Hon. Major James William Coldwell
Member of Parliament for Rosetown—Biggar, Saskatchewan
In office 1935 – 1958
Preceded by	William John Loucks, Conservative
Succeeded by	Clarence Owen Cooper, Progressive Conservative
In office 1942 – 1960
Preceded by	J.S. Woodsworth
Succeeded by	Hazen Argue
Born	December 2, 1888(1888-12-02) Seaton, England
Died	August 25, 1974 (aged 85) Ottawa, Ontario
Political party	Co-operative Commonwealth Federation(CCF)
Spouse(s)	Nora Gertrude Dunsford Coldwell
Residence	Ottawa
Profession	Author, principal, teacher
Portfolio	CCF Leader
Religion	Anglicanism

Major James William Coldwell, PC, CC (December 2, 1888–August 25, 1974), usually known as M.J., was a Canadian social democratic politician, and leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation party from 1942 to 1960. Major was his first name, not a military title.

[edit] Early life

Coldwell was born in Seaton, England on December 2, 1888.^[1] He moved to Canada in 1910 and became a school administrator in Regina, Saskatchewan. He became known nationally as a leader of teacher's associations from 1924 until 1934. He first ran for the Canadian House of Commons as a Progressive candidate in Regina in the 1925 federal election but was defeated. He was elected to the city council in Regina and developed links with labour and farmers organizations.

Major J Coldwell's marriage to Norah Gertrude Dunsford was registered in the September Quarter 1912 of the Bridgwater, Somerset, England District records. Norah, born 1888, was the daughter of a newspaper proprietor.

[edit] Political beginnings

When the Saskatchewan Farmer-Labour Party was formed in 1932, Coldwell was chosen to be its first leader. The party fought the 1934 provincial election under Coldwell's leadership, and won five seats in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, making it the official opposition to the Liberal government. Coldwell was defeated in his election bid. After the election, the party affiliated itself with the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, and became the Saskatchewan CCF.

[edit] Elected MP

In the 1935 federal election, Coldwell was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Rosetown-Biggar. He split with CCF leader J.S. Woodsworth when World War II broke out in 1939. Woodsworth, a pacifist, opposed the war effort, while Coldwell and the rest of the CCF caucus supported the war. When Woodsworth resigned as CCF leader in 1942, shortly before his death, Coldwell was unanimously elected the party's new leader. He led the party through five general elections.

M.J. Coldwell and David Lewis looking over some papers together

[edit] CCF leader

Coldwell had a moderating influence on party policy, and in 1956, the party passed the Winnipeg Declaration as a statement of party principles to replace the more radical Regina Manifesto. After an upsurge of support for the party immediately after World War II, the party embarked on a long decline during the Cold War.

In the 1958 election, Coldwell lost his seat, and the party was reduced to a rump of eight MPs. Coldwell retired as party leader in 1960.

He was unenthusiastic about the movement to merge the CCF with the Canadian Labour Congress and create a "New Party", but he joined the New Democratic Party at its founding, and remained an elder statesman in the party until his death in 1974.

Coldwell also served as "National Chairman" of the CCF from 1938 to 1942.

[edit] Later life

In 1964 he became a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.^[2] On July 6, 1967, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada.^[3] He was invested into the order on November 24, 1967 for "his contribution as a Parliamentarian."^[3] It is noteworthy that his Order of Canada badge was sold at auction in 1981, the first time the Order of Canada is known to have been sold ^[4] The Douglas-Coldwell Foundation was established in 1971.^[5] On November 5, 1972, Coldwell was honoured by St. Francis Xavier University with a Doctorate in Laws degree (LL.D.).^[6] In his final years, his health was deteriorating. He was living alone in his home in Ottawa, with the assistance of his housekeeper, Beatrice Bramwell. ^[7] He died in Ottawa's Civic Hospital after suffering two heart attacks on August 25, 1974. ^[8] He had given specific orders not to perform "heroic measures" to keep him alive. ^[9] He was 85 years old when he died.

[edit] References and notes

1. ^ Stewart 2000, p. 21
2. ^ Stewart, p.250
3. ^ ^{a b} "Honours, Order of Canada: M.J. Coldwell, C.C." (HTML). Governor General of Canada. http://gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=1895. Retrieved 2007-02-23. 
4. ^ McCreery, Christopher (2005). The Order of Canada: Its Origins, History, and Development. University of Toronto Press, pg. 197. ISBN 0802039405
5. ^ Stewart, p. 250
6. ^ Stewart 2000, p. 250
7. ^ Stewart 2000, p. 231
8. ^ Stewart 2000, p. 231
9. ^ Stewart, p. 231

• Stewart, Walter (2000). M.J.: The Life and times of M.J. Coldwell. Toronto, Ontario: Stoddart Publishing Co. Ltd.. ISBN 0-7737-3232-2. 

[edit] External links

• M.J. Coldwell biography (circa. 1953)
• Federal Political Biography from the Library of Parliament