The 1933 provincial election in British Columbia was a significant event in the province's political history. The election saw the defeat of the incumbent Conservative government and the rise of the Liberal Party, led by Thomas Dufferin Pattullo.
One of the key issues of the campaign was the need for economic recovery during the Great Depression. The Conservatives, led by Premier Simon Fraser Tolmie, campaigned on a platform that emphasized their record of economic growth and job creation. The party argued that their policies had helped to mitigate the effects of the Depression in the province and that continued Conservative leadership was necessary to ensure a strong economic recovery. The Liberals, on the other hand, criticized the Conservatives for not doing enough to address the economic challenges facing the province and proposed a number of measures to stimulate economic growth.
Another important issue of the campaign was the need for social justice. The Liberals, led by Thomas Dufferin Pattullo, campaigned on a platform that called for the establishment of a minimum wage law, the introduction of a provincial income tax, and the expansion of the province's social welfare programs. The party argued that these policies were necessary to address the growing income inequality in the province and to ensure that all British Columbians had access to the basic necessities of life.
The election was held on August 8, 1933, and the Liberals emerged victorious, winning 34 seats compared to the Conservatives' 7. The Liberals won a majority of the popular vote, with 47.7% compared to the Conservatives' 28.4%. The remaining seats were won by independents and members of smaller parties.
Following the election, Thomas Dufferin Pattullo became the new premier of British Columbia and the Liberal government began to implement its campaign promises. The government established a minimum wage law, introduced a provincial income tax, and expanded the province's social welfare programs. The government also implemented a number of infrastructure projects, including the construction of the Pattullo Bridge and the expansion of the province's highway system.
In conclusion, the 1933 provincial election in British Columbia saw the defeat of the incumbent Conservative government and the rise of the Liberal Party, led by Thomas Dufferin Pattullo. The campaign was dominated by debates over the need for economic recovery and social justice, as well as the direction of provincial politics. The election results led to a period of significant change in the province, as the Liberal government implemented a number of policies that would shape the future of British Columbia.
| Party | Party leader | Elected |
| Social Credit | W.A.C. Bennett | 38 |
| New Democrats | Tom Berger | 12 |
| Liberal | Patrick Lucey McGeer | 5 |
| Progressive Conservative | John DeWolf | - |
| Independent | - | |
| Communist | - | |
| Social Conservative | - | |
| Total | 55 |
| Conservative | Liberal | NDP | Social Credit | Green | Others | |||||||||
| Year | Seats | Winner | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats |
| 1933 | 47 | LIB | 0% | 0 | 42% | 34 | 32% | 7 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 200% | 3 |
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Reference: Article by Greg Scott (Staff Historian), 2023
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