Labour Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons.Puttee was a printer by training. Born in England, he immigrated to North America in 1888. He settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1891...
to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 1900 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1900
The Canadian federal election of 1900 was held on November 7 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 9th Parliament of Canada. As a result of the election, the Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier, was re-elected to a second majority government, defeating the...
. The WLP was hostile to radical militancy in the labour movement, however, and lost the support of many socialists in the years which followed.
The WLP nominated two candidates for the provincial election of 1903: William Scott in Winnipeg Centre
Winnipeg Centre
Winnipeg Centre is a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1925 and since 1997...
and Robert Thoms in Winnipeg North
Winnipeg North
For 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...
. Both finished well behind their Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
and Liberal
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
opponents.
Puttee was defeated in the 1904 election
Canadian federal election, 1904
The Canadian federal election of 1904 was held on November 3 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 10th Parliament of Canada...
, but he continued to promote labour causes in his newspaper, The Voice. In 1906, his organization was absorbed into another group calling itself the Independent Labour Party.
See also
- List of Manitoba political parties
- Manitoba Labour PartyManitoba Labour PartyThe Manitoba Labour Party was a reformist, non-Marxist labour party in Manitoba, Canada. It was created in early May 1910 as a successor to the province's second Independent Labour Party . Former Member of Parliament A.W. Puttee was a leading MLP organizer...