Article

Farquhar Oliver

Published Online February 13, 2008

Last Edited December 16, 2013

Farquhar Robert Oliver, farmer, politician (b at Priceville, Ont 6 Mar 1904; d at Owen Sound, Ont 22 Jan 1989). First elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1926 as a member of the United Farmers, he was re-elected continuously until his retirement in 1967.

Oliver, Farquhar Robert

Farquhar Robert Oliver, farmer, politician (b at Priceville, Ont 6 Mar 1904; d at Owen Sound, Ont 22 Jan 1989). First elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1926 as a member of the United Farmers, he was re-elected continuously until his retirement in 1967. In 1940 he entered the Liberal Cabinet of Mitchell HEPBURN as minister of public works; in 1941 he assumed responsibility for welfare as well, but resigned both portfolios in 1942 during the confusion following Hepburn's resignation as premier. Oliver apparently was offered the premiership by Hepburn, but he declined because the offer was unconfirmed by caucus.

In 1943, when Harry Nixon became premier, Oliver re-entered the Cabinet; but although he held his seat in the ensuing election, the Liberal government was defeated. In 1945 and 1954 he was elected leader of the shattered party but was unable to engineer its political recovery.