13th Alberta Legislature

13th Alberta Legislature
Majority parliament
17 August 1955 – 9 May 1959
Parliament leaders
PremierErnest Charles Manning
May 31, 1943 – December 12, 1968
CabinetManning cabinet
Leader of the
Opposition
James Harper Prowse
February 21, 1952 – April 15, 1958
Grant MacEwan
February 5, 1959 – April 17, 1959
Party caucuses
GovernmentSocial Credit Party
OppositionAlberta Liberal Party
CrossbenchProgressive Conservative Association of Alberta
Cooperative Commonwealth
Legislative Assembly
Speaker of the
Assembly
Peter Dawson
February 25, 1937 – March 24, 1963
Members61 MLA seats
Sovereign
MonarchElizabeth II
February 6, 1952 – September 8, 2022
Lieutenant
Governor
Hon. John James Bowlen
February 1, 1950 – December 16, 1959
Sessions
1st session
August 17, 1955 – August 25, 1955
2nd session
February 9, 1956 – March 29, 1956
3rd session
February 14, 1957 – April 11, 1957
4th session
February 28, 1958 – April 14, 1958
5th session
February 5, 1959 – April 7, 1959
← 12th → 14th

The 13th Alberta Legislative Assembly was in session from August 17, 1955, to May 9, 1959, with the membership of the assembly determined by the results of the 1955 Alberta general election held on June 29, 1955. The Legislature officially resumed on August 17, 1955, and continued until the fifth session was prorogued on April 7, 1959, and dissolved on May 9, 1959, prior to the 1959 Alberta general election.[1]

Alberta's thirteenth government was controlled by the majority Social Credit Party for the sixth time, led by Premier Ernest Manning who would go on to be the longest serving Premier in Alberta history. The Official Opposition was led by James Harper Prowse a member of the Alberta Liberal Party until the fifth session when Grant MacEwan became the leader of the Official Opposition. The Speaker was Peter Dawson who would serve until his death during the 15th legislature on March 24, 1963.

Standings changes since the 13th general election

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Affiliation Members
  Social Credit 37
Liberal 15
  Progressive Conservative 3
  Co-operative Commonwealth 2
  Liberal + Progressive Conservative1 1
  Coalition 1
  Independent Social Credit 1
 Total
61
  1. The candidate in Okotoks-High River was jointly nominated by the Progressive Conservative and Liberal parties.
Membership changes in the 13th Assembly
Date Name District Party Reason
  June 29, 1955 See List of Members Election day of the 13th Alberta general election
  June 3, 1956 John Clark Stettler Social Credit Committed suicide after murdering seven people[2]
  November 15, 1956 Galen Norris Stettler Social Credit Elected in a by-election
  1957 Arthur Smith Calgary Progressive Conservative Vacated his seat to run in the 1957 federal election.
  October 2, 1957 Ernest Watkins Calgary Progressive Conservative Elected in a by-election
  December 19, 1958 Frederick Niddrie Olds Social Credit Died
  February 9, 1959 Roderick Macleod Olds Social Credit Elected in a by-election

References

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  1. ^ Perry, Sandra E.; Footz, Valerie L. (2006). Massolin, Philip A. (ed.). A Higher Duty: Speakers of the Legislative Assemblies. Edmonton, AB: Legislative Assembly of Alberta. p. 498. ISBN 0-9689217-3-6. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  2. ^ Colin MacDonald (June 5, 1956). "Body Alberta MLA Found Lying In Slough". Vol XLIX No 148. The Lethbridge Herald. p. 1.

Further reading

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