# Norman Jaques

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Canadian politician

Norman Jaques Member of the Canadian House of Commons for Wetaskiwin In office 1935–1949 Preceded by William Irvine Succeeded by Ray Thomas Personal details Born (1880-06-29)June 29, 1880 London, England Died January 31, 1949(1949-01-31) (aged 68)

**Norman Jaques** (June 29, 1880 – January 31, 1949) was a [Canadian](/source/Canadians) farmer and federal politician. Jaques represented the electoral district of [Wetaskiwin](/source/Wetaskiwin_(federal_electoral_district)) in the [House of Commons of Canada](/source/House_of_Commons_of_Canada) from 1935 to 1949. Jaques was a member of the [Social Credit Party](/source/Social_Credit_Party_of_Canada).

## Early life and career

Jaques was born in [London](/source/London), [England](/source/England), and attended Eastborne College in [Sussex](/source/Sussex). He moved to Canada in 1901, and became a farmer in [Mirror](/source/Mirror%2C_Alberta), [Alberta](/source/Alberta). He sought to establish a horse-breeding farm at one stage, but later abandoned the project.[1] He had retired from farming before starting his political career.[2]

## Member of Parliament

Jaques first ran for the Canadian House of Commons in the [1935 federal election](/source/1935_Canadian_federal_election), and defeated [Cooperative Commonwealth Federation](/source/Cooperative_Commonwealth_Federation) incumbent [William Irvine](/source/William_Irvine_(Canadian_politician)) amid a landslide victory for Social Credit candidates in Alberta. He was re-elected in the general elections of [1940](/source/1940_Canadian_federal_election) and [1945](/source/1945_Canadian_federal_election), receiving less than 40% of the vote on both occasions. Near the end of his career, he was a member of an external affairs committee that attended [United Nations](/source/United_Nations) meetings at [Lake Success](/source/Lake_Success%2C_New_York).[3] He died in office in 1949, having been re-nominated as a Social Credit candidate for the [1949 federal election](/source/1949_Canadian_federal_election). Social Credit had little standing outside of Alberta during this period, and elected few legislators at the national level. Jaques spent his entire parliamentary career as an opposition member.

The Social Credit movement gained a reputation for [anti-Semitism](/source/Anti-Semitism) in its early years, and Jaques was widely regarded as the most anti-Semitic member of the party's parliamentary grouping. He promoted [C.H. Douglas](/source/C.H._Douglas)'s belief in an international financial [Jewish conspiracy](/source/Jewish_conspiracy), and attempted to read excerpts from *[Protocols of the Elders of Zion](/source/Protocols_of_the_Elders_of_Zion)* into the Canadian parliamentary record.[4] In private correspondence, he told a [Saskatchewan](/source/Saskatchewan) resident that "the Jews control all means of gathering news and of propaganda".[5] Jaques also believed that an international Jewish conspiracy was responsible for both [communism](/source/Communism) and [Zionism](/source/Zionism). He opposed allowing Jewish refugees into Canada prior to [World War II](/source/World_War_II) on the argument that they constituted a communist invasion force, and once dismissed the charge of anti-Semitism against him as a "communist smokescreen".[6] He was a vocal opponent of the creation of the [State of Israel](/source/State_of_Israel) in 1947–48, and described Zionism as "a political movement ... to dominate the world". Janine Stingel has written that Jaques, in common with other ideologues in his party, "was either unwilling or unable to separate anti-Zionism from anti-Semitism".[7]

Jaques met with American anti-Semitic leader [Gerald L. K. Smith](/source/Gerald_L._K._Smith) in 1947, and was quoted by the *[Montreal Gazette](/source/Montreal_Gazette)* as saying that "Gerald Smith is truly a great Christian gentleman who has been cruelly maligned. He stands for Christian nationalism. But, of course, the Communists have smeared him as anti-semitic... Smith believes in America for the Americans and in the American way of life... I have tried to do the same with the Canadian way of life and Canadian freedom and I will keep right on trying". Jaques later retracted his support for Smith, and said that most of the quotations attributed to him by the *Gazette* were fabrications. He did, however, describe Smith as having "done more to expose communist plots that any other public man in the United States of America", and said that he would try to do the same in Canada. The [Anti-Defamation League](/source/Anti-Defamation_League) described Jaques as a "notorious anti-semite who has abused the privilege of entry into the United States by stirring up misunderstanding and tensions among racial and religious groups." [8]

