Alberta Social Credit Party

The Social Credit Party of Alberta (French Parti Crédit social de l' Alberta), whose members are called Socreds, is a political party in the Canadian province of Alberta. It was created out of the movement of the Social Credit and based on conservative Christian social values. Your early adopted the Canadian social credit movement in Alberta, in response to the social problems of the world economic crisis. Presented from the mid- 1930s the Socreds during almost four decades, the provincial government. Subsequently, however, they lost massively in importance and are no longer represented in the provincial legislature since 1982.

History

Since Alberta was particularly affected by the consequences of the world economic crisis, the Baptist preacher William Aberhart became interested in Social Credit. He spread his views on radio programs, in which he added the theories of Clifford Hugh Douglas numerous Christian fundamentalist elements. Throughout the province, groups, who together formed the Social Credit League of Alberta formed. In 1932, Aberhart tried to convince the ruling United Farmers of Alberta, Social Credit include in their party program, but came across rejection. Then, in 1935, founded the Social Credit Party of Alberta.

The United Farmers of Prime Minister Richard Gavin Reid increasingly lost due to the ongoing economic problems of support among the predominantly rural population. In the elections in August 1935, the Socreds won a totally unexpected landslide victory, they were at first 54 % of the vote and won 56 of 63 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The Socreds were so surprised by her success that she initially did not have a suitable Prime Minister. But Hart, who was regarded as the undisputed leader of the party, let himself be persuaded to accept this office, although he had not even a candidate.

First, the party tried to implement their radical populist ideas in accordance with the theories of Social Credit, for example, by issuing certificates asset to the residents of Alberta ( political opponents derided as " funny money "). Twice denied Lieutenant Governor John Bowen ratification of corresponding bills and even threatened to depose the government. Finally, the Supreme Court of Canada and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council declared the law unconstitutional, as banks and monetary policy falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government. The plan to control all the banks in the province was, indeed failed, but that was founded in 1938 public financial institution ATB ​​Financial still exists today.

William Aberhart died in 1943, new head of government was Ernest Manning. Under Manning, the party pursued a more pragmatic course: You gave the social credit theories and walked into one of the most conservative parties in Canada at all. Manning tried to oust the anti-Semitism that had been a member of the Christian- populist rhetoric during years from the party. Various strict laws remained in force. For example, it was banned in airplanes that were in the airspace of the province, pour out alcohol. Under Manning Alberta was almost a one-party state, the Socreds achieved in seven consecutive elections usually more than 50 % of the vote and won almost all the seats.

In 1968 the retired Manning Harry followed current. The Socreds who had their roots in the rural regions of the province, barely reacted to the increasing importance of the rapidly growing cities of Calgary and Edmonton. The urban stresses occurring Progressive Conservatives made ​​the Social Credit Party voters putting their dispute. In the elections of 1971, the Socreds only the second strongest party were presented and not the first time the government.

On the opposition role, the party was not prepared at all and it began a collapse that could not be stopped anymore. 1975 and 1979 won the Socreds only four seats, since 1982 they are no longer represented in parliament. In the second half of the 1990s, a resurgence seemed to emerge in the short term, as the party reached almost 7 % in the 1997 elections. But then the share of the vote fell again, and the party in 2008 reached 0.22 %, the worst result in its history.

Election results

Party chairman

P = Prime Minister

  • William Aberhart (1935-1943) P
  • Ernest Manning (1943-1968) P
  • Harry Power (1968-1972) P
  • Werner Schmidt (1973-1975)
  • Robert Curtis Clark (1975-1980)
  • Rod Sykes (1980-1982)
  • Martin Hattersley (1985-1988)
  • Harvey Yuill (1988-1990)
  • Robert Alford (1990-1992)
  • Randy Thorsteinson (1993-1999)
  • James Albers (1999-2001)
  • Lavern Ahlstrom (2001-2007)
  • Len Skowronski (since 2007)
Conservatism C. H. Douglas Christian fundamentalism John C. Bowen ATB Financial Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta List of political parties in Canada
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