Coldwell, M. J. 1888-1974

Major James William Coldwell (December 2, 1888 – August 25, 1974) was a Canadian democratic socialist politician, and leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) party from 1942 to 1960. Born in England, he immigrated to Canada in 1910. Prior to his political career, he was an educator and union activist. In 1935, he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada for the Rosetown—Biggar electoral district in Saskatchewan. He was re-elected five times before he was defeated in the 1958 Diefenbaker sweep. He became the CCF's first national secretary in 1934 and became its national leader upon the death of J. S. Woodsworth in 1942. He remained leader until 1960, when there was a parliamentary caucus revolt against him. When the CCF disbanded in 1961, he joined its successor, the New Democratic Party. Coldwell is remembered mainly for helping to introduce "welfare state" policies to Canada, by persuading the Canadian government to introduce an Old Age Security programme and child benefits during the mid-1940s. He turned down several offers to join the governing Liberal Party of Canada, including one offer that would have made him Prime Minister. After his defeat in 1958, he was offered an appointment to the Senate, but he declined this as well. In 1964 he was sworn into the Privy Council, and in 1967 he was one of the initial inductees into the Order of Canada.