Jaques was also an opponent of the [Canadian Broadcasting Corporation](/source/Canadian_Broadcasting_Corporation), which he accused of promoting communism.[9]

Some other members of the Social Credit Party attempted to distance themselves from Jaques. [Solon Earl Low](/source/Solon_Earl_Low), who became national party leader in 1944 and himself made anti-Semitic statements alleging a conspiracy of Jewish bankers,[10] nevertheless said in private correspondence that Jaques "considered himself above party discipline and [...] absent[ed] himself from all caucuses".[11] Toward the end of his life, Jaques's writings were banned from the official Social Credit party journal.[12]

Jaques died of a [heart attack](/source/Heart_attack) in early 1949.[13]

## Electoral record

v t e 1945 Canadian federal election: Wetaskiwin Party Candidate Votes % ±% Social Credit Norman Jaques 7,255 39.80 –0.15 Co-operative Commonwealth William Albert Stevens 3,969 21.77 +5.53 Progressive Conservative Alfred Berger Haarstad 3,419 18.76 +3.04 Liberal Robert Henry Charles Harrison 3,040 16.68 –11.42 Labor–Progressive Henry Lundgren 546 3.00 – Total valid votes 18,229 99.14 Total rejected ballots 159 0.86 +0.03 Turnout 18,388 71.99 +13.36 Eligible voters 25,543 Social Credit hold Swing +2.69 Source: Library of Parliament[14][15]

v t e 1940 Canadian federal election: Wetaskiwin Party Candidate Votes % ±% Social Credit Norman Jaques 6,245 39.95 –17.75 Liberal Walter Stephen Campbell 4,392 28.10 +6.83 Co-operative Commonwealth Robert Henry Haskins 2,539 16.24 –4.80 National Government Charles Homer Russell 2,456 15.71 – Total valid votes 15,632 99.16 Total rejected ballots 132 0.84 –0.12 Turnout 15,764 58.62 –0.43 Eligible voters 26,890 Social Credit hold Swing –5.46 Source: Library of Parliament[16][17]

v t e 1935 Canadian federal election: Wetaskiwin Party Candidate Votes % ±% Social Credit Norman Jaques 7,601 57.70 – Liberal Walter Stephen Campbell 2,801 21.26 –2.80 Co-operative Commonwealth William Irvine 2,772 21.04 – Total valid votes 13,174 99.04 Total rejected ballots 128 0.96 +0.54 Turnout 13,302 59.06 –9.10 Eligible voters 22,524 Social Credit gain from United Farmers of Alberta Swing +27.45 Source: Library of Parliament[18][19]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-dis_1-0)** [Social Discredit: Anti-Semitism, Social Credit and the Jewish Response](https://books.google.com/books?id=_RqEg6BLilUC&dq=social+credit+criticism&pg=PA145) by Janine Stingel, page 200.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [History of Federal Ridings since 1867: WETASKIWIN, Alberta (1924 - )](http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/HFER/hfer.asp?Language=E&Search=Det&Include=Y&rid=814), [Parliament of Canada](/source/Parliament_of_Canada), accessed 23 July 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "M.P. sees Palestine great danger spot", *Toronto Star*, 31 May 1947, p. 22.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Stingel, p. 36; [Richard Menkis, "Antisemitism in the Evolving Nation: From New France to 1950", B'nai Brith Canada, 1999](http://www.bnaibrith.ca/institute/millennium/millennium03.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20071120135737/http://www.bnaibrith.ca/institute/millennium/millennium03.html) 2007-11-20 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Stingel, p. 52.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Stingel, pp. 64-66.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Stingel, pp. 91-92. See also "M.P. sees Palestine great danger spot", *Toronto Star*, 31 May 1947, p. 22, wherein Jaques is quoted as saying "Political Zionists make common cause with the communists and you can't separate them."

