Minister Without Portfolio (1917–1918) Minister of Labour (1918–1921 & 1930–1932)
Robertson was a telegrapher by profession and had links with conservatives in the labour movement. In January 1917, he was appointed to the Senate as a Conservative as a means of bringing in labour representation during the First World War. When Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden formed a Unionist government in October as a means of creating a national government for the war effort, he included Robertson in the cabinet, making him minister without portfolio despite not having a seat in the House of Commons, to represent organised labour.
He held this portfolio in 1919 during the Winnipeg General Strike. At the beginning of the strike Robertson and Minister of Interior Arthur Meighen went to the city to meet the "Citizens' Committee of 1000" which had been formed by local businessmen and professionals in opposition to the strike. He refused to meet the Central Strike Committee to hear their demands.
Robertson ordered federal government employees to return to work or lose their jobs.
On June 17, he ordered the arrest of the twelve principal strike leaders, including J. S. Woodsworth. Robertson also supported the government's decision to send in the Royal North-West Mounted Police to crush the strike in an action that became known as "Bloody Saturday".
Robertson earned the longstanding enmity of the left and labour movement for his role in the strike. Despite his background, most of the working class did not consider him a legitimate representative of workers.
Robertson returned to government when R. B. Bennett's Conservatives won the 1930 election, and again became Minister of Labour, but remained unpopular with his constituents.
When visiting Winnipeg in 1932, six thousand workers met him at the railway station with the slogan: "A Faker Comes to Town." He stepped down as Labour minister in February and died in Ottawa the next year, two weeks after being paralyzed by a stroke.[1]
Referencesedit
^"Former Labor Minister, 59, Dies at Ottawa". The Winnipeg Tribune. August 26, 1933.
External linksedit
Gideon Robertson – Parliament of Canada biography
January 01, 1970
gideon, robertson, gideon, decker, robertson, august, 1874, august, 1933, canadian, senator, canadian, cabinet, minister, gideon, decker, robertsonsenator, welland, ontarioin, office, january, 1917, august, 1933appointed, byrobert, bordenpersonal, detailsborn,. Gideon Decker Robertson PC August 26 1874 August 25 1933 was a Canadian Senator and Canadian Cabinet minister The Hon Gideon Decker RobertsonSenator for Welland OntarioIn office January 20 1917 August 25 1933Appointed byRobert BordenPersonal detailsBorn 1874 08 26 August 26 1874Welland County Ontario CanadaDiedAugust 25 1933 1933 08 25 aged 58 Ottawa Ontario CanadaPolitical partyConservativeCabinetMinister Without Portfolio 1917 1918 Minister of Labour 1918 1921 amp 1930 1932 Robertson was a telegrapher by profession and had links with conservatives in the labour movement In January 1917 he was appointed to the Senate as a Conservative as a means of bringing in labour representation during the First World War When Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden formed a Unionist government in October as a means of creating a national government for the war effort he included Robertson in the cabinet making him minister without portfolio despite not having a seat in the House of Commons to represent organised labour Contents 1 Winnipeg General Strike 2 Minister of Labour under two prime ministers 3 References 4 External linksWinnipeg General Strike editOn November 8 1918 Robertson became Minister of Labour He held this portfolio in 1919 during the Winnipeg General Strike At the beginning of the strike Robertson and Minister of Interior Arthur Meighen went to the city to meet the Citizens Committee of 1000 which had been formed by local businessmen and professionals in opposition to the strike He refused to meet the Central Strike Committee to hear their demands Robertson ordered federal government employees to return to work or lose their jobs On June 17 he ordered the arrest of the twelve principal strike leaders including J S Woodsworth Robertson also supported the government s decision to send in the Royal North West Mounted Police to crush the strike in an action that became known as Bloody Saturday Robertson earned the longstanding enmity of the left and labour movement for his role in the strike Despite his background most of the working class did not consider him a legitimate representative of workers Minister of Labour under two prime ministers editRobertson retained his position as labour minister when Arthur Meighen became Prime Minister of Canada until the government s defeat in the 1921 federal election Robertson returned to government when R B Bennett s Conservatives won the 1930 election and again became Minister of Labour but remained unpopular with his constituents When visiting Winnipeg in 1932 six thousand workers met him at the railway station with the slogan A Faker Comes to Town He stepped down as Labour minister in February and died in Ottawa the next year two weeks after being paralyzed by a stroke 1 References edit Former Labor Minister 59 Dies at Ottawa The Winnipeg Tribune August 26 1933 External links editGideon Robertson Parliament of Canada biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gideon Robertson amp oldid 1186144963, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
