The Alliance of Manufacturers & Exporters Canada, operating as Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, is a Canadian trade association that has existed since 1871. The organisation was founded as the Ontario Manufacturers' Association and in 1877 changed its name to the Canadian Manufacturers' Association.

In 1996, the CMA absorbed the Canadian Exporters Association, and in 1999 changed its legal name to the Alliance of Manufacturers & Exporters Canada. Since 2000, it has operated as Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.

History

In December 1918, the Association created a new office of General Manager. The post, which was filled by James Edward Walsh (1861–1947), was created to broaden the scope of the association's activities and execute its mission. Walsh had worked for the CMA since 1907 in its traffic department. Concurrently, the association's general secretary, G. M. Murray, was sent to Ottawa to carry out work in the capital."Mr. J. E. Walsh manager C. M. A.," The Globe, (20 December 1918), 6."The Canadian Manufacturers' Association being reorganized under a general manager," Financial Post, (21 December 1918), 1.

In 1939, Walsh was succeeded as general manager by John Thomas Stirrett (1883–1958). Stirrett was a 1908 graduate of the University of Toronto, and upon graduation began his career as a reporter. In 1912, he was hired by the CMA as editor of Industrial Canada, then in 1914 left fight in the war, where he reached the rank of major. Stirrett returned to the CMA in 1919 as general secretary. In November 1918 he was made assistant general manager. Upon Stirrett's accession, Walsh took the title of assistant to the president, which he held until his death in 1947.Wellington Jeffers, "Finance at large," The Globe and Mail, (12 October 1939), 16.

On 29 May 1953, Stirrett announced his retirement. He was succeeded as general manager by George Kingsley Sheils (1894–1953), who was the immediate past president."J. D. Ferguson head of Manufacturers', J. Stirrett retires," Toronto Daily Star, (29 May 1953), 28. Sheils had had a distinguished career in industry and during World War II had served as director of administration for the War Supply Board, and as deputy minister for the Department of Munitions and Supply. After just under six months in office, Sheils died at his home in Toronto at age 59."G. K. Sheils: Manager of CMA received CMG for work in war," Globe and Mail, (23 November 1953), 5. He was succeeded by John Coghlan Whitelaw QC (1907–1997), a lawyer from Montreal. Whitelaw had joined the CMA in 1940 as manager of the Quebec division. On 1 November 1953 he had moved to Toronto to become assistant general manager of the national organisation."John C. Whitelaw new CMA manager," Toronto Daily Star, (2 December 1953), 22.

On 1 July 1972, Whitelaw was succeeded as general manager by William Dean Howells Frechette (1917–2009). Frechette was the son of writers Achille Fréchette and Annie Howells, and on his mother's side was the nephew of American author William Dean Howells.For more information see, James Doyle, Annie Howells and Achille Fréchette, (University of Toronto Press, 1979). Frechette had begun his career in 1939 with the Hudson's Bay Company, and in World War II served in the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. He joined the CMA in 1946."Improve business-government ties," Financial Post, (7 October 1972), 39.

In late 1974, Frechette took the position of executive vice-president and secretary, leaving open the office of general manager. The GM position was filled temporarily by president Keith Hartley Rapsey. On 1 July 1975, Roy Alexander Phillips (1918–2012) was hired as the new general manager, which became known as executive director."Heads CMA," Ottawa Journal, (18 July 1975), 21. Phillips was from Vancouver and graduated in engineering from the University of British Columbia in 1939. During the war he served to the rank of major in the artillery. After the war he built a successful career in electronics, and from 1967 to 1975 was a vice-president of RCA Limited, the Canadian division of RCA Corporation."Phillips, Roy A., B.A.Sc.," Who's Who in Canada 1984–85, (Global Press, 1984), P34.

In February 1981, the CMA made an organisational restructuring. Accordingly, the office of president was changed to a chairmanship, while the executive director (general manager) was changed to a presidency."Manufacturers reorganize association," Financial Post, (7 February 1981), 20.

Leadership

President (to 1981) and Chairman (from 1981) From its inception, the ranking officer of the CME was its President, elected annually. In 1981, the office was changed to that of the Chairman, while the former Executive Director became the President.

General Manager (to 1981) and President (from 1981) The office of General Manager was created in December 1918 for James Edward Walsh, and was intended to support the expanding operations of the Association. In February 1981, the office was change to that of President, while the former president became the Chairman.

James Edward Walsh, 20 December 1918 – October 1939 Maj. John Thomas Stirrett, October 1939 – 29 May 1953 Capt. George Kingsley Sheils CMG, 29 May 1953 – 22 November 1953 † John Coghlan Whitelaw QC, 2 December 1953 – 1 July 1972 Lt-Col William Dean Howells Frechette, 1 July 1972 – December 1974 Maj. Roy Alexander Phillips, 1 July 1975 – 31 December 1984Title changes to President in February 1981 J. Laurent Thibault, 1 January 1985 – 11 February 1991 Stephen Harris James Van Houten, 8 July 1991 – December 1998 Hon. Henry Perrin Beatty PC, 15 August 1999 – 12 August 2007 Jayson Myers, 4 September 2007 – 2016 Dennis Darby, 30 January 2017 – present

Bibliography

Canadian Manufacturers' Association. The First 100 Years. The Canadian Manufacturers' Association, 1971. Canadian Manufacturers' Association. Official Souvenir: Visit of the Canadian Manufacturers' Association to Great Britain. R. G. McLean, 1905. Clark, Samuel Delbert. "The Canadian Manufacturers’ Association." The Canadian Journal of Economics and Political Science vol. 4, no. 4 (1938): 505–23. Clark, Samuel Delbert. "The Canadian Manufacturers’ Association and the Tariff." The Canadian Journal of Economics and Political Science vol. 5, no. 1 (1939): 19–39. Clark, Samuel Delbert. The Canadian Manufacturers' Association: A Political and Social Study. PhD Dissertation, University of Toronto, 1937. Clark, Samuel Delbert. The Canadian Manufacturers' Association: A Study in Collective Bargaining and Political Pressure. University of Toronto Press, 1939. Griffin, Watson. "The Canadian Manufacturers’ Tariff Campaign." The North American Review vol. 183, no. 597 (1906): 195–206.

References