Darling, James Andrew (1891-1979)

James Darling.

Saskatchewan Archives Board R-B6179

Darling was born in Shotts, Scotland, on May 21, 1891, into a family of industrialists. Darling emigrated to Manitoba in 1908 and worked as a farm hand before purchasing a farm near Colonsay in 1911. He served on the Elstow agricultural society, the Colonsay municipal council, the school board, and the local telephone board. He was also active with the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. Darling was caught up in the farmers' protest movement and helped the Progressives. He joined the CCF shortly after its inception and was elected in Watrous in 1944. Re-elected in 1948, he was appointed to Cabinet as the Minister of Public Works and as Minister of Telephones. In 1949 the Saskatchewan Power Corporation was formed to purchase the province's electrical facilities and electrify Saskatchewan's farms and reduce the cost to consumers. Saskatchewan's telephone system was expanded in a similar way. After his re-election in 1952, Darling fostered the development of the natural gas network in Saskatchewan. Re-elected in 1956, Darling resigned from Cabinet and was elected Speaker of the House until his retirement from politics in 1960. Darling retired to Saskatoon and died there on October 18, 1979.

Brett Quiring

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