9th Alberta Legislature
The 9th Alberta Legislative Assembly was in session from February 20, 1941, to July 7, 1944, with the membership of the assembly determined by the results of the 1940 Alberta general election held on March 21, 1940. The Legislature officially resumed on February 20, 1941, and continued until the fourth session was prorogued on March 24, 1944 and dissolved on July 7, 1944, prior to the 1944 Alberta general election.
| 9th Alberta Legislature | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Majority parliament | |||
| 20 February 1941 – 7 July 1944 | |||
| Parliament leaders | |||
| Premier | William Aberhart September 3, 1935 – May 23, 1943 | ||
| Ernest Charles Manning May 31, 1943 – December 12, 1968 | |||
| Cabinets | Aberhart cabinet Manning cabinet | ||
| Leader of the Opposition | James H. Walker February 22, 1941 – April 8, 1941 | ||
| Alfred Speakman January 29, 1942 – March 19, 1942 | |||
| James Mahaffy February 18, 1943 – March 30, 1943 | |||
| James H. Walker February 10, 1944 – March 24, 1944 | |||
| Party caucuses | |||
| Government | Social Credit Party | ||
| Opposition | Independent Citizen's Association | ||
| Crossbench | Liberal Party | ||
| Labour Party | |||
| Legislative Assembly | |||
| Speaker of the Assembly | Peter Dawson February 25, 1937 – March 24, 1963 | ||
| Members | 57 MLA seats | ||
| Sovereign | |||
| Monarch | George VI December 11, 1936 – February 6, 1952 | ||
| Lieutenant Governor | Hon. John Campbell Bowen March 23, 1937 – February 1, 1950 | ||
| Sessions | |||
| 1st session February 20, 1941 – April 8, 1941 | |||
| 2nd session January 29, 1942 – March 19, 1942 | |||
| 3rd session February 18, 1943 – March 30, 1943 | |||
| 4th session February 10, 1944 – March 24, 1944 | |||
| |||
Alberta's 9th government was controlled by the majority Social Credit Party for the second time, led by Premier William Aberhart until his death on May 23, 1943; he was succeeded by Ernest Manning, who would go on to be the longest serving Premier in Alberta history. Manning would abandon the monetary policies of Aberhart during his term for more traditional conservatism. The Official Opposition was led by James H. Walker, a member of the Independent Citizen's Association, from February 22, 1941 to April 8, 1941, and again from February 10, 1944 to March 24, 1944. In between Alfred Speakman would serve as Opposition Leader from January 29, 1942 to March 19, 1942, and James Mahaffy from February 18, 1943 to March 30, 1943. The Speaker was Peter Dawson, who would serve until his death during the 15th legislature on March 24, 1963.
The Independent Citizen's Association, started by the Conservatives and including most Liberals and some former United Farmer supporters, won 19 seats. The remaining Liberal Party that did not endorse the independent movement won one seat, and a labour candidate won one seat. Two independents later re-joined the Liberal Party, and the Co-operative Commonwealth entered the Legislature in its first by-election.