W. B. Scarth

Who was W. B. Scarth?

William Blakeman Scarth was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1958 to 1962 as a Progressive Conservative.

Scarth was educated at the University of Manitoba, receiving a law degree. He served as president of Pascar Oils Ltd., and was director of Lylemore Petroleums Ltd. During the Second World War, he spent four years in the Royal Canadian Air Force with the Judge Advocate General's Branch.

He campaigned for the Canadian House of Commons in the federal election of 1940, running as a "National Government" candidate in the northern Manitoba riding of Churchill. He was defeated by Liberal cabinet minister Thomas Crerar.

He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1958 provincial election, defeating future Lieutenant Governor William John McKeag in the upscale Winnipeg constituency of River Heights. He was re-elected in the 1959 election, but did not run again in 1962. During his time in the legislature, Scarth was a backbench supporter of Dufferin Roblin's administration.

Scarth's son, also named William Blakeman, is a professor of Economics at McMaster University.