Keywords Unions & Labour Organizations

The CCF quickly established itself in Canadian political life, electing members to Parliament and to several provincial legislatures. In 1935, 7 CCF MPs were returned and the party captured 8.9% of the popular vote. In 1940, 8 MPs were returned on 8.5% of the popular vote. At the beginning of WWII the CCF was split between supporters of Woodsworth's uncompromising pacifism and supporters of Canada's entry into the conflict.

M.J. COLDWELL, who succeeded Woodsworth as leader during this period, favoured Canada's participation, and under his moderate guidance the party began to flourish electorally. It won the critical York South by-election in February 1942, in the process preventing the Conservative leader, former Prime Minister Arthur MEIGHEN, from entering the Commons; topped a September 1943 national Gallup poll; came second in that year's Ontario elections; and, under the leadership of T.C. DOUGLAS, took office in Saskatchewan in 1944. In the 1945 federal election the CCF returned 28 MPs, garnering 15.6% of the popular vote.

Although the CCF was well established, it gradually declined in popular appeal after the war. A socialist party, it was accused of being associated with communism, and during COLD WAR tension this image was damaging. An attempt in 1956 to soften the party's image by replacing the Regina Manifesto with a new, moderate document, the Winnipeg Declaration, could not reverse the trend, and in 1958 the party suffered a disastrous defeat: only 8 MPs were elected with a mere 9.5% of the popular vote. Both Coldwell and Deputy Leader Stanley KNOWLES were personally defeated.

Following this debacle an arrangement was negotiated by David LEWIS between the CCF and the CANADIAN LABOUR CONGRESS. The CLC, urged by Lewis to save democratic socialism in Canada, agreed to enter a formal alliance with the CCF to create a new party. In 1961 the CCF entered a new phase, and emerged from a founding convention as the NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY. Although the CCF had never held power nationally, the adoption of many of its ideas by ruling parties contributed greatly to the development of the Canadian welfare state.

Woodsworth, James Shaver
Woodsworth was the best known of the reform-minded Social Gospel ministers and led many of them into the politics of democratic socialism (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-55449).

Douglas, Tommy
Tommy Douglas standing under a CCF billboard shortly after his election, with C.M. Fines and Clarence Gillis (courtesy Saskatchewan Archives Board).

Author J.T. MORLEY

Suggested Reading
W.D. Young, The Anatomy of a Party (1969).

Links to Other Sites
New Democratic Party of Canada
The official website of the New Democratic Party of Canada.

Prairie Roots of Canada's Political Third Parties
This website examines the unique character of prairie politics in Canada. Produced by Mount Allison University Centre for Canadian Studies in New Brunswick.

Medicare and Social Welfare: Tommy Douglas and the NDP
A multimedia feature about the history of the NDP and the political career of Tommy Douglas. From the CBC.

Saskatchewan’s 1944 CCF Election
Follow the development of the CCF party in this online collection of archival documents and photographs. Focuses on the Progressives, the Farmer-Labor Party, the Regina Convention and more. From the Saskatchewan Archival Information Network.