Andrew Foster (politician)

Andrew Edmond Foster (October 12, 1867—November 5, 1956[1][2]) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1922 to 1927, and again from 1932 to 1936.[2]

Foster was born in Enterprise, Ontario, the son of Andrew Foster and Annabella Victoria Boddy, and was educated in that province. He worked as a farmer.[1]

He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1922 provincial election. Running as a candidate of the United Farmers of Manitoba (UFM) in the Killarney constituency,[2] he defeated his Conservative opponent G.W. Waldon by 202 votes. The UFM unexpectedly won a majority of seats in this election, and formed government as the Progressive Party. Foster was a backbench supporter of John Bracken's government.

In the 1927 provincial election, Foster lost to Conservative candidate John Laughlin[2] by 255 votes. He was returned to the legislature in the 1932 election, defeating Laughlin[2] by 90 votes. Prior to this election, the Progressive Party had formed an electoral alliance with the Manitoba Liberal Party, and government members became known as "Liberal-Progressives". Foster again served as a backbench supporter of Bracken's ministry.

He lost to Laughlin for a second time in the 1936 election,[2] this time by 509 votes.

In 1940, the Liberal-Progressives and Conservatives formed a wartime coalition government. Foster again challenged Laughlin in Hamiota, this time running as an anti-coalition Liberal. Laughlin, now a supporter of Bracken's government, won the challenge easily.[2]