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

Winch was leader of the British Columbia CCF from 1938 to 1953, and Leader of the Opposition from 1941. He was called "the best leader of the Opposition that has ever been" by Premier W.A.C. Bennett [1].

Winch was active during the relief camp strike in Vancouver that precipitated the On-to-Ottawa Trek in 1935, acting as a liaison between unemployed protesters and the government. He performed the same role as a new MLA in 1938, and assisted the police in ending a month-long occupation at the Vancouver Art Gallery on what became known as "Bloody Sunday."

Like other CCFers (such as Grace and Angus MacInnis),^[1] Winch 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. He was first elected to the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in the 1933 provincial election as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Vancouver East. He became leader of the party following the 1937 general election and leader of the opposition in 1941. The CCF emerged from the 1952 provincial election with only one less 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. When the Liberal Party announced that it would not support a CCF government, a new election was called.

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

Harold Winch's father, Ernest Edward Winch was also a CCF MLA from 1933 until his death in 1957.

References

^ Werner Cohn (Winter 1985–86). Persecution of Japanese Canadians and the Political Left in British Columbia December 1941 - March 1942. BC Studies. pp. 3–22.

Preceded by Robert Connell	Leader of the BC Co-operative Commonwealth Federation 1938–1953	Succeeded by Arnold Webster
Preceded by Royal Lethington Maitland	Leader of the Opposition in the British Columbia Legislature 1941–1953	Succeeded by Arnold Webster
Preceded by Angus MacInnis	MP for Vancouver East, BC 1953–1972	Succeeded by Paddy Neale

[1] Werner Cohn (Winter 1985–86). Persecution of Japanese Canadians and the Political Left in British Columbia December 1941 - March 1942. BC Studies. pp. 3–22.

[1]

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 Winch was active during the [[Relief Camp Workers' Union|relief camp strike]] in Vancouver that precipitated the [[On-to-Ottawa Trek]] in 1935, acting as a liaison between unemployed protesters and the government. He performed the same role as a new MLA in 1938, and assisted the police in ending a month-long occupation at the [[Vancouver Art Gallery]] on what became known as "[[Bloody Sunday (1938)|Bloody Sunday]]."
-Like other CCFers (such as [[Grace MacInnis|Grace]] and [[Angus MacInnis]]),<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.wernercohn.com/Japanese.html|title=Persecution of Japanese Canadians and the Political Left in British Columbia December 1941 - March 1942|author=Werner Cohn|publisher=BC Studies|number=68|date=Winter 1985-86|pages=3-22}}</ref> Winch and the BC CCF supported the internment of [[Japanese Canadians]] during [[World War II]]. Decades later, he conceded that this position was wrong. [http://www.wernercohn.com/Japanese.html]
+Like other CCFers (such as [[Grace MacInnis|Grace]] and [[Angus MacInnis]]),<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.wernercohn.com/Japanese.html|title=Persecution of Japanese Canadians and the Political Left in British Columbia December 1941 - March 1942|author=Werner Cohn|publisher=BC Studies|number=68|date=Winter 1985–86|pages=3–22}}</ref> Winch and the BC CCF supported the internment of [[Japanese Canadians]] during [[World War II]]. Decades later, he conceded that this position was wrong. [http://www.wernercohn.com/Japanese.html]
 An electrician by trade, Winch joined the CCF at its founding. He  was first elected to the [[British Columbia Legislative Assembly]] in the [[British Columbia general election, 1933|1933 provincial election]] as the [[Member of the Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) for [[Vancouver East (electoral district)|Vancouver East]]. He became leader of the party following the [[British Columbia general election, 1937|1937 general election]] and leader of the opposition in 1941. The CCF emerged from the [[British Columbia general election, 1952|1952 provincial election]] with only one less 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. When the [[British Columbia Liberal Party|Liberal Party]] announced that it would not support a CCF government, a new election was called.