Aberhart, William (1878-1943)

Canadian politician, premier of Alberta 1935-43. He tried to establish a currency system on social-credit principles, but the necessary legislation was rejected by the Supreme Court of Canada. Aberhart subsequently reverted to more orthodox financial methods.

Born in Ontario and educated at Queen's University, he was principal of the high school in Calgary, Alberta, and founder of the Calgary Prophetic Bible Institute. He organized a social credit movement, which won the provincial election 1935.

The Alberta legislature passed the necessary legislation (for his currency system), including the Bank Taxation Bill, the Credit Regulation Bill, and Press Control Bill, but all these measures were declared ultra vires (beyond the legislature's legal powers) by the Supreme Court of Canada, and their decision was upheld by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.