First elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 1905 election, Ferguson served as Minister of Lands, Forest, and Mines in the government of William Howard Hearst from 1914 to 1919. Ferguson approved the reservation of 5,000 square miles (12,950 km2) of pulpwood on crown land to the Mead Corporation,[1] and a further 1,500 square miles (3,885 km2) to Abitibi Power and Paper Company[2] although the Crown Timber Act required pulp limits to be sold by public tender.[1] He declared, "My ambition has been to see the largest paper industry in the world established in the Province, and my attitude towards the pulp and paper industry has been directed towards assisting in bringing this about."[2] After becoming Premier of Ontario in 1923, Ferguson reserved a further 3,000 square miles (7,770 km2) to Abitibi.[3]
In addition, he sold timber limits to the Shevlin-Clarke Lumber Company (headed by the fellow Conservative James Arthur Mathieu) for less than half the price they would have normally fetched,[4] and the company later paid a fine of $1.5 million for breaching the Crown Timber Act.[5] The transactions were criticized in a subsequent inquiry,[6] in which the commission reported:
We are of the opinion that no officer, Minister or otherwise, should have the power to grant rights over large areas of the public domain at will without regard to Regulation; that power was never contemplated by the statutes; it does not at present exist, and should not be given to any individual. Such an arbitrary power subject to no control is obviously open to abuse.[1]
Ferguson became leader of the Conservative Party upon the defeat of the Hearst government that year.
Premiership
In the 1923 election, the Ontario Conservative Party came to power under Ferguson's leadership by defeating the United Farmers of Ontario-Labourcoalition government of Ernest C. Drury. The Conservatives won 75 of the 111 seats in the legislature. Ferguson's government encouraged private investment in industry and the development of the province's natural resources as a means of achieving prosperity. It was re-elected in the 1926 election with 72 seats and in 1929 with 90 seats.
In 1911, Ferguson argued in the legislature that "no language other than English should be used as a medium of instruction in the schools of this Province" although that a significant proportion of the population was French-Canadian. Sectarian politics was still rife in Ontario, and the Conservatives relied on a base of Orange support. Ferguson was prepared to pander to the Orangemen with anti-Catholic and anti-French rhetoric.
In 1912, the Ontario government passed Regulation 17, which greatly restricted the use of French language instruction. The legislation outraged Quebec and was an irritant to national unity during the First World War. When Ferguson became premier, he reversed himself by moderating the legislation and allowing more French-language instruction. His government, however, refused to extend funding for the Catholic separate schools past Grade 8.
Ferguson's reversal on Regulation 17 was a concession needed for his alliance with Quebec Premier Louis-Alexandre Taschereau. Ferguson and Taschereau formed an axis against the federal government to demand more provincial rights and defend the provinces' ownership of natural resources such as water power (hydro-electric generation).
Liquor policy
The Ferguson government, eager for new tax revenue, held a plebiscite in 1924 to soften the province's temperance laws. A slim majority voted against prohibition, which led Ferguson's government to permit the sale of beer with an alcohol content of no more than 4.4 proof, about 2.2%. Such brew became known as Fergie's foam.
The 1926 provincial election was fought on the issue of the government's proposal to repeal the Ontario Temperance Act and to permit controlled sales of liquor in government owned stores. Attorney-GeneralWilliam Folger Nickle, who had supported the government's earlier decision to allow the sale of low-alcohol beer, was opposed to going any further softening of temperance laws and resigned from Cabinet to run against the government as a Prohibitionist candidate against the repeal of the law. Ferguson's Conservatives were re-elected with a slightly-reduced majority.
In 1927, the government introduced legislation to establish the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and to allow the sale of alcohol by government-owned and operated liquor stores. That moderate stance on temperance allowed the government to isolate the Liberals, who until 1930 took a hard prohibitionist stance by opposing even regulated liquor sales and so alienated all but the most hardline temperance advocates.
Other issues
The Tories remained hostile to labour and immigrants and were not prepared to provide social relief when the Great Depression threw thousands out of work and into poverty. The Ferguson government also opposed federal government plans for an old-age pension.
Later life
In December 1930, Ferguson left provincial politics to accept an appointment as Canadian High Commissioner in London. He was succeeded as party leader and premier by George Stewart Henry.
