Tucker, Walter Adam (1899-1990)

Tucker was born in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, on March 11, 1899. At the age of 18 he graduated with a BA from the University of Manitoba. In 1923 he attended the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan and graduated with high academic standing. In 1925 Tucker began practicing law in Rosthern.

Tucker was elected to the House of Commons from Rosthern in 1935. From 1945 to 1948 Tucker was parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Veterans Affairs. He resigned from Parliament to lead the Saskatchewan Liberals in the 1948 election campaign. As leader, he attempted to rebuild the party after its disastrous defeat in 1944, and promoted the party's new identity as the defender of capitalism. The CCF was firmly entrenched in the political landscape of the province, however, and although Tucker was elected to represent Rosthern provincially in 1948 and 1952, the party was defeated twice and he resigned as leader.

In 1953 Tucker resigned his seat in the Saskatchewan Legislature and was again elected to the House of Commons for the constituency of Rosthern. Tucker, a veteran of both world wars, led the federal committee that introduced bills that provided for the rehabilitation of veterans of World War II. He retired from politics in 1958. During the years 1958 to 1963 Tucker practiced law in Saskatoon. In 1963 he was appointed to the Court of Queen's Bench where he served until 1974. He died on September 19, 1990.

Dwayne Yasinowski

Print Entry

Further Reading

Kritzwiser, H.H. 1946. “The Liberals Choose a Proven Leader,” Western Business and Industry 20 (8); Smith, David E. 1975. Prairie Liberalism: The Liberal Party in Saskatchewan 1906-71. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.