James Shaver Woodsworth

James Shaver Woodsworth 1874-1942, Canadian politician. Having done social welfare work while serving as a Methodist minister, he later gave up the ministry to devote himself wholly to labor and welfare causes. Supported by the Independent Labour party, he entered the Canadian House of Commons in 1921, remaining a member until his death. When the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (see New Democratic party ) was founded (1932) he became chairman of its national council and its parliamentary leader.

Bibliography: See biographies by G. MacInnis (1953) and K. W. McNaught (1959).

Woodsworth, James Shaver (b. 29 July 1874, d. 21 Mar. 1942). Canadian politician Known as the ‘social conscience of Canada’, he was born at Etobicoke (Ontario) and was ordained a Methodist minister in 1896. During his ministry among immigrant slum dwellers in Winnipeg he became politicized, supporting trade unions and leaving the Church in 1918 in protest against its support for World War I. Briefly imprisoned for his support of the Winnipeg general strike in 1919, he was elected to the House of Commons in 1921. In 1926, he managed to use his support for Mackenzie King to secure the introduction of old-age pensions, which became the pillar of the Canadian welfare state. In 1933, he was chosen to lead the new Cooperative Commonwealth Federation. A lifelong pacifist, he was the only parliamentarian to record his opposition to Canada's entry into World War II.