Social Credit Party

The Social Credit Party of Saskatchewan was first formed in the wake of the party's sweep to power in Alberta. Originally a progressive-Reform Party, it tried to form an alliance with the CCF. Although making inroads into the CCF's organization and its membership, the party leadership was steadfastly opposed to an alliance. The party's presence caused considerable concern among the politically dominant Liberal Party, which worried that it would sweep Saskatchewan as it had Alberta. The 1935 federal election and 1938 provincial election proved the party to be a hollow force after it only managed to elect two members in each election. After 1938 the party disintegrated, but was later revived in 1955 by “Socred” organizers from Alberta and British Columbia. Even though they failed to convince Progressive Conservative Leader Alvin Hamilton to join them in their “anti-socialist” crusade, they did manage to field a full slate of candidates in 1956, electing three candidates to the Legislature. Social Credit retained a respectable result in the 1960 election, but all its MLAs were defeated and the party returned to obscurity and ceased running candidates after the 1967 election.

Brett Quiring