1937 British Columbia general election
Canadian provincial election
1937 British Columbia general election
The 1937 British Columbia general election 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. The new legislature met for the first time on October 26, 1937.
The governing Liberal Party , despite winning only 37% of the popular vote, benefited from the split in the vote between the Conservative Party and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation , and won a solid majority of the seats in the legislature.
The rift in the Conservative Party that led to its decision not to nominate candidates in the 1933 election had been resolved, and the party was able to form the official opposition .
The Conservatives and CCF each won about 29% of the vote, and only 8 seats and 7 seats, respectively. The remaining two seats were won by Labour and Independent candidates.
Health insurance plebiscite
In 1936, the Legislature passed an Act providing for the creation of a health insurance plan for the Province.[ 1] This was 26 years ahead of its introduction in Saskatchewan in 1962. The medical profession resisted its implementation to such a degree that a plebiscite was held on the same day as the election.
The question asked was, "Are you in favour of a comprehensive Health Insurance plan progressively applied?" The results were as follows:
1937 health insurance plebiscite
Type of vote
Yes
No
Total
Ordinary and absentee votes
143,218
98,946
242,164
Yes or No written on the ballot
4,613
4,687
9,300
Total
147,831
103,633
251,464
Percentage
58.79%
41.21%
100.00%
Electoral districts carried
42
6
48
Despite the majority in favour, the legislation was never brought into force, but it would not be repealed until 1973.[ 3] Medicare was finally introduced after the 1967 passage of the Medical Services Act .[ 4]
Results
Elections to the 19th Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (1937)
Political party
Party leader
MLAs
Votes
Candidates
1933 [ a 1]
1937
±
#
±
%
± (pp)
Liberal
Duff Pattullo
48
35
31
4
156,074
3,057
37.34
4.40
Conservative [ a 2]
Frank Porter Patterson
43
4
8
4
119,521
54,278
28.60
11.48
CCF split
█ Co-operative Commonwealth
None[ a 3]
46
7
7
119,400
785
28.57
2.96
█ Social Constructive
Robert Connell
14
–
–
–
8,086
8,086
1.93
New
Independent
11
1
1
7,341
18,317
1.76
4.97
Labour (all factions)
2
1
1
1,787
570
0.43
0.19
Social Credit League
Andrew Henry Jukes
18
–
–
–
4,812
4,812
1.15
New
Communist
1
–
–
–
567
567
0.14
New
Socialist
2
–
–
–
287
287
0.07
Returned
Financial Justice
1
–
–
–
54
54
0.01
New
Total
186
48
48
417,929
100.00%
Rejected ballots
4,143
763
Actual voters who voted
265,446
29,031
71.20%
1.87
Registered voters
372,781
49,241
^ Assembly was increased mid-term by the division of Columbia-Revelstoke , thus reviving the previous districts of Columbia and Revelstoke .
^ Compared to the 1933 aggregate of all Conservative factions.
^ CCF leader Robert Connell was expelled from the party over doctrinal differences.
MLAs elected
Synopsis of results
Results by riding - 1937 British Columbia general election (single-member districts)
Riding
Winning party
Votes
Name
1933
Party
Votes
Share
Margin #
Margin %
Lib
Con
CCF
SCP
SCL
Ind
Oth
Total
Alberni-Nanaimo
Lib
Lib
3,616
44.34%
487
5.98%
3,616
1,014
3,129[ a 1]
397
–
–
–
8,156
Atlin
Lib
Lib
562
54.56%
299
29.03%
562
205
263
–
–
–
–
1,030
Burnaby
CCF
CCF
5,908
44.03%
2,529
18.85%
3,379
2,307
5,908
644
136
1,073
–
13,417
Cariboo
Lib
Lib
1,921
74.57%
1,266
49.14%
1,921
–
–
–
–
