The United Newfoundland Party was the name of two conservative parties in Newfoundland.
Pre-Confederation
The first UNP was a conservative party in the
Dominion of Newfoundland led by
Frederick C. Alderdice from 1928 to 1934. It was organized by Alderdice when disaffected Liberals joined his
Liberal-Conservative Progressive Party sitting in opposition and won the
1932 general election. His government was replaced by an appointed
Commission of Government
The Commission of Government was a non-elected body that governed the Dominion of Newfoundland from 1934 to 1949. Established following the collapse of Newfoundland's economy during the Great Depression, it was dissolved when the dominion beca ...
in 1934 (a change his party promised in its 1932 platform as a means of getting the Dominion out of fiscal trouble), resulting in the termination of
responsible government in the Dominion. (See also
Conservative parties in Newfoundland (pre-Confederation).)
Post-Confederation
The second United Newfoundland Party was formed prior to the
1959 provincial election, made up of some
Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The party was founded in 1949 and most recently formed the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador from the ...
caucus members and supporters. The party was formed immediately prior to the election when two Tory MHAs, led by
James D. Higgins, supported Premier
Joey Smallwood's stance in favour of Newfoundland receiving financial assistance from the federal government indefinitely. Provincial Conservative leader
Malcolm Mercer Hollett supported the position of Conservative Prime Minister
John Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker ( ; September 18, 1895 – August 16, 1979) was the 13th prime minister of Canada, serving from 1957 to 1963. He was the only Progressive Conservative party leader between 1930 and 1979 to lead the party to an electi ...
, who maintained that the funding agreement between the two orders of government had run its course. While two UNP MHAs were elected in 1959, Higgins was defeated.
succeeded Higgins as UNP leader and sitting with fellow UNP MHA
John R. O'Dea who stepped down after one term. In the
1962 provincial election, Duffy was defeated in his St. John's Centre riding.
The party became defunct soon after.
References
See also
*
List of political parties in Newfoundland and Labrador
{{Newfoundland and Labrador provincial political parties
Political parties in the Dominion of Newfoundland
Provincial political parties in Newfoundland and Labrador
Defunct political parties in Canada
Political parties established in 1928
Political parties disestablished in 1934
1928 establishments in Newfoundland
1934 disestablishments in Newfoundland
Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
Conservative parties in Canada