(
January 22 ,
1878 -
February 17 ,
1968 ) was a farmer, politician and writer who served as
Premier of
Ontario ,
Canada , from 1919 to 1923 as the head of a
United Farmers Of Ontario -
Labour Coalition Government .
Drury was a cofounder of the UFO in 1913, but did not run in the
1919 Election that returned farmer candidates as the largest bloc in the provincial
Legislature . Not having a leader, the UFO
Members Of The Legislative Assembly (MLAs) asked Drury to lead them. The UFO's 49 MLAs joined with 11 Labour members to form a
Coalition Government . It was the first of a wave of
United Farmers governments that took power in several provinces and that founded the
Progressive Party Of Canada .
Drury's progressive government expanded
Ontario Hydro , created the
Province Of Ontario Savings Office - a provincially owned bank that was designed to lend money to farmers at a lower rate, began the first major reforestation program in North America as well as initiating construction of the modern highway system. The government was also a strict enforcer of
Temperance measures.
The government under Drury tried to be a "people's government" rather than a "class government", but in so doing, alienated the base of its support, particularly farmers. The UFO government clashed with the UFO organization (led by
James J. Morrison , throughout Drury's term).
Drury also alienated industrialists and many workers by battling with Sir
Adam Beck and his plans for expansion of the province's hydro-electric system. Many labour leaders distrusted a government dominated by farmers, feeling that they could not understand the problems of urban workers. Drury's failure to establish fair wage provisions on government contracts and his commitment to
Free Trade that threatened the livelihood of industrial workers aliented urban workers further.
The government was also much harmed by the
Ontario Bond Scandal that resulted in provincial treasurer
Peter Smith being jailed.
The government was opposed by all the major newspapers in the province, with the exception of the ''
Toronto Star '', and, despite its attempt to broaden its base, was opposed by business.
The Drury government was defeated when it ran for re-election in the
1923 Provincial Election . Drury retired from politics, but ran later as a federal
Liberal-Progressive candidate. Unlike many UFOers, he never joined either the
Liberal Party Of Canada or the
Cooperative Commonwealth Federation .
In 1934, he was appointed sheriff and registrar of Simcoe County, a position he held until 1959, and wrote for magazines such as ''
Maclean's ''.
There is also a high school named after Ernest Drury in
Milton, Ontario .
Preceded by:
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Succeeded by:
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