Stuart Garson

Garson, Stuart Sinclair

Stuart Sinclair Garson, lawyer, politician, premier of Manitoba (b at St Catharines, Ont 1 Dec 1898; d at Winnipeg 5 May 1977). After moving to Winnipeg as a child, he attended the Manitoba Law School, was called to the bar in 1919 and practised law at Ashern and Eriksdale, Manitoba, until 1936. A Liberal-Progressive MLA for Fairford 1927-48, he held office as provincial treasurer 1936-48 and premier 1943-48. In 1937 he was instrumental in securing the appointment of the Royal Commission on DOMINION-PROVINCIAL RELATIONS; the greatest achievement of his premiership was the inauguration of an effective program of rapid rural electrification. From 1948 to 1957 he served as federal minister of justice and attorney general and as Liberal MP for Marquette. He then left politics to practise law until his retirement in 1965. He was named a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1971.