The Pattullo ministry was the combined Cabinet (formally the Executive Council of British Columbia) that governed British Columbia from November 15, 1933, to December 9, 1941. It was led by Duff Pattullo, the 22nd premier of British Columbia, and was composed of members of the Liberal Party.
The Pattullo ministry was established following the 1933 election, in which the Liberal Party won a majority government. It governed for the entirety of the 18th Parliament of British Columbia and, after re-election in the 1937 election, the entirety of the 19th Parliament of British Columbia as well.
After the 1941 election, the Liberal Party lost its majority in the Legislature. Pattullo faced calls to form a coalition government with the Conservative Party, including from within his own party, but opted instead to form a minority government. His new cabinet was sworn in on November 14. However, at the party's annual convention on December 3, delegates voted to establish a coalition government. Pattullo then resigned, and the convention elected John Hart, who endorsed a coalition, as leader. The next day, Pattullo announced his resignation as premier, and Hart invited Royal Maitland, the Conservative leader, to join a coalition. The Pattullo ministry was thus disestablished and replaced by the Hart ministry on December 9, 1941.
List of ministers +Pattullo ministry by portfolioPortfolioMinisterTenureStartEndPremier of British ColumbiaDuff PattulloNovember 15, 1933December 9, 1941Minister of AgricultureKenneth Cattanach MacDonaldNovember 15, 1933November 25, 1941Frank PutnamNovember 26, 1941December 9, 1941Attorney GeneralGordon McGregor SloanNovember 15, 1933April 5, 1937Duff PattulloApril 5, 1937July 5, 1937Gordon Sylvester WismerJuly 5, 1937November 14, 1941Norman William WhittakerNovember 14, 1941November 19, 1941Duff PattulloNovember 24, 1941December 9, 1941Minister of EducationGeorge Moir WeirNovember 15, 1933November 18, 1941Duff PattulloNovember 18, 1941December 9, 1941Minister of FinanceJohn HartNovember 15, 1933November 17, 1941Duff PattulloNovember 18, 1941December 9, 1941Minister of LabourGeorge Sharratt PearsonNovember 15, 1933November 14, 1941William James AsselstineNovember 14, 1941December 9, 1941Minister of LandsWells GrayNovember 15, 1933December 9, 1941Minister of MinesGeorge Sharratt PearsonNovember 15, 1933December 23, 1937William James AsselstineDecember 23, 1937November 14, 1941Charles Sidney LearyNovember 14, 1941December 9, 1941Minister of Municipal AffairsWells GrayMarch 31, 1934December 9, 1941Provincial SecretaryGeorge Moir WeirNovember 15, 1933November 17, 1941Wells GrayNovember 18, 1941December 9, 1941Minister of Public WorksFrank Mitchell MacPhersonNovember 15, 1933September 27, 1939Duff PattulloSeptember 27, 1939December 5, 1939George Sharratt PearsonDecember 5, 1939November 14, 1941Thomas KingNovember 15, 1941December 9, 1941Minister of RailwaysDuff PattulloNovember 15, 1933December 23, 1937George Sharratt PearsonDecember 23, 1937December 5, 1939Charles Sidney LearyDecember 5, 1939November 14, 1941Thomas KingNovember 15, 1941December 9, 1941Minister of Trade and IndustryJohn HartDecember 1, 1933December 10, 1937William James AsselstineDecember 23, 1937November 14, 1941Charles Sidney LearyNovember 14, 1941December 9, 1941
Cabinet shuffles
A wave of resignations followed Pattullo's declaration of a minority government. On November 15, George Sharratt Pearson resigned from cabinet in protest. Pearson's resignation surprised Pattullo; the Vancouver Sun noted "never before had one of his cabinet gone against him so willfully". Two days later, on November 17, Finance Minister John Hart stepped down over the coalition issue as well. They were followed, on November 19, by Norman William Whittaker, who cited Hart and Pearson's resignations as evidence of Pattullo's crumbling support and authority. Finally, K. C. MacDonald announced his resignation on November 20. During this period, Pattullo took over the portfolios of education, finance and attorney general himself.
New ministries
On February 20, 1934, the government announced plans to establish a separate Department of Municipal Affairs. Wells Gray was sworn in as the inaugural minister on March 31, 1934.
On September 11, 1937, Pattullo announced plans to establish a Department of Trade and Industry, amalgamating the existing Department of Industries with the BC Economic Council and Bureau of Provincial Information. William James Asselstine was named Minister of Trade and Industry as well as taking over as Minister of Mines, effectively combining administration of the two portfolios, on December 23, 1937.
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