Harvey Lainson

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Harvey George Lainson (born ca. 1935 - February 28, 2005) was a Christian evangelical minister based in the Cambridge, Ontario region and was leader of the Social Credit Party of Canada from 1986 to 1990 during which time he led a successful effort to expel an anti-Semitic faction from the party led by Jim Keegstra.[1]

Lainson won the party's leadership in June 1986 defeated Keegstra at the party's national convention by a margin of 67 vote to 38.[2] Lainson hoped to rename the party Christian Freedom since he thought people mistook the name "social credit" for socialist and rebuild the party with the support of Christian fundamentalists[2] He faced resistance from the onset of his leadership with Keegstra's supporters insisting that Lainson was part of a conspiracy and pledging to obstruct him. "We're going to stonewall this guy. There's no way we're going to do business with him. As far as we're concerned, this bunch is part of the conspiracy," said one Keegstra supporter.[2] and was temporarily deposed as party leader in 1987 in favour of Keegstra.[3] Refusing to resign,[4] Lainson's leadership was reconfirmed at a party convention later in 1987 and he succeeded in expelling Keegstra from the party. [5]

Lainson led the party through the 1988 federal election in which the depleted party ran only nine candidates. Lainson did not contest a parliamentary seat. He resigned as party leader in 1990 for unspecified "personal reasons" and was succeeded by another evangelical minister, Ken Campbell.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b SOCIAL CREDIT BECOMES ``THE PARTY OF RENAISSANCE CANADA REV. KEN CAMPBELL NAMED NATIONAL LEADER (press release), Canada NewsWire, February 16, 1990
  2. ^ a b c Oziewicz, Stanley. "Evangelist wins Socred leadership, attacked as a racist by Keegstra", Globe and Mail, Thompson Canada Ltd., June 23, 1986, pp. A1. 
  3. ^ "Socreds pick Keegstra as interim party leader", Globe and Mail, July 28, 1987. 
  4. ^ "Keegstra's future in question as Socred chief refuses to quit", Globe and Mail, July 30, 1987. 
  5. ^ "FOR THE RECORD Keegstra out of Socreds, leader says", Globe and Mail, September 12, 1987. 
Preceded by
Ken Sweigard		 National Leaders of Social Credit
1986-1990		 Succeeded by
Ken Campbell