M. J. Coldwell

The Honourable M. J. Coldwell PC CC
2nd Leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
In office July 29, 1942 – August 10, 1960
Preceded by	J. S. Woodsworth
Succeeded by	Hazen Argue
2nd National Chairman of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
In office 1938–1942
Preceded by	J. S. Woodsworth
Succeeded by	F. R. Scott
Member of Parliament for Rosetown—Biggar
In office October 14, 1935 – March 30, 1958
Preceded by	New Constituency
Succeeded by	Clarence Owen Cooper
1st National Secretary of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
In office 1934–1936
Preceded by	new office
Succeeded by	David Lewis
1st Leader of the Saskatchewan Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
In office 1932–1936
Preceded by	new office
Succeeded by	George Hara Williams
Member of the Regina City Council
In office 1922–1932
Personal details
Born	Major James William Coldwell (1888-12-02)December 2, 1888 Seaton, Devon, England
Died	August 25, 1974(1974-08-25) (aged 85) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Co-operative Commonwealth Federation New Democratic Party
Spouse	Norah Dunsford Coldwell ​ ​ (m. 1912)​
Children	2[1]
Residence(s)	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	Author principal teacher

Major James William Coldwell PC CC (December 2, 1888 – August 25, 1974), usually known as M. J. Coldwell,^[a] was a Canadian democratic socialist politician, and leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) party from 1942 to 1960.

Born in England, he immigrated to Canada in 1910. Prior to his political career, he had been an educator and union activist. In 1935, he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada, representing the Rosetown—Biggar electoral district. He was re-elected five more times before he was defeated in the 1958 Diefenbaker sweep. He was the CCF's first national secretary in 1934 and became its national leader upon the death of J. S. Woodsworth in 1942. He remained as its leader until 1960, when there was a parliamentary caucus revolt against him. When the CCF was disbanded 1961, he joined its successor party, the NDP.

He is remembered mainly for helping to introduce "welfare state" policies to Canada, by persuading the Canadian government to introduce an Old Age Security programme, and child benefits during the mid-1940s. Coldwell turned down several offers to cross the floor and join the governing Liberal Party of Canada, including one offer that eventually would have made him the Prime Minister of Canada. After his defeat in 1958, he was offered a Senate appointment but declined it as well. He became a member of the Privy Council in 1964 and in 1967 became one of the initial inductees into the Order of Canada.

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