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Stingel, p. 133.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** "M.P. says CBC, Film Board used to spread Communism", *Toronto Star*, 18 July 1946, 39.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Howard Palmer, "Politics, Religion and Anti-Semitism in Alberta, 1880-1950" in [*Anti-Semitism in Canada, History and interpretation*, Alan Davies, editor, 1992, p. 185](https://books.google.com/books?id=3kLgn7dIEwIC&dq=solon+low+%22anti+semitism%22&pg=PA185)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Stingel, p. 113. Low made this statement to [Saul Hayes](/source/Saul_Hayes) of the [Canadian Jewish Congress](/source/Canadian_Jewish_Congress), who requested and was granted a meeting with national Social Credit leaders to address the issue of anti-Semitism within the party.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Stingel, p. 162. See also "Social Credit newspaper cracks down on writings of Norman Jaques, MP", *Lethbridge Herald*, 15 December 1947, p. 2.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Palmer, p. 181.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). ["Elections and Ridings: Wetaskiwin, Alberta (1945)"](https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/ElectionsRidings/Ridings/Profile?OrganizationId=9906). *lop.parl.ca*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1945). [Twentieth General Election, 1945: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer](https://archive.org/details/31761115541120) (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer. [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[2027/mdp.39015024873476](https://hdl.handle.net/2027%2Fmdp.39015024873476).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). ["Elections and Ridings: Wetaskiwin, Alberta (1940)"](https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/ElectionsRidings/Ridings/Profile?OrganizationId=9906). *lop.parl.ca*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1940). [Nineteenth General Election, 1940: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer](https://archive.org/details/31761115541112) (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer. [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[2027/mdp.39015024873468](https://hdl.handle.net/2027%2Fmdp.39015024873468).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). ["Elections and Ridings: Wetaskiwin, Alberta (1935)"](https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/ElectionsRidings/Ridings/Profile?OrganizationId=9906). *lop.parl.ca*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1935). [Eighteenth General Election, 1935: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer](https://archive.org/details/31761115541104) (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer.

## External links

- [Norman Jaques – Parliament of Canada biography](https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=1114)

v t e Social credit Movements Canada Abolitionist Party of Canada Alberta Social Credit Party British Columbia Social Credit Party Canada Party Christian Credit Party Committee on Monetary and Economic Reform Les Démocrates Manitoba Social Credit Party New Democracy Pauper Party of Ontario Parti crédit social uni Pilgrims of Saint Michael Ralliement créditiste Ralliement créditiste du Québec Social Credit Board Social Credit Party of Canada Social Credit Party of New Brunswick Social Credit Party of Ontario Social Credit Party of Saskatchewan Oceania Australian League of Rights Country Party (New Zealand) Democratic Labour Party (New Zealand) Douglas Credit Party Social Credit Party (New Zealand) Social Credit-NZ Solomon Islands Social Credit Party Europe British People's Party Irish Monetary Reform Association Social Credit Party of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Social Credit Party of Ireland People William Aberhart Lavern Ahlstrom Bruce Beetham W. A. C. Bennett John Horne Blackmore Eric Butler Réal Caouette Vernon Cracknell C. H. Douglas Louis Even A. N. Field Ron Gostick John Hargrave Robert A. Heinlein Norman Jaques Solon Earl Low Hugh MacDiarmid Ernest Manning Roly Marks Neil Morrison Al Overfield Ezra Pound Manasseh Sogavare Ken Sweigard John Turmel History 1937 Social Credit backbenchers' revolt Prosperity certificate Social Credit Party of Canada split, 1963 Category

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Norman Jaques](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Jaques) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Jaques?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.