William John Patterson

William John Patterson ( born May 13, 1886 in Grenfell, Saskatchewan, † June 10, 1976 in Regina ) was a Canadian politician. He was from 1 November 1935 to July 10, 1944 Prime Minister of the Province of Saskatchewan. In addition, he was from 1935 to 1946 Chairman of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party. From 1951 to 1958 he served as lieutenant governor.

Biography

The son of a foreman of the Canadian Pacific Railway was born in Grenfell in place at that time still belonged to the Northwest Territories. After leaving school at the age of 15 years Patterson initially worked for the Dominion Bank, later for the telephone company of the province of Saskatchewan. In 1909 he joined the Freemasons. As an officer of cavalry Patterson was sent in 1916 during the First World War to Europe. In September 1918 he was wounded in France. After the war he returned to Saskatchewan and opened an office for insurance and financial services.

1921 Patterson candidate in the constituency Pipestone successfully for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. From 1926 to 1929 he was a member of the Cabinet of James Garfield Gardiner and was Minister of Finance and Minister for telephones and telegraphs. From 1934 he represented the constituency Cannigton and was again Minister of Finance. As Gardiner resigned to become Canadian Agriculture Minister, Patterson took over on 1 November 1935, the Office of the Government.

Patterson was confronted with the consequences of the world economic crisis. His government was the threat by the total collapse of agriculture to avert national bankruptcy and tried to alleviate with social programs, the greatest need. She led an excise tax to support the education system a, allowed the workers to unite in trade unions and adopted improved provisions in labor law. Patterson itself was popular among the population, his government was but overall a very uninspired and discouraged. In the elections in June 1944, the share of the vote of the Liberals fell by more than ten percent. Patterson remained until July 10, 1944 Office and handed it to Tommy Douglas of the socialist Co-operative Commonwealth Federation.

Until 1946 Patterson remained Chairman of the Liberal, until 1949 deputy in the Legislative Assembly. He then belonged to the federal Transport Commission. From June 25 1951 to February 3, 1958, he was lieutenant governor and thus representative of the Queen of Canada in his province. After he retired from public life.