Russell Cunningham (Nova Scotia Politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Leader of the Official Opposition
Russell Cunningham
Leader of the Nova Scotia Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
In office 1945 – 1953
Preceded by	Donald MacDonald
Succeeded by	Michael J. MacDonald
Constituency	Nova Scotia
In office 1945 – 1949
Succeeded by	Robert Stanfield, Progressive Conservative
Constituency	Nova Scotia
Member of the Legislative Assembly
In office October 23, 1945 – October 30, 1956
Preceded by	Douglas N Brodie
Succeeded by	N. Layton Fergusson (Conservative)
Constituency	Cape Breton East

Born
Political party	Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Occupation	Trade Unionist
Religion	Roman Catholic

Russell Cunningham was a Canadian social democratic politician from Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. He was the leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in Nova Scotia from 1945 ^[1] until 1953. He succeeded Donald MacDonald as the party's leader, after MacDonald lost his seat in the 1945 general election.^[2]

He represented the electoral district (riding) of Cape Breton East in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1945 until 1956 ^[3]. Due to the Conservatives not electing a single member to the the Assembly, Cunningham became the leader of the Official Opposition during the 44th General Assembly of Nova Scotia.^[1]. Even though the CCF lost a seat, it was the first time they ever were the Official Oppostion. Their successor party, the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party (NDP) would not duplicate that accomplishment again until 1998, over 50 years later.

[edit] References and notes

^ ^a ^b Elections Returns, 1945 (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
^ Donald MacDonald (HTML). Government of Canada. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
^ Elections Returns, 1956 (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia (1957). Retrieved on 2007-02-12.