24th Canadian Parliament

The 24th Canadian Parliament was in session from May 12, 1958, until April 19, 1962. The membership was set by the 1958 federal election on March 31, 1958, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1962 election.

There were five sessions of the 24th Parliament: SessionStartEnd1stMay 12, 1958September 6, 19582ndJanuary 15, 1959July 18, 19593rdJanuary 14, 1960August 10, 19604thNovember 17, 1960September 29, 19615thJanuary 18, 1962April 19, 1962

Overview It was controlled by a Progressive Conservative Party majority, which won the largest majority in Canadian history, under Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and the 18th Canadian Ministry. The Official Opposition was the Liberal Party, led by Lester B. Pearson.

Party standings Number of members per partyParty leaderGeneral ElectionMarch 31, 1958Progressive ConservativeJohn Diefenbaker208LiberalLester B. Pearson48Co-operative CommonwealthM.J. Coldwell8Liberal-Labour1Total Seats265

Major events

Voting rights for indigenous people Prior to 1960, Indigenous people in Canada did not have the right to vote, but could gain it through the process of enfranchisement, giving up their 'Indian' status. On March 31, 1960, an act brought in by Diefenbaker's government, updating section 14 of the Canada Elections Act, received royal ascent. This bill gave indigenous peoples in Canada the right vote without giving up their status. It had received nearly unanimous consent from parliament.

The Avro Arrow cancelation

In the early 1950's Canada had commissioned the design and development of a new interceptor jet that could be used to fend off attack from the Soviet Union. Avro Canada, an aircraft company, was contracted for the job and began development of the "CF-105 Arrow".

By 1959, the government found itself balancing the costs of multiple priorities, and on February 20th, 1959, development of the arrow was scrapped. This in itself was not cause for scandal, but following the cancelation of the program, the government ordered a large amount of prototypes, tooling, and materials related to the program destroyed. This caused widescale distrust of the government and resulted in thousands of workers losing their jobs, essentially overnight.

The fallout from the cancellation of the Arrow cost the Progressive Conservative party a good deal of support and contributed to their loss in the following election.

Ministry Main article: 18th Canadian Ministry

The 18th Canadian Ministry began at the beginning of the 23rd Canadian Parliament and lasted until near the end of the 25th Canadian Parliament.

Office holders

Head of State OfficePhotoNameAssumed officeLeft officeSovereignElizabeth IIFebruary 6, 1952September 8, 2022Governor GeneralVincent MasseyFebruary 28, 1952September 15, 1959Georges VanierSeptember 15, 1959March 5, 1967

Party leadership PartyPhotoNameAssumed officeLeft officeProgressive ConservativeJohn DiefenbakerApril 22, 1963September 8, 1967LiberalLester B. PearsonJanuary 16, 1958April 6, 1968Social CreditR.N. ThompsonJuly 7, 1961March 9, 1967Solon LowApril 6, 1944July 6, 1961CCF/New DemocraticTommy DouglasAugust 3, 1961April 24, 1971Hazen ArgueAugust 11, 1960August 2, 1961M. J. ColdwellJuly 29, 1942August 10, 1960

Changes to party standings

By-elections

Parliamentarians

House of Commons Following is a full list of members of the twenty-fourth Parliament listed first by province or territory, then by electoral district. Key: Party leaders are italicized. Parliamentary secretaries is indicated by "". Cabinet ministers are in boldface. The Prime Minister is both. The Speaker is indicated by "()".

Electoral districts denoted by an asterisk (*) indicates that district was represented by two members.

Alberta Electoral districtNamePartyFirst elected/previously electedNo. of termsAcadiaJack HornerProgressive Conservative19581st termAthabaskaJack BiggProgressive Conservative19581st termBattle River—CamroseClifford SmallwoodProgressive Conservative19581st termBow RiverEldon WoolliamsProgressive Conservative19581st termCalgary NorthDouglas HarknessProgressive Conservative19455th termCalgary SouthArthur Ryan SmithProgressive Conservative19572nd termEdmonton EastWilliam SkoreykoProgressive Conservative19581st termEdmonton—StrathconaTerry NugentProgressive Conservative19581st termEdmonton WestMarcel Lambert Progressive Conservative19572nd termJasper—EdsonHugh HornerProgressive Conservative19581st termLethbridgeDeane GundlockProgressive Conservative19581st termMacleodLawrence KindtProgressive Conservative19581st termMedicine HatEdwin William BrunsdenProgressive Conservative19581st termPeace RiverGed BaldwinProgressive Conservative19581st termRed DeerHarris George RogersProgressive Conservative19581st termVegrevilleFrank FaneProgressive Conservative19581st termWetaskiwinJames Stanley SpeakmanProgressive Conservative19581st term

