Peter Miskew Explained

Peter A. Miskew
Birth Date:27 November 1899
Death Place:Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[1]
Birth Place:Biliavtsi, Eastern Galicia, Austria-Hungary
Office:Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Constituency:Victoria
Term Start:June 19, 1930
Term End:August 22, 1935
Predecessor:Rudolph Hennig
Successor:Samuel Calvert
Party:Liberal
United Farmers
Occupation:politician and lawyer

Peter Alexander Miskew (27 November 1899 – 9 September 1965) was a politician and lawyer from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1930 to 1935 sitting with the United Farmers caucus in government and also with the Liberal caucus in opposition.

Political career

Miskew ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the Victoria Alberta electoral district in the 1930 Alberta general election as a candidate under the United Farmers banner. Miskew held the riding for the United Farmers of Alberta in a hotly contested election. He won the three-way race by a plurality of 66 votes over Liberal candidate S.W. Bahlay.[2]

Miskew crossed the floor to the Liberal caucus on February 3, 1934 three days after Premier John Brownlee announced Miskew would move the speech from the throne in the 4th Session of the 7th Alberta Legislative Assembly. Miskew informed the Premier of his decision to cross by a memo and stated that he did not support the policies of the United Farmers government any longer.[3]

Miskew achieved his law degree graduating the University of Alberta on May 10, 1935 as part of a class of 20 senior law students.[4] Miskew's tenure as an MLA caused the University to clarify its ban on campus political clubs. President Robert Wallace had originally stated that no student should ally with a political party. He was later forced to clarify that he meant in regards to the ban on political clubs when asked about Miskew and a Social Credit candidate who had attended the University.[5]

Miskew retired from provincial politics at dissolution of the Assembly in 1935.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Alberta's Political Pioneers: A Biographical Account of the United Farmers of Alberta. 9781897472125. Mardon. Austin Albert. 2010. Lulu.com .
  2. Web site: Victoria Results 1930 Alberta general election . Alberta Heritage Community Foundation . April 16, 2010.
  3. News: U.F.A. Member Will Join Liberals . The Lethbridge Herald . 1–2. February 3, 1934. Vol XXVII No 46.
  4. News: 20 Students to Get Degrees; M.L.A. Included. The Lethbridge Herald. 5. May 10, 1935. XVIII No 126.
  5. News: No Political Clubs Permitted Within University; Student May Use Political Life As He Sees Fit. The Lethbridge Herald. September 30, 1935. 12. Vol XXVII No 245.