Canada: Big Day for Social Credit

On. June 18, the greatest majority in Canadian parliamentary history disappeared somewhere in the rugged backwoods of Quebec. But the men of Lester Pearson were not around to take the place of the French Tories who are now gone, for a new brand of French politician came stomping out of the woods to march on Ottawa, bearing the banner of Social Credit. These 26 French Social Credit Party members joined four others from western Canada to form the third largest group in the House and hold the balance of power in a shaky legislature. The Socialist NDP sulked at falling to last place in popularity behind the despised Créditistes, and the Liberal press recoiled in horror at the electors’ whims. Quebec East, the riding [electoral district] that sent Wilfred Laurier, Ernest Lapointe and Louis St. Laurent to Ottawa, three of the greatest leaders in Canadian history, chose an electrician Creditiste over Maurice Lamontagne, marked to be Pearson’s French lieutenant.

The election, commented American Liberal Senator Maurine Neuberger, was “tragic,” because so much power was given to the “irresponsible” Social Credit Party. The Washington Post was similarly moved.

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Donald Coxe

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On. June 18, the greatest majority in Canadian parliamentary history disappeared somewhere in the rugged backwoods of Quebec. But the men of Lester Pearson were not around to take the place of the French Tories who are now gone, for a new brand of French politician came stomping out of the woods to march on Ottawa, bearing the banner of Social Credit. These 26 French Social Credit Party members joined four others from western Canada to form the third largest group in the House and hold the balance of power in a shaky legislature. The Socialist NDP sulked at falling to last place in popularity behind the despised Créditistes, and the Liberal press recoiled in horror at the electors’ whims. Quebec East, the riding [electoral district] that sent Wilfred Laurier, Ernest Lapointe and Louis St. Laurent to Ottawa, three of the greatest leaders in Canadian history, chose an electrician Creditiste over Maurice Lamontagne, marked to be Pearson’s French lieutenant.

The election, commented American Liberal Senator Maurine Neuberger, was “tragic,” because so much power was given to the “irresponsible” Social Credit Party. The Washington Post was similarly moved.