British Columbia Electoral districtNamePartyFirst elected/previously electedNo. of termsBurnaby—CoquitlamErhart RegierC.C.F.19533rd termNew Democratic PartyBurnaby—RichmondJohn DrysdaleProgressive Conservative19581st termCaribooWalter HendersonProgressive Conservative19581st termCoast—CapilanoWilliam Hector PayneProgressive Conservative19581st termComox—AlberniHenry McQuillanProgressive Conservative19581st termEsquimalt—SaanichGeorge Pearkes (until 11 October 1960 emoulment appointment)Progressive Conservative19455th termGeorge Chatterton (by-election of 1961-05-29)Progressive Conservative19611st termFraser ValleyWilliam Harold HicksProgressive Conservative19581st termKamloopsDavie FultonProgressive Conservative19455th termKootenay EastMurray McFarlaneProgressive Conservative19581st termKootenay WestHerbert Wilfred HerridgeC.C.F.19455th termNew Democratic PartyNanaimoWalter MatthewsProgressive Conservative19581st termNew WestminsterWilliam McLennanProgressive Conservative19581st termOkanagan BoundaryDavid Vaughan PughProgressive Conservative19581st termOkanagan—RevelstokeStuart FlemingProgressive Conservative19581st termSkeenaFrank HowardC.C.F.19572nd termNew Democratic PartyVancouver—BurrardJohn Russell TaylorProgressive Conservative19572nd termVancouver CentreDouglas JungProgressive Conservative19572nd termVancouver EastHarold WinchC.C.F.19533rd termNew Democratic PartyVancouver KingswayJohn Ferguson BrowneProgressive Conservative19581st termVancouver QuadraHoward Charles GreenProgressive Conservative19357th termVancouver SouthErnest James BroomeProgressive Conservative19572nd termVictoriaAlbert McPhillipsProgressive Conservative19572nd term

Manitoba Electoral districtNamePartyFirst elected/previously electedNo. of termsBrandon—SourisWalter Dinsdale Progressive Conservative19514th termChurchillRobert SimpsonProgressive Conservative19572nd termDauphinElmer ForbesProgressive Conservative19581st termLisgarGeorge MuirProgressive Conservative19572nd termMarquetteNick MandziukProgressive Conservative19572nd termPortage—NeepawaGeorge FairfieldProgressive Conservative19572nd termProvencherWarner Jorgenson Progressive Conservative19572nd termSelkirkEric Stefanson Sr.Progressive Conservative19581st termSpringfieldVal Yacula (died 24 September 1958)Progressive Conservative19581st termJoseph Slogan (by-election of 1958-12-15)Progressive Conservative19581st termSt. BonifaceLaurier RégnierProgressive Conservative19581st termWinnipeg NorthMurray SmithProgressive Conservative19581st termWinnipeg North CentreJohn MacLeanProgressive Conservative19581st termWinnipeg SouthGordon ChownProgressive Conservative19572nd termWinnipeg South CentreGordon ChurchillProgressive Conservative19514th term

New Brunswick Electoral districtNamePartyFirst elected/previously electedNo. of termsCharlotteCaldwell StewartProgressive Conservative19581st termGloucesterHédard RobichaudLiberal19533rd termKentHervé MichaudLiberal19533rd termNorthumberland—MiramichiGeorge Roy McwilliamLiberal19494th termRestigouche—MadawaskaCharles Van HorneProgressive Conservative19553rd termEdgar Fournier (by-election of 1961-05-29)Progressive Conservative19611st termRoyalAlfred Johnson BrooksProgressive Conservative19357th termHugh John Flemming (by-election of 1960-10-31)Progressive Conservative19601st termSt. John—AlbertThomas Miller Bell Progressive Conservative19533rd termVictoria—CarletonGage MontgomeryProgressive Conservative19524th termWestmorlandWilliam CreaghanProgressive Conservative19581st termYork—SunburyJohn Chester MacRaeProgressive Conservative19572nd term

Newfoundland Electoral districtNamePartyFirst elected/previously electedNo. of termsBonavista—TwillingateJack PickersgillLiberal19533rd termBurin—BurgeoChesley William CarterLiberal19494th termGrand Falls—White Bay—LabradorCharles GrangerLiberal19581st termHumber—St. George'sHerman Maxwell BattenLiberal19533rd termSt. John's EastJames McGrathProgressive Conservative19572nd termSt. John's WestWilliam Joseph BrowneProgressive Conservative1949, 19573rd term*Trinity—ConceptionJames Roy TuckerLiberal19581st term

Northwest Territories Electoral districtNamePartyFirst elected/previously electedNo. of termsMackenzie RiverMerv HardieLiberal19533rd termMerv Hardie died on October 18, 1961Vacant

Nova Scotia Electoral districtNamePartyFirst elected/previously electedNo. of termsAntigonish—GuysboroughClement O'LearyProgressive Conservative19581st termCape Breton North and VictoriaRobert MuirProgressive Conservative19572nd termCape Breton SouthDonald MacInnisProgressive Conservative19572nd termColchester—HantsCyril KennedyProgressive Conservative19572nd termCumberlandRobert CoatesProgressive Conservative19572nd termDigby—Annapolis—KingsGeorge NowlanProgressive Conservative1948, 19505th term*Halifax*Robert McCleaveProgressive Conservative19572nd termEdmund L. Morris Progressive Conservative19572nd termInverness—RichmondRobert MacLellanProgressive Conservative19581st termPictouRussell MacEwanProgressive Conservative19572nd termQueens—LunenburgLloyd CrouseProgressive Conservative19572nd termShelburne—Yarmouth—ClareFelton LegereProgressive Conservative19581st term

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