Gideon Robertson
The Hon. Gideon Decker Robertson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Senatorfor Welland, Ontario | |
| In office January 20, 1917 – August 25, 1933 | |
| Appointed by | Robert Borden |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 26, 1874 Welland County, Ontario,Canada |
| Died | August 25, 1933(aged 58) Ottawa, Ontario,Canada |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Cabinet | Minister Without Portfolio (1917–1918) Minister of Labour (1918–1921 & 1930–1932) |
Gideon Decker Robertson,PC(August 26, 1874 – August 25, 1933) was aCanadian SenatorandCanadian Cabinetminister.
Robertson was atelegrapherby profession and had links with conservatives in thelabour movement.In January 1917, he was appointed to the Senate as aConservativeas a means of bringing in labour representation during theFirst World War.WhenPrime MinisterSirRobert Bordenformed aUnionistgovernment in October as a means of creating anational governmentfor the war effort, he included Robertson in the cabinet, making himminister without portfoliodespite not having a seat in the House of Commons, to represent organised labour.
Winnipeg General Strike
[edit]On November 8, 1918, Robertson becameMinister of Labour.
He held this portfolio in 1919 during theWinnipeg General Strike.At the beginning of the strike Robertson and Minister of InteriorArthur Meighenwent to the city to meet the "Citizens' Committee of 1000" which had been formed by local businessmen and professionals in opposition to the strike. He refused to meet the Central Strike Committee to hear their demands.
Robertson ordered federal government employees to return to work or lose their jobs.
On June 17, he ordered the arrest of the twelve principal strike leaders, includingJ. S. Woodsworth.Robertson also supported the government's decision to send in theRoyal North-West Mounted Policeto crush the strike in an action that became known as "Bloody Saturday".
Robertson earned the longstanding enmity of the left and labour movement for his role in the strike. Despite his background, most of the working class did not consider him a legitimate representative of workers.
Minister of Labour under two prime ministers
[edit]Robertson retained his position as labour minister when Arthur Meighen becamePrime Minister of Canadauntil the government's defeat in the1921 federal election.
Robertson returned to government whenR. B. Bennett's Conservatives won the1930 election,and again became Minister of Labour, but remained unpopular with his constituents.
When visiting Winnipeg in 1932, six thousand workers met him at the railway station with the slogan: "A Faker Comes to Town." He stepped down as Labour minister in February and died in Ottawa the next year, two weeks after being paralyzed by a stroke.[1]
References
[edit]- ^"Former Labor Minister, 59, Dies at Ottawa".The Winnipeg Tribune.August 26, 1933.