Ernest Manning

Ernest Charles Manning, PC, CC, AOE ( born September 20, 1908 in Carnduff, Saskatchewan, † February 19, 1996 in Calgary ) was a Canadian politician and preacher. From May 31 1943 to December 12, 1968, he was Prime Minister of the Alberta Social Credit Party and chairman of the of Alberta. His term of more than 25 years, the longest of any government of this province and the second longest of any Canadian province of Prime Minister ( by George Henry Murray of Nova Scotia ). Under his leadership, Alberta has developed into one of the wealthiest provinces in the country. From 1970 to 1983 he represented the Social Credit Party of Canada in the Senate.

Privacy and provincial policy

Manning grew up on a farm in southeastern Saskatchewan. During his youth he was interested in more and more for the evangelical radio broadcasts of Baptist preacher William Aberhart, which were distributed in 1925 throughout Western Canada. In 1927 he enrolled in But Hart's Calgary Prophetic Bible Institute and was the first graduate of the institution. From 1930 he hosted every Sunday even religious radio broadcasts that were eventually spread across Canada and a large audience found. This activity he practiced well into old age, even when he was involved in politics.

Aberhart founded 1935, the Social Credit Party of Alberta, after the ruling United Farmers of Alberta had been unwilling to accept the theories of Social Credit in their party program. In the elections to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in August 1935, the Socreds won a totally unexpected landslide victory with more than half of the votes. Manning was elected in the constituency of Calgary and Aberhart, who had become Prime Minister of the Province, appointed him as his deputy and minister of industry and trade.

1936 Manning married the pianist Muriel Aileen Preston. Together they had two sons, Keith and Preston. The latter was also later a prominent politician. Preston Manning was a deputy in the House and chairman of the Reform Party of Canada, one of the forerunners of today's Conservative Party of Canada.

After the outbreak of the Second World War, Manning volunteered in the Reserve of the Canadian Army and was awarded the rank of lieutenant. In 1943 he was promoted to captain ( Hauptmann ). After 1940 he represented in the provincial assembly constituency Edmonton.

Prime minister

On May 23, 1943 William Aberhart died unexpectedly during a visit to Vancouver and the delegates of the Social Credit Party chose Ernest Manning for the new party chairman. On May 31, he was appointed by Lieutenant Governor John Bowen as prime minister. Manning was not only head of government, but had also held several ministerial posts: Treasurer (1944-1954), Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources (1952-1962) and Attorney General ( 1955-1968 ). In the Legislative Assembly, he represented the constituency from 1959 Strathcona East.

The government pursued a more pragmatic course as under Aberhart: She gave up the social credit theories, since they alone could not be implemented at the provincial level. The Social Credit Party was transformed into one of the most conservative parties in Canada. Manning also tried to oust the anti-Semitism that had been for years a member of the Christian- populist rhetoric 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. Reasons were lack of political alternatives, and especially the rapid economic development. 1947 oil had been found in Leduc for the first time, prompting Alberta rose in a short time one of the wealthiest provinces in the country. The in spite of a low tax rate is many times higher tax revenues in the development of transport infrastructure, education and health investments.

Senator

Manning resigned on 12 December 1968, after a 25-year term of office in favor of Harry Power. Together with his son Preston, he founded a consulting company called Manning Consultants Limited. He also served on the boards of several major companies. In 1970 he was appointed to the Senate. As it turned out later, he was the only senator of the Social Credit Party of Canada. In the same year he was awarded the Order of Canada. Manning was in the Senate, mainly of the Finance Commission to temporarily but also of science Commission. In 1980 he founded a foundation that the " Manning Innovation Awards " awards since 1982 to Canadians who have distinguished themselves through innovative services. 1983 Manning had to resign as a senator, because he had reached the age limit of 75 years.