He also gave his name to the Ferguson Block, a government office building at Queen's Park in Toronto as well as the residence cafeteria at University College in the University of Toronto, which is called the Howard Ferguson Dining Hall. A University College scholarship is named after him.
Ferguson died on February 21, 1946, in Toronto.[7]
^"Mixed Division on Timber Bill in Legislature". Ottawa Citizen. March 27, 1922. p. 2., discussing the adoption of The Shevlin-Clarke Timber License Act, 1922, S.O. 1922, c. 20
^"Lumber Company is Charged with Fraud". Toronto World. November 2, 1920. p. 5.
howard, ferguson, this, article, about, canadian, politician, british, composer, composer, george, june, 1870, february, 1946, ninth, premier, ontario, from, 1923, 1930, conservative, member, legislative, assembly, ontario, from, 1905, 1930, represented, easte. This article is about the Canadian politician For the British composer see Howard Ferguson composer George Howard Ferguson PC June 18 1870 February 21 1946 was the ninth premier of Ontario from 1923 to 1930 He was a Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1905 to 1930 who represented the eastern provincial riding of Grenville The HonourableGeorge Howard FergusonThe Hon George Howard Ferguson9th Premier of OntarioIn office July 16 1923 December 15 1930MonarchGeorge VLieutenant GovernorHenry CockshuttWilliam Donald RossPreceded byErnest Charles DrurySucceeded byGeorge Stewart HenryCanadian High Commissioner to the United KingdomIn office 1930 1935Prime MinisterR B Bennett W L Mackenzie KingPreceded byLucien Turcotte Pacaud acting Succeeded byVincent MasseyOntario MPPIn office January 25 1905 December 15 1930Preceded byRobert JoyntSucceeded byJames Alfred SandersonConstituencyGrenvillePersonal detailsBorn 1870 06 18 June 18 1870Kemptville OntarioDiedFebruary 21 1946 1946 02 21 aged 75 Toronto OntarioResting placeMount Pleasant Cemetery TorontoPolitical partyConservativeSpouseElla CummingsAlma materUniversity of TorontoOsgoode Hall Law School Contents 1 Background 2 Early political career 3 Premiership 3 1 French policy 3 2 Liquor policy 3 3 Other issues 4 Later life 5 References 6 Further reading 6 1 Bibliography 6 2 Other 7 External linksBackground EditThe son of Charles Frederick Ferguson who served in the Canadian House of Commons Ferguson studied at the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall was called to the Ontario bar in 1894 and returned to Kemptville to practise Ferguson was elected to the municipal council and served three years as reeve of Kemptville He married Ella Cumming in 1896 Early political career EditFirst elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 1905 election Ferguson served as Minister of Lands Forest and Mines in the government of William Howard Hearst from 1914 to 1919 Ferguson approved the reservation of 5 000 square miles 12 950 km2 of pulpwood on crown land to the Mead Corporation 1 and a further 1 500 square miles 3 885 km2 to Abitibi Power and Paper Company 2 although the Crown Timber Act required pulp limits to be sold by public tender 1 He declared My ambition has been to see the largest paper industry in the world established in the Province and my attitude towards the pulp and paper industry has been directed towards assisting in bringing this about 2 After becoming Premier of Ontario in 1923 Ferguson reserved a further 3 000 square miles 7 770 km2 to Abitibi 3 In addition he sold timber limits to the Shevlin Clarke Lumber Company headed by the fellow Conservative James Arthur Mathieu for less than half the price they would have normally fetched 4 and the company later paid a fine of 1 5 million for breaching the Crown Timber Act 5 The transactions were criticized in a subsequent inquiry 6 in which the commission reported We are of the opinion that no officer Minister or otherwise should have the power to grant rights over large areas of the public domain at will without regard to Regulation that power was never contemplated by the statutes it does not at present exist and should not be given to any individual Such an arbitrary power subject to no control is obviously open to abuse 1 Ferguson became leader of the Conservative Party upon the defeat of the Hearst government that year Premiership EditIn the 1923 election the Ontario Conservative Party came to power under Ferguson s leadership by defeating the United Farmers of Ontario Labour coalition government of Ernest C Drury The Conservatives won 75 of the 111 seats in the legislature Ferguson s government encouraged private investment in industry and the development of the province s natural resources as a means of achieving prosperity It was re elected in the 1926 election with 72 seats and in 1929 with 90 seats French policy Edit Ferguson left with Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King centre and Quebec Premier Louis Alexandre