William Martin (Canadian politician)

William George Martin (September 13, 1886 – December 19, 1973)^[1] was a Canadian clergyman and politician. Martin represented Brantford in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1926 to 1934 as a Conservative member^[2] and St. Matthews as a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1958 to 1966.^[1]

He was born in Milton Abbot, Devonshire, England, the son of William Martin, and came to Canada in 1910, settling in Calgary, Alberta. He was ordained a minister of the Congregational Church there. He returned to England in 1912 promoting immigration on behalf of the Canadian government. On his return to Canada, he received a degree in theology from Victoria College in Toronto, Ontario. He served as an assistant minister for the Methodist Church in Hamilton and then was a chaplain overseas during World War I. He returned to serve with the Congregational Church in Brantford. In 1935, Martin was historian for the Canadian expedition to the Eastern Arctic.^[3]

In 1926, he was elected to the Ontario provincial assembly as a member of the Ontario Conservative Party for the constituency of Brantford. He served as the Minister of Welfare and Minister of Public Works from 1930 to 1934.^[2] In 1936, Martin became minister at a United Church in Winnipeg, serving there until 1955.^[3]

He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1958 provincial election,^[1] defeating CCF candidate Gordon Fines by over 800 votes in the Winnipeg constituency of St. Matthews. (Incumbent Hank Scott placed a distant fourth, running as an independent Conservative.) Martin defeated Fines again in the 1959 election, and was returned a third time in the 1962 campaign.^[1] He was a backbench supporter of Dufferin Roblin's government throughout his time in office and also served four years as deputy speaker for the assembly.^[3]

• Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history