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Rutherford ministry

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Rutherford Ministry

1st ministry of Alberta
Alexander Cameron Rutherford, c. 1908–1910
Date formedSeptember 2, 1905 (1905-09-02)
Date dissolvedMay 26, 1910 (1910-05-26)
People and organisations
Monarch
Lieutenant GovernorGeorge H. V. Bulyea
PremierAlexander Cameron Rutherford
Member partyAlberta Liberal Party
Status in legislatureMajority
History
Elections
Legislature terms
SuccessorSifton Ministry

The Rutherford Ministry was the combined Cabinet (called Executive Council of Alberta), chaired by Premier Alexander Cameron Rutherford, and Ministers that governed Alberta from the day following the province's Confederation into Canada on September 2, 1905, to part way through the 2nd Alberta Legislature on May 26, 1910.

The Executive Council (commonly known as the cabinet) was made up of members of the Alberta Liberal Party which held a majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The cabinet was appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta on the advice of the Premier.

Following the repercussions of the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway scandal, Rutherford resigned as Premier of Alberta on May 26, 1910, and was replaced by Arthur Sifton and the Sifton Ministry.

History

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Formation

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In February 1905, the federal government of Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier introduced legislation to create two new provinces (Alberta and Saskatchewan) from the Northwest Territories.[1] Though Haultain wanted the new provinces to be governed on the same nonpartisan basis as the Territories had been, the Liberal Laurier was expected to recommend a Liberal to serve as Lieutenant-Governor, and the Lieutenant-Governor was expected to call on a Liberal to form the new province's first government.[2] Frank Oliver was the province's most prominent Liberal, but he had just been named federal Minister of the Interior and was not interested in leaving Ottawa.[3] Peter Talbot was Laurier's preferred candidate, but he expected to be appointed to the Senate and found the latter prospect more congenial than serving as Premier of Alberta.[3] Both men supported Rutherford, but neither was enthusiastic about doing so.[4] In August, George H. V. Bulyea was appointed Alberta's first Lieutenant-Governor and later that month the Alberta Liberals selected Rutherford as their first leader.[5]

A final barrier was removed a few days later, when Frederick W. A. G. Haultain, who was a Conservative federally but who was thought to be a potential leader of a coalition government, announced that he would stay in Regina to lead the Saskatchewan Conservatives.[6] On September 2, Bulyea asked Rutherford to form the first government of Alberta.[7]

Cabinet selection

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After accepting the position of premier, Rutherford selected a geographically diverse cabinet on September 6: Edmonton's Charles Wilson Cross as Attorney-General, Calgary's William Henry Cushing as Minister of Public Works, Medicine Hat's William Finlay as Minister of Agriculture and Provincial Secretary, and Lethbridge's George DeVeber as Minister without Portfolio.[8] Rutherford kept for himself the positions of Provincial Treasurer and Minister of Education.[9]

1909 shuffle

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The Rutherford led Liberals gained a strong mandate in the March 1909 election and continued to form government. Provincial Secretary and Minister of Agriculture William Finlay was re-elected, but resigned from cabinet shortly after the election in November 1909 due to his poor health.[10] Rutherford appointed Duncan Marshall to cabinet as the Provincial Secretary and Minister of Agriculture, and appointed William Ashbury Buchanan and Prosper-Edmond Lessard as Minister without portfolio.

List of ministers

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Name Date Appointed Date Departed
Alexander Cameron Rutherford President of the Executive Council (Premier) September 2, 1905 May 26, 1910
Alexander Cameron Rutherford Provincial Treasurer September 8, 1905 May 26, 1910
William Finlay Provincial Secretary September 8, 1905 November 1, 1909
Duncan Marshall November 1, 1909 May 31, 1910
Charles Wilson Cross Attorney General September 8, 1905 March 8, 1910
William Finlay Minister of Agriculture September 8, 1905 November 1, 1909
Duncan Marshall November 1, 1909 August 12, 1921
Alexander Cameron Rutherford Minister of Education September 8, 1905 May 26, 1910
William Henry Cushing Minister of Public Works September 8, 1905 February 14, 1910
Leverett George DeVeber Minister Without Portfolio September 9, 1905 March 8, 1906
William Ashbury Buchanan November 1, 1909 March 8, 1910
Prosper-Edmond Lessard November 1, 1909 May 26, 1910

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Babcock 1989, p. 22.
  2. ^ Thomas 1959, p. 15.
  3. ^ a b Thomas 1959, p. 16.
  4. ^ Babcock 1989, p. 23.
  5. ^ Thomas 1959, pp. 17–18.
  6. ^ Thomas 1959, p. 18.
  7. ^ Thomas 1959, p. 19.
  8. ^ Thomas 1959, pp. 21–22.
  9. ^ Thomas 1959, p. 21.
  10. ^ Wilson, L.J. Roy (2022) [1998]. "Finlay, William Thomas". In Cook, Ramsay; Hamelin, Jean (eds.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XIV (1911–1920) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.

Works cited

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Further reading

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