Taschereau at the Dominion Provincial Conference November 23 1927 In 1911 Ferguson argued in the legislature that no language other than English should be used as a medium of instruction in the schools of this Province although that a significant proportion of the population was French Canadian Sectarian politics was still rife in Ontario and the Conservatives relied on a base of Orange support Ferguson was prepared to pander to the Orangemen with anti Catholic and anti French rhetoric In 1912 the Ontario government passed Regulation 17 which greatly restricted the use of French language instruction The legislation outraged Quebec and was an irritant to national unity during the First World War When Ferguson became premier he reversed himself by moderating the legislation and allowing more French language instruction His government however refused to extend funding for the Catholic separate schools past Grade 8 Ferguson s reversal on Regulation 17 was a concession needed for his alliance with Quebec Premier Louis Alexandre Taschereau Ferguson and Taschereau formed an axis against the federal government to demand more provincial rights and defend the provinces ownership of natural resources such as water power hydro electric generation Liquor policy Edit The Ferguson government eager for new tax revenue held a plebiscite in 1924 to soften the province s temperance laws A slim majority voted against prohibition which led Ferguson s government to permit the sale of beer with an alcohol content of no more than 4 4 proof about 2 2 Such brew became known as Fergie s foam The 1926 provincial election was fought on the issue of the government s proposal to repeal the Ontario Temperance Act and to permit controlled sales of liquor in government owned stores Attorney General William Folger Nickle who had supported the government s earlier decision to allow the sale of low alcohol beer was opposed to going any further softening of temperance laws and resigned from Cabinet to run against the government as a Prohibitionist candidate against the repeal of the law Ferguson s Conservatives were re elected with a slightly reduced majority In 1927 the government introduced legislation to establish the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and to allow the sale of alcohol by government owned and operated liquor stores That moderate stance on temperance allowed the government to isolate the Liberals who until 1930 took a hard prohibitionist stance by opposing even regulated liquor sales and so alienated all but the most hardline temperance advocates Other issues Edit The Tories remained hostile to labour and immigrants and were not prepared to provide social relief when the Great Depression threw thousands out of work and into poverty The Ferguson government also opposed federal government plans for an old age pension Later life EditIn December 1930 Ferguson left provincial politics to accept an appointment as Canadian High Commissioner in London He was succeeded as party leader and premier by George Stewart Henry From 1945 to 1946 he served as Chancellor of the University of Western Ontario He also gave his name to the Ferguson Block a government office building at Queen s Park in Toronto as well as the residence cafeteria at University College in the University of Toronto which is called the Howard Ferguson Dining Hall A University College scholarship is named after him Ferguson died on February 21 1946 in Toronto 7 References Edit a b c Nelles 2005 p 387 a b Nelles 2005 p 388 Nelles 2005 p 395 Nelles 2005 p 386 Mixed Division on Timber Bill in Legislature Ottawa Citizen March 27 1922 p 2 discussing the adoption of The Shevlin Clarke Timber License Act 1922 S O 1922 c 20 Lumber Company is Charged with Fraud Toronto World November 2 1920 p 5 Howard Ferguson Funeral Saturday Montreal Gazette The Canadian Press 1946 02 22 p 12 via newspapers com Further reading EditBibliography Edit Oliver Peter G Howard Ferguson Ontario Tory Toronto University of Toronto Press 1977 Oliver Peter Public amp private persons the Ontario political culture 1914 1934 Toronto Clarke Irwin 1975 Chambers EJ Canadian Parliamentary Guide 1916Other Edit Nelles H V 2005 Politics of Development Forests Mines and Hydro Electric Power in Ontario 1849 1941 2nd ed McGill Queen s University Press ISBN 0 7735 2758 3 External links EditOntario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history Howard Ferguson fonds Archives of OntarioAcademic officesPreceded byHenry Cockshutt Chancellor of the University of Western Ontario1945 1946 Succeeded byArthur R FordDiplomatic postsPreceded byLucien Turcotte Pacaud acting Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom1930 1935 Succeeded byVincent Massey Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Howard Ferguson amp oldid 1144463462, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
