Push & Prelude

The eyes of Canada were on Ontario's clamorous Legislature. The government seemed headed for defeat. If that happened, there would be a provincial election--of national importance.

Finally, every legislator had said his say on a CCF motion criticizing the Tory administration. Then up rose big, slick Premier George Alexander Drew. Said he: he would accept an adverse vote on the motion as evidence of lack of confidence. It took just two minutes for him to get his answer: no confidence--51-to-36.

Despite appearances, George Drew's government did not really fall; it was pushed. In power 19 months, its 37 members had managed to control the 90-seat House by grace of the Legislature's 16 Liberals. Then bumptious Liberal Leader Mitchell Frederick Hepburn had upset the applecart by teaming with teacherish Edward Bigelow ("Ted") Jolliffe and his 32 socialist CCFers.

The Tory defeat, strangely enough, was annoying instead of pleasing to Ted Jolliffe. His party had just been shellacked in the February by-election in Grey North (TIME, Feb. 12); the CCF wanted no election now. Mitch Hepburn, who engineered the business, could grin at the defeat of one rival and the discomfiture of another, but there was little chance of the Liberals picking up many new seats. The man who beamed was George Drew. Now he could go to the people, contend that his opponents had sabotaged him, ask for a clear majority.

Outside the province, Ontario's upsy-daisy was important because the election it necessitates--probably to be held in May or early June--will be a straw-in-the-wind prelude to the Dominion-wide election due this summer. Certainly all parties will shoot the works in Ontario, aware that provincial victory will boost national chances.

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