The members of the 15th Manitoba Legislature were elected in the Manitoba general election held in August 1915. The legislature sat from January 6, 1916, to March 27, 1920.
The Liberal Party led by Tobias Norris formed the government.
Albert Prefontaine of the Conservatives was Leader of the Opposition.
On January 16, 1916, a bill was passed to amend the Manitoba Election Act to grant women the right to vote. Manitoba became the first Canadian province where women were allowed to vote and hold office.
In a referendum held on March 13, 1916, the province's voters supported prohibition. On June 1, the Manitoba Temperance Act came into effect, which banned the sale of liquor in the province, except by pharmacists for medical purposes. However, bringing alcohol into the province for personal use or for wholesale outside the province was still legal.
Also in 1916, the Workers Compensation Act was passed, which established the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba. The act established an employer-funded compensation system for work-related injuries or illness and, in exchange, employers were granted protection against lawsuits by workers for these occurrences.
In 1918, a Minimum Wage Act was passed. Manitoba and British Columbia were the first provinces in Canada to introduce minimum wage legislation. In 1921, the minimum hourly wage in Manitoba was $0.25. Up until 1931, the minimum wage only applied to female workers.
James Bryson Baird served as speaker for the assembly.
There were five sessions of the 15th Legislature: SessionStartEnd 1st January 6, 1916 April 1, 1916 2nd January 11, 1917 March 9, 1917 3rd January 17, 1918 March 6, 1918 4th January 21, 1919 March 14, 1919 5th January 22, 1920 March 27, 1920
Douglas Colin Cameron was Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba until August 3, 1916, when James Albert Manning Aikins became lieutenant governor.
Members of the Assembly The following members were elected to the assembly in 1915: MemberElectoral districtPartyFirst elected / previously electedNo.# of term(s)John WilliamsArthurLiberal1907, 19143rd term*John W. WiltonAssiniboiaLiberal19151st termWilliam Robertson WoodBeautiful PlainsLiberal19151st termGeorge MalcolmBirtleLiberal19094th termStephen Emmett ClementBrandon CityLiberal19151st termAlbert PrefontaineCarillonConservative1903, 19154th term*Andrew Watson MylesCypressLiberal19151st termWilliam HarringtonDauphinLiberal19151st termRobert Stirton ThorntonDeloraineLiberal1907, 19143rd term*Edward AugustDufferinLiberal19151st termThomas Glendenning HamiltonElmwoodLiberal19151st termJohn David BaskervilleEmersonLiberal19151st termWilliam FindlaterGilbert PlainsLiberal19151st termTaras FerleyGimliLiberal19151st termJames William ArmstrongGladstoneLiberal19074th termJames BreakeyGlenwoodLiberal19142nd termJohn Henry McConnellHamiotaLiberal19142nd termAimé BénardIbervilleConservative19074th termArthur Boivin (1917)Conservative19171st termGeorge ProutKildonan and St. AndrewsLiberal19151st termSamuel HaydenKillarneyLiberal19151st termCharles Duncan McPhersonLakesideLiberal1910, 19152nd term*Tobias NorrisLansdowneLiberal1896, 19076th term*Philippe TalbotLa VerendryeLiberal19151st termIndependentGeorge Thomas ArmstrongManitouLiberal19151st termGeorge GriersonMinnedosaLiberal19142nd termValentine WinklerMorden and RhinelandLiberal18928th termJacques ParentMorrisConservative19142nd termJames Bryson BairdMountainLiberal19074th termJohn GrahamNorfolkLiberal19142nd termEwan McPhersonPortage la PrairieLiberal19142nd termFrederic NewtonRoblinConservative19113rd termWilliam James Westwood (1917)Independent Liberal19171st termArthur LobbRockwoodLiberal19151st termJohn MorrisonRupertslandLiberal19161st termWilliam Wilber Wilfred WilsonRussellLiberal19151st termJoseph DumasSt. BonifaceLiberal19151st termDonald A. RossSt. ClementsLiberal19074th termSkuli SigfussonSt. GeorgeLiberal19151st termJoseph HamelinSte. RoseConservative19142nd termWilliam Henry SimsSwan RiverLiberal19142nd termEdward BrownThe PasElection held August 25, 1915Liberal19151st termGeorge William McDonaldTurtle MountainLiberal19151st termGeorge ClinganVirdenLiberal19142nd termThomas Herman JohnsonWinnipeg Centre ALiberal19074th termFred DixonWinnipeg Centre BIndependent19142nd termLabourRobert Newton LoweryWinnipeg North ALiberal19151st termRichard RiggWinnipeg North BSocial Democratic19151st termRobert Jacob (1918)Liberal19181st termAlbert HudsonWinnipeg South ALiberal19142nd termWilliam ParrishWinnipeg South BLiberal19142nd term
Notes:
By-elections By-elections were held to replace members for various reasons: Electoral districtMember electedAffiliationElection dateReasonRupertslandJohn MorrisonIndependent-LiberalSeptember 16, 1916New riding createdIbervilleArthur BoivinConservativeNovember 1, 1917A Bénard named to Senate of CanadaRoblinWilliam James WestwoodIndependent-LiberalNovember 19, 1917F Newton resigned seatKillarneyGeorge GriersonLiberalNovember 30, 1917G Grierson appointed Minister of Public WorksWinnipeg North BRobert JacobUnionJanuary 15, 1918R Rigg ran for federal seat
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