Pattullo ministry
22nd ministry of British Columbia
Date formed	November 15, 1933 (1933-11-15)
Date dissolved	December 9, 1941 (1941-12-09)
People and organisations
Monarch	George V (1933–1936) Edward VIII (1936) George VI (1936–1941)
Lieutenant Governor	John William Fordham Johnson (1933–1936) Eric Hamber (1936–1941) William Culham Woodward (1941))
Premier	Duff Pattullo
Member parties	Liberal Party
Status in legislature	Majority (1933–1941) Minority (1941)
Opposition party	Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation (1933–1936) Social Constructive Party (1936–1937) Conservative Party (1937–1941) Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation (1941)
Opposition leader	Robert Connell (1933–1937) Frank Porter Patterson (1937–1938) Royal Lethington Maitland (1938–1941) Harold Winch (1941)
History
Election(s)	1933, 1937, 1941
Legislature term(s)	18th Parliament of British Columbia 19th Parliament of British Columbia 20th Parliament of British Columbia
Predecessor	Tolmie ministry
Successor	Hart ministry

The Pattullo ministry was the combined Cabinet (formally the Executive Council of British Columbia) that governed British Columbia from November 15, 1933, to December 9, 1941. It was led by Duff Pattullo, the 22nd premier of British Columbia, and was composed of members of the Liberal Party.

The Pattullo ministry was established following the 1933 election, in which the Liberal Party won a majority government.^[1] It governed for the entirety of the 18th Parliament of British Columbia and, after re-election in the 1937 election, the entirety of the 19th Parliament of British Columbia as well.

After the 1941 election, the Liberal Party lost its majority in the Legislature.^[2] Pattullo faced calls to form a coalition government with the Conservative Party, including from within his own party, but opted instead to form a minority government.^[3] His new cabinet was sworn in on November 14.^[4] However, at the party's annual convention on December 3, delegates voted to establish a coalition government. Pattullo then resigned, and the convention elected John Hart, who endorsed a coalition, as leader.^[5] The next day, Pattullo announced his resignation as premier, and Hart invited Royal Maitland, the Conservative leader, to join a coalition.^[6] The Pattullo ministry was thus disestablished and replaced by the Hart ministry on December 9, 1941.^[7]

List of ministers

Cabinet shuffles

A wave of resignations followed Pattullo's declaration of a minority government. On November 15, George Sharratt Pearson resigned from cabinet in protest. Pearson's resignation surprised Pattullo; the Vancouver Sun noted "never before had one of his cabinet gone against him so willfully".^[8] Two days later, on November 17, Finance Minister John Hart stepped down over the coalition issue as well.^[9] They were followed, on November 19, by Norman William Whittaker, who cited Hart and Pearson's resignations as evidence of Pattullo's crumbling support and authority.^[10] Finally, K. C. MacDonald announced his resignation on November 20.^[11] During this period, Pattullo took over the portfolios of education, finance^[12] and attorney general himself.^[13]

New ministries

On February 20, 1934, the government announced plans to establish a separate Department of Municipal Affairs.^[14] Wells Gray was sworn in as the inaugural minister on March 31, 1934.^[15]

On September 11, 1937, Pattullo announced plans to establish a Department of Trade and Industry, amalgamating the existing Department of Industries with the BC Economic Council and Bureau of Provincial Information.^[16] William James Asselstine was named Minister of Trade and Industry as well as taking over as Minister of Mines, effectively combining administration of the two portfolios, on December 23, 1937.^[17]

Notes

References