Canada at War: THE DOMINION: Two Elections

In two provinces Canadian voters went on the warpath last week. During Montreal’s worst election riots in 25 years (seven shot, 40 injured, 74 arrested) Quebec voters tossed out the Liberal Government of that French-speaking province. In Alberta, voters halted the march of the socialist C.C.F.

The Breach Widens. Quebec’s next Premier will be the Union Nationale’s Maurice Le Noblet Duplessis. A political opportunist who talks like a fascist about Jews and harries labor unions, Duplessis was Quebec’s Premier when World War II began. He took a beating when he tried to make trouble for Dominion Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King by calling an election on the issue of provincial rights in wartime. This time he shrewdly capitalized on Quebec’s dislike of war, conscription, beat Liberal Premier Adélard Godbout.

The vote for Duplessis was a vote for a Quebec-first policy. But it was not a vote to burn all bridges between Quebec and the rest of Canada. The French Canadians rejected the appeal of the men who would like to make Quebec a second Eire. These extreme nationalists of the Bloc Populaire elected only four members.

A Slim Margin. But Premier-to-be Duplessis’ legislative margin will be slim. The line-up in the Legislative Assembly: Union Nationale, 47; Liberals, 37; Bloc, 4; C.C.F., I; Independent, I; one riding still to vote. Duplessis will probably have to cajole the four Bloc members and the single independent to help him remain in power. Chuckled Premier Godbout: “It won’t be long.”

The Invaders Repelled. Fresh from its triumph in Saskatchewan (TIME, June 26), the socialist C.C.F. invaded neighboring Alberta. Ever since the late William (“Bible Bill”) Aberhart dazzled Albertans with the promise to pay them $25 a month for life, the Social Crediters have ruled the province. Last week businessmen and bankers who once fought “Bible Bill” supported his successor, 35-year-old Ernest Charles Manning. The result: Social Crediters, 47; C.C.F., 2; Independents, 3; Veterans’ candidate, I; with Social Crediters leading in the four remaining ridings. Said an Albertan: “We didn’t want to swap a light case of chickenpox for a bad case of smallpox.”

An Era of Coalition. These local successes increased the probability that neither old-line Tories nor Liberals would be able to get a clear majority in the next federal election. Crumped a member of Mr. King’s Cabinet: “Canada seems to be in for an era of coalition government.”