Walter George Mitchell

Walter George Mitchell (1877 - 1935) is a politician Québécois which was provincial treasurer (Minister for Finance) in the government Gouin then liberal Député with the House of Commons of Canada.

Origins

Walter George Mitchell was born the May 30th 1877 with Lefebvre close to Acton Vale. He is the son of Gilded Godard and of William Mitchell, an important wood merchant of the area which was later member of the Sénat, with Ottawa. He studies initially in Montreal High School then made his right to the Université Bishop of Lennoxville and to the Université McGill.

Admitted with the Bar of Quebec the July 8th 1901, it exerts the right to Montreal of 1901 to its death, in 1935. During some time, it is associated with Napoleon Kemmer Laflamme, which becomes later Député then senator in Ottawa. He becomes council in law of the king the September 6th 1912.

In 1914, Mitchell is elected member of the Protestant committee of the Council of the State education. The same year, it chairs the Club of Reform, liberal main organization of the time, since it is there that is discussed the strategies of the Party and the government policies as well federal as provincial.

Provincial policy

The November 2nd 1914, the minister Peter Samuel George Mackenzie dies, leaving vacant the station of provincial treasurer. William Mitchell, who has interests in the railroads, the insurances and the trade of the wood and which has a great influence in the high authorities of the Party, asks for the Prime Minister Lomer Gouin to entrust this station to her son. This one accepts. Walter Mitchell presents himself in the county of Richmond, free since the death of Mackenzie, where he is elected by acclamation the November 21st 1914.

The February 18th 1915, it presents its first speech of the budget, of which the surplus is of: 376000$. In the same speech, he asks the legislative Assemblée the authorization of a loan of 15 million $ including 5 million for suventionner the program of voiery. The preserving of Philémon Cousineau then show it to hide expenditure more considerable than lets it appear the budget.

The January 21st 1916, Mitchell presents a surplus budget of: 4200$ but announce in the same breath a loan of 16 million $ at banks of Boston of which 4 million will have to be used for refunding of a former loan. Again, the conservatives protest because, in spite of the announced budget surplus, the debt of Quebec continues to increase.

With the federal election of 1917, it is one of the rare anglophone politicians of Quebec to take party for Wilfrid Laurier and to defend its point of view. Whereas the other ministers of Gouin support the effort of war of the end of the lips, express agreementexpresses agreement him at an active participation of Canada with the war but is opposed openly to the installation of the conscription.

Also opposite Mitchelle with the encroachments of the government Borden in the provincial legislation, inter alia on its control concerning the rights of provincial loans. At the time of the speech of the budget of the January 8th 1918, it declares: “

We raise a protest not simple opportunity, because our government does not have a loan in sight, but of principle, for the safeguard of our constitutional laws”.

During the session of 1918, the prohibition of alcohol becomes a subject with the day order. The clergy presses the government Gouin to make adopt a law in this direction whereas the distillers recommend the status quo. It is Mitchell which proposes in Gouin to make adopt the law but by delaying its implementation at May 1st 1919, which would make it possible to the distillers to be able to run out their stocks.

To the autumn of the same year, it presents a speech of the budget having receipts of: 13800000$ and of the expenditure of: 11600000$. By deducing a balance from payment makes at the Funds patriotic, the budget surplus is of: 1500000$, which makes some highest since the beginnings of the Confederation.

Mitchell is re-elected without opposition to the elections of 1916 and 1919. Starting from the March 8th 1918, it cumulates the stations of provincial treasurer and Minister for the municipal Businesses of which he is the first holder. Its first file to be regulated is then the alarming financial position of Montreal and its suburbs.

When Louis-Alexandre Taschereau becomes Prime Minister, in 1920, it confirms it in its two stations.

Federal policy

In 1921, industrialists of Montreal, in favor of a protectionist policy, succeed in persuading Walter Mitchell to launch out in the federal arena in order to defend their interests. To the autumn 1921, it introduces liberal candidate in the district of Saint-Anthony where it is elected the December 6th. Meanwhile, Taschereau replaced it by Jacob Nicol with the functions of provincial treasurer and Minister for the municipal Businesses.

As soon as elected, it is taken in the fight opposing Lomer Gouin with Ernest Lapointe at the post of principal lieutenant of the Prime Minister Mackenzie King to Quebec. It takes party for Gouin because Lapointe, according to him, is too reconciling opposite the interests of the businessmen of the Canadian West who recommend a lowering of customs duty, which finally the budget dédéral grants to them 1924. The May 14th of the same year, Mitchell announces its resignation in order to protest against these tariff reductions.

End of a career

In 1925, Mitchell is named president of the Council of the State education. He becomes also member of the board of directors of several hospitals. In 1931, he becomes president of the Hospital of Verdun. He is also governor of the Hospital of Sherbrooke during a few years.

He represents himself again with the federal election of July 28th, 1930 but he east demolishes in the county of Richmond-Wolfe. He dies in Montreal the April 3rd 1935. He is the father of William Mitchell who was judge with the Superior court of Quebec of 1949 with 1975.

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