Robert Davidson (Canadian politician)

Robert Greig Davidson (21 July 1875 3 August 1948) was a Liberal party member of the House of Commons of Canada. He was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec and became a farmer.

Robert Davidson
Member of Parliament
for Stanstead
In office
14 October 1935  24 May 1943
Preceded byJohn Thomas Hackett
Succeeded byJoseph-Armand Choquette
Personal details
BornRobert Greig Davidson
(1875-07-21)21 July 1875
Died3 August 1948(1948-08-03) (aged 73)
PartyLiberal
Spouse(s)Anna Smillie
m. 18 October 1899[1]
Professionfarmer

Davidson attended high school in Sherbrooke and then St. Charles Borromeo College in Charlesbourg. He became a trustee of Stanstead Wesleyan College and director of the Western Townships Agricultural Association.[1]

He was first elected to Parliament at the Stanstead riding in the 1935 general election.

He was re-elected for a second term in 1940. The Supreme Court, on appeal, annulled the election, because of corrupt practices arising from the buying of votes with whisky and money.[2][3] That ruling was also the first time the Supreme Court had set aside a lower court decision with respect to an election verdict.[4] The matter had to be referred to the House Privileges and Elections Committee for a recommendation as to how to proceed.[5] The committee would not report until May 1943, clearing the way for the byelection to be held.[6]

Davidson attempted to return to office in the byelection held August 9, 1943, but was defeated by the Bloc Populaire candidate Joseph-Armand Choquette.[7]

Electoral record

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1935 Canadian federal election: Stanstead
Party Candidate Votes
LiberalRobert Davison5,676
ConservativeJohn Thomas Hackett5,553
ReconstructionJames Bert Reed434
1940 Canadian federal election: Stanstead
Party Candidate Votes
LiberalRobert Davison5,112
Independent LiberalAlphonse Girard4,804
By-election on 9 August 1943

Election was declared void, 24 May 1943

Party Candidate Votes
Bloc populaireJoseph-Armand Choquette6,661
LiberalRobert Davison5,349
Co-operative CommonwealthPierre Albandia Thomas257

References

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  1. 1 2 Normandin, A. L. (1941). The Canadian Parliamentary Guide.
  2. Albert, Richard (26 October 2012). "Canadian Election Administration Goes to Court". iconnectblog.com. International Society of Public Law.
  3. Sideleau v Davidson, 1942 CanLII 50, [1942] SCR 306; [1942] 3 DLR 609 (26 June 1942)
  4. "Quebec M.P. Unseated by Ottawa Court". Ottawa Journal. 26 June 1942. pp. 1, 16.(subscription required)
  5. "Ousted by Court, Still Entitled to Take House Seat". Ottawa Citizen. 11 January 1943. p. 1.(subscription required)
  6. "Stanstead to Have Election". Montreal Star. 20 May 1943. p. 17.(subscription required)
  7. Dallaire, Gilled (8 April 1999). "Le dernier survivant du Bloc populaire n'est plus" [The last survivor of the Bloc populaire has passed away]. La Tribune (in French). Sherbrooke. p. B2..
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