655
–
2,576
Chilliwack
Lib
Con
2,524
40.08%
304
4.83%
2,220
2,524
1,554
–
–
–
–
6,298
Columbia
Lib
Lib
921
57.06%
550
34.07%
921
371
322
–
–
–
–
1,614
Comox
Lib
CCF
2,336
44.83%
460
8.83%
1,876
999
2,336
–
–
–
–
5,211
Cowichan-Newcastle
OG
CCF
1,560
33.58%
336
7.23%
1,224
639
1,560
–
–
1,222
–
4,645
Cranbrook
Lib
Lib
3,110
76.73%
2,167
53.46%
3,110
–
943
–
–
–
–
4,053
Delta
CCF
CCF
3,192
32.93%
90
0.92%
3,102
2,815
3,192
583
–
–
–
9,692
Dewdney
Lib
Con
1,870
39.27%
252
5.29%
1,618
1,870
1,274
–
–
–
–
4,762
Esquimalt
Un
Con
1,642
41.60%
226
5.72%
1,416
1,642
765
–
57
67
–
3,947
Fernie
ILP
ILP
1,701
53.64%
231
7.28%
1,470
–
–
–
–
–
1,701
3,171
Fort George
Lib
Lib
1,493
51.54%
323
11.15%
1,493
234
1,170
–
–
–
–
2,897
Grand Forks-Greenwood
Lib
Lib
722
41.93%
19
1.11%
722
703
164
133
–
–
–
1,722
The Islands
Lib
Con
953
45.12%
259
12.26%
694
953
414
–
51
–
–
2,112
Kamloops
Lib
Lib
1,786
38.89%
325
7.07%
1,786
1,461
1,345
–
–
–
–
4,592
Kaslo-Slocan
Lib
Lib
1,064
38.86%
135
4.93%
1,064
715
929
–
30
–
–
2,738
Lillooet
Lib
Lib
1,176
39.78%
251
8.49%
1,176
925
855
–
–
–
–
2,956
Mackenzie
CCF
Lib
1,828
33.93%
167
3.10%
1,828
1,661
1,625
152
122
–
–
5,388
Nelson-Creston
Lib
Lib
2,149
39.17%
248
4.52%
2,149
1,901
1,121
–
177
139
–
5,487
New Westminster
Lib
Lib
4,055
52.02%
2,289
29.36%
4,055
1,766
1,321
–
–
–
653
7,795
North Okanagan
Lib
Lib
2,689
52.64%
970
18.99%
2,689
1,719
700
–
–
–
–
5,108
North Vancouver
CCF
CCF
2,749
32.23%
363
4.25%
1,847
1,522
2,749
–
–
2,411[ d]
–
8,529
Omineca
Lib
Lib
1,013
50.90%
230
11.55%
1,013
194
783
–
–
–
–
1,990
Peace River
NP
Lib
1,168
42.61%
263
9.59%
1,168
434
905
–
–
234
–
2,741
Prince Rupert
Lib
Lib
1,446
49.55%
650
22.27%
1,446
662
796
–
14
–
–
2,918
Revelstoke
Lib
Lib
1,162
61.16%
629
33.11%
1,162
533
205
–
–
–
–
1,900
Rossland-Trail
Lib
Lib
1,877
46.70%
626
15.57%
1,877
1,251
891
–
–
–
–
4,019
Saanich
Lib
Lib
2,106
36.14%
447
7.67%
2,106
1,659
1,531
224
271
37
–
5,828
Salmon Arm
NP
Ind
1,533
48.33%
649
20.46%
884
–
755
–
–
1,533[ a 2]
–
3,172
Similkameen
Lib
Lib
2,266
43.55%
136
2.61%
2,266
2,130
807
–
–
–
–
5,203
Skeena
Lib
Lib
1,006
59.74%
328
19.48%
1,006
–
678
–
–
–
–
1,684
South Okanagan
Lib
Lib
2,388
45.02%
287
5.41%
2,388
2,101
815
–
–
–
–
5,304
Yale
Lib
Lib
968
59.94%
546
33.81%
968
225
422
–
–
–
–
1,615
^ James Lyle Telford was nominated by the local CCF Club, but suspended and repudiated by provincial Executive
^ supported and endorsed by SCP
= open seat
= winning candidate was in previous Legislature
= incumbent had switched allegiance
= previously incumbent in another riding
= not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
= incumbency arose from byelection gain
= other incumbents renominated
= multiple candidates
Results by riding - 1937 British Columbia general election (multiple-member districts)
Riding
Winning party
Votes
Name
MLAs
1933
1937
Lib
Con
CCF
SCP
SCL
Ind
Oth
Total
Vancouver-Burrard
2
2
2
16,903
13,503
14,423
765
581
–
54
46,229
Vancouver Centre
2
2
2
12,821
8,261
11,461
891
922
–
234
34,590
Vancouver East
2
2
2
10,314
5,914
23,102
1,146
389
–
53
40,918
Vancouver-Point Grey
3
3
2
1
27,243
29,134
18,589
–
1,001
–
–
75,967
Victoria City
4
2
1
1
2
2
26,571
25,574
9,598
3,151
1,061
–
–
65,955
See also
Notes
References
^ Health Insurance Act , S.B.C. 1936, c. 23
^ Statute Law Amendment Act, 1973 , S.B.C. 1973, c. 84, s. 8
^ Medical Services Act , S.B.C. 1967, c. 24
^ "Leyland, Joseph B." MemoryBC. Retrieved January 13, 2024 .
Further reading
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