Harold Winch

Harold Edward Winch (June 18 1907 - February 1 1993) was a Canadian politician active with the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and its successor, the New Democratic Party of Canada.

Winch was leader of the British Columbia CCF from 1941 to 1953 and was called "the best leader of the Opposition that has ever been" by Premier W.A.C. Bennett[1].

Unlike a number of CCFers (such as Grace and Angus MacInnis), he and the BC CCF supported the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II. Decades later, he conceded that this position was wrong. [2]

An electrician by trade, Winch joined the CCF at its founding and was first elected to the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in the 1933 provincial election as the MLA for Vancouver East and became leader of the party in 1941 and leader of the opposition. The CCF emerged from the 1952 provincial election with only one fewer seat than the British Columbia Social Credit Party. Social Credit formed a minority government but was defeated in a motion of no confidence in March 1953. Winch opposed holding a new election arguing that the CCF was able to form a new government but when the Liberals announced they would not support a CCF government, a new election was called.

Winch stepped down as party leader and entered and entered federal politics. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the Canadian federal election, 1953 as the MP for Vancouver East.

Winch survived the 1958 federal election that almost wiped the CCF out and remained with the party as it transformed into the New Democratic Party in 1961. After winning seven successive elections as an MP, he retired from the House of Commons at the 1972 federal election.