Ernest Manning
Ernest C. Manning was a prominent Canadian politician born on September 20, 1908, in Carnduff, Saskatchewan. Raised in a Baptist household, he was influenced by religious broadcasts and pursued theological education at the Calgary Prophetic Bible Institute. Manning's political career began when he joined the Social Credit Party, which advocated for government-distributed social credit to stimulate the economy. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in 1935 and became Alberta's Premier in 1943 following the death of William Aberhart, the party's founder.
Serving in this role until 1968, Manning oversaw significant developments in Alberta's oil and gas industry, contributing to the province's economic prosperity while implementing conservative financial and social policies. He was noted for distancing the party from anti-Semitic sentiments and promoting a blend of free enterprise with social concerns, as articulated in his 1967 book, "Political Realignment: A Challenge to Thoughtful Canadians." Throughout his life, Manning received several honors, including being made a Companion of the Order of Canada and the first Member of the Order of Excellence of Alberta. After his retirement from politics, Manning continued to engage in business and community service until his death in 1996.
Subject Terms
Ernest Manning
Politician
- Born: September 20, 1908
- Birthplace: Carnduff, Saskatchewan
- Died: February 19, 1996
- Place of death: Calgary, Alberta
Contribution: Ernest Manning was a Canadian politician and businessman who served twenty-five years as premier of Alberta. He was Alberta’s longest-serving premier. Manning also became the youngest cabinet minister to serve in the newly formed British Commonwealth at the age of twenty-six.
Early Years & Education
Ernest C. Manning was born in Carnduff, Saskatchewan, Canada, on September 20, 1908, to George H. Manning and Elizabeth M. Dickson. He was raised in a Baptist home on a farm in the Rosetown area of Saskatchewan.
Influenced by the religious radio broadcasts of Baptist evangelist William Aberhart, Manning enrolled at the Calgary Prophetic Bible Institute in 1927, and graduated in 1929. In 1930, he began speaking with Aberhart on his radio show and continued the show for years after Aberhart died. He also became a member of Aberhart’s Social Credit Party, which argued that governments should distribute social credit (for example, money) to stimulate economies.
Career
In Alberta’s 1935 general election, Manning was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta as a member of the Social Credit Party, representing the district of Calgary. After Aberhart was elected premier of Alberta in 1935, Manning, then twenty-six years old, was appointed to the Alberta government’s cabinet as provincial secretary and minister of trade and industry.
When Aberhart died unexpectedly in May 1943, the Social Credit caucus selected Manning as party leader, and on May 31, 1943, he was appointed premier of Alberta, a position he held until 1968. During Manning’s tenure as premier, he also held various cabinet positions, including provisional treasurer (1944–54), minister of mines and minerals (1952–62), and attorney general (1955–68).
Upon becoming premier, Manning abandoned many of the policies of the Social Credit Party, purged the party of individuals expressing anti-Semitic sentiments, and guided the party in a more right-wing direction, implementing more conservative financial and social policies. Upon discovery of oil in the province in the late 1940s, Manning took steps to develop Alberta’s oil and gas industry, resulting in an economic boom for the province.
As revenue flowed into Alberta, Manning’s government was able to increase social services for Alberta’s residents, while imposing relatively low taxes. In 1967, Manning’s views on national politics were published in the book Political Realignment: A Challenge to Thoughtful Canadians, which advocated combining a free enterprise society with social concerns.
Manning resigned as premier on December 12, 1968. Later that month, he resigned his seat in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. In 1970, Manning was appointed to the Canadian Senate, a position he held until 1983.
Upon retiring from the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Manning founded a research and consulting firm and served on the board of directors of the Canada West Foundation, as well as on a number of boards for other major companies.
Honors and Achievements
Manning was the recipient of numerous honorary degrees and awards, including the Companion of the Order of Canada in 1969 and the first Member of the Order of Excellence of Alberta in 1981.
Personal
Manning married Muriel Aileen Preston on April 14, 1936, and the couple had two sons. He died in Calgary, Alberta, on February 19, 1996, at the age of eighty-seven.
In addition to Manning’s distinguished political and business career, he is also remembered as an active Christian layman and performed a weekly religious radio program that was broadcast throughout Canada.
Bibliography
Brennan, Brian. The Good Steward: The Ernest C. Manning Story. Calgary: Fifth House, 2008. Print.
“Ernest Manning, 87, ex-Alberta Premier.” New York Times 145.50346 (1996): B6. Print.
Jenkinson, Michael. “The Father of Reform.” Alberta Report/Newsmagazine 23.12 (1996): 8–9. Print.
Manning, Preston. “Prairie Companions.” Maclean’s 118.27/28 (2005): 34–38. Print.
Stingel, Janine. “Beyond the Purge: Reviewing the Social Credit Movement’s Legacy of Intolerance.” Canadian Ethnic Studies 31.2 (1999): 76–100. Print.