Isaac Griffiths

Isaac Bertie Griffiths (March 29, 1882 – July 10, 1970[1]) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1922 to 1941, and was a cabinet minister in the government of John Bracken.[1]

Griffiths was born in Walsall, Staffordshire, England, the son of William Houghton Griffiths and Alice Griffiths.[2] His father was a manufacturer, working in the production of iron and electrical fixtures. The younger Griffiths was educated at South Wales College, and came to Canada in 1903. In 1906, he married Florence Coles.[2]

He worked as a farmer, and served as director of the United Farmers of Manitoba (UFM) in Marquette in 1918-19.[2] When the UFM entered politics in the 1922 provincial election, Griffiths stood as a candidate and was elected for Russell, defeating Liberal incumbent William W.W. Wilson[1] by 396 votes.

After this election, the UFM formed government as the Progressive Party of Manitoba. Griffiths initially served as a government backbencher, and was returned by 291 votes in the 1927 election.[1]

Prior to the 1932 election, the Progressive and Liberal parties formed an alliance to prevent the Conservatives from winning. Government members became known as "Liberal-Progressives" after this time. Griffiths was re-elected with a much increased majority, and was appointed to cabinet on May 28, 1935 as Minister of Health and Public Welfare.[1]

Narrowly returned over an Independent Labour Party candidate in the 1936 provincial election, Griffiths continued to serve in cabinet until the creation of an all-party coalition government in 1940. He resigned from cabinet on November 4, 1940, and did not seek re-election in 1941.[1]

He died in Winnipeg at the age of 88.[2]

References

1. "MLA Biographies - Deceased". Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Archived from the original on 2014-03-30.
2. "Isaac Bertie Griffiths (1882-1970)". Memorable Manitobans. Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved 2013-01-29.|