1941: British Columbia

The provincial elections which were held on Oct. 21, 1941, provided a first-class political upset. To the surprise of most observers, the Liberal Party under Premier Pattullo, which had been in power for eight years, failed to gain a majority of seats in the new legislature. The Liberals will have 21 seats, the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation 14 seats, and the Conservatives 12. While the Liberal Party remains the largest party in the House, it is clear that the Premier has lost the confidence of a large section of the province's voters. Yet although the government could be voted out at any time by a combination of Conservatives and members of the C.C.F., such a combination is unlikely. Harold Winch, leader of the C.C.F., has stated that his party will not enter a union with either of the older parties because of the wide diversity in principle which separates his party from either of the others. Political observers are inclined to regard a working agreement between the Liberals and Conservatives as a more likely outcome, although R. L. Maitland, the Conservative leader, is unlikely to be willing to serve under Premier Pattullo. Two of Mr. Pattullo's chief supporters — Attorney General Gordon Wismer and George Weir, Minister of Health and Education, were defeated for reelection. Mr. Pattullo himself was strongly challenged in Prince Rupert by an obscure music teacher. The most surprising development in the election was undoubtedly the gains scored by the C.C.F. which won twice as many seats as it had had in the previous House. It was generally thought that the C.C.F. would show strength only in depression years. The results of the election are not regarded as indicating opposition to the war, but rather as criticism of the way it was being conducted. T. D. Pattullo, Premier of British Columbia, resigned from office in December 1941. He was succeeded by John Hart, former Finance Minister and newly elected Liberal leader.

Strenuous efforts were made during the year to rehabilitate British Columbia's basic national resources. This program has stepped up because of requirements of the British war effort. Steady progress is reported, through new measures of scientific conservation, in restoring the salmon resources of the Fraser River. As a result, British Columbia has undertaken to supply the British Empire with more than 1,000,000 cases of canned salmon. It is estimated that the salmon pack reached 2,000,000 cases in 1941, but at least a third of this was held for the domestic market in Canada. It is estimated that the forest industries of the province had a total production for the year of more than $100,000,000, which is close to an all-time record. As part of the new rehabilitation program some 12,000,000 young trees were set out during the year. Some 10,000 acres were planted in the coast forest belt where logging and fires have prevented natural reproduction.