George Hara Williams

Who was George Hara Williams?

George Hara Williams was a farmer activist and politician. Born in Binscarth, Manitoba, Williams attended Manitoba Agricultural College after serving in World War I. Upon graduating, he moved to Saskatchewan to become director of livestock and equipment in the province for the Soldier Settlement Board.

He began farming himself and joined and became an organizer for the Farmers Union of Canada in 1923. He served as president of its successor – the United Farmers of Canada – from 1929 to 1931, and steered it towards political action. Williams brought a militant class struggle perspective to the organization. He was also involved with the Marxist Farmers’ Educational League and was founder and secretary of the short-lived Farmers’ Political Association formed in 1924.

In 1932, he and M.J. Coldwell co-chaired a convention that brought together the United Farmers of Canada and the Independent Labour Party to form the new Farmer-Labour Group with Coldwell as party leader. The party was recognized as the unofficial provincial branch of the new Co-operative Commonwealth Federation shortly after the CCF was formed. The FLG contested the 1934 provincial election.