Canadian Election Series - Liberal Leadership 1955, ROUND TWO

[DC Al Fine]

Background

Donald Fleming: 56.2%
William Rowe: 43.8%

Fleming is elected on the first ballot

Paul Martin: 47.2%
Jean Lesage: 33.3%
Eric Kierans: 19.5%

Kierans is eliminated and releases his delegates

Solon Low: 58.8%
Ernest Manning: 41.2%


Low is the upset winner on the first ballot


Eric Kierans, Liberal activist from Montreal, QC
Virtually unknown to the public at large, Kierans is still known among Liberal delegates as a fairly prominent activist. Kierans is running a one issue campaign, proposing that the Liberals merge with the CCF. Kierans does not have a major following, although he has managed to find support among some Maritime Liberals, who are left leaning compared to the party at large due to CCF weakness there.


Jean Lesage, Liberal Justice Critic, MP for Montmagny--l'Islet, QC
Lesage is one of the primary people responsible for Dorion’s resignation. He argues that as long as the Liberals focus on centrist economics, they will be crowded out by the socialists and conservatives. Instead, Lesage wants the party to focus on social liberalism in order to differentiate itself from the socially conservative Social Credit/Unionists and the “family wage” CCF. Lesage’s support is mostly in urban centres, especially Montreal.


Paul Martin, Liberal Health Critic, MP for Essex East, ON
Paul Martin has seen his position shift in the party. Once a leading member of the party left, he now seems to be on the Liberal right. Martin wants to continue the Liberal focus on anti-socialist, pro-welfare state economics. His support mostly comes from rural Ontario, and the Prairies, although his bilingualism and Lesage’s social liberalism have allowed him to break new ground in parts of rural Quebec.


Three days

[DC Al Fine]

Lesage to make things interesting

[Intell]

Let's not have social liberalism, Martin.

[bagelman]

What is the current status of social issues within Canada?

[DC Al Fine]

What is the current status of social issues within Canada?

What exactly does being "socially liberal" mean in the context of 1950's Canada?

Legalizing divorce, abortion, and the sale of contraception to the unmarried. Decriminalizing homosexuality. Repeal of the death penalty.

Ok, I just broke Wormy's rule about influencing results with unpopular historical positions. Hope you're happy Goldwater

[DC Al Fine]

Bump

[/]

Lesage

[TDAS04]

Let's not have social liberalism, MartinLesage.