James Aubrey Simmons (July 8, 1897 – November 30, 1979) was a Canadian politician, notary and magistrate.[2]

James Simmons
Member of Parliament
for Yukon
(Yukon—Mackenzie River; 1949–1953)
In office
June 27, 1949 – June 10, 1957
Preceded byGeorge Black
Succeeded byErik Nielsen
Personal details
Born
James Aubrey Simmons

(1897-07-08)July 8, 1897
Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada
DiedNovember 30, 1979(1979-11-30) (aged 82)
West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Political partyLiberal
Spouse
Della Louise Rapuzzi
(m. 1934)
[1]
ProfessionNotary

Born in Revelstoke, British Columbia, Simmons would go on to sit many times in the House of Commons of Canada representing the Yukon Territory.

A member of the Liberal Party, his first win came in 1949 when he represented the federal constituency of Yukon-Mackenzie River, an electoral district newly crafted out of the Yukon electoral district in 1947. Simmons easily won the election. His rival, Arthur Massey Berry, an Independent, lost by over 1,000 votes.

By 1953, at the next federal election, the riding of Yukon-Mackenzie River was abolished and transformed again into the Yukon electoral district. Running again for a seat in the House, Simmons won the 1953 election for the Yukon. In parliament, Simmons sponsored a bill for the creation of an Alaska-Yukon pipeline.[3]

He was re-elected in 1957 federal election, but his election was declared void and he lost the subsequent by-election. He tried in the 1958 federal election to regain his seat but was again defeated and he never again went for a seat in the House of Commons.

He died in 1979 following a stroke.[4][5]

Electoral record

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1949 Canadian federal election: Yukon—Mackenzie River
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal James Aubrey Simmons 3,284 48.96
Independent Arthur Massey Berry 2,283 34.04
Co-operative Commonwealth James Elwyn Stephens 1,140 17.00
Total valid votes 6,707 100.0  
This riding was created from Yukon and a portion of the previously-unrepresented Northwest Territories. Yukon had elected a Progressive Conservative candidate in the previous election.

References

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  1. ^ Public Archives of Canada (1968). The Canadian Directory of Parliament, 1867-1967. Queen's Printer. p. 531.
  2. ^ "Sharp Clashes With Lesage On Yukon Bill". Ottawa Citizen. The Canadian Press. May 26, 1955.
  3. ^ "Pipeline Bill Wins Approval". Ottawa: The Vancouver Sun. March 2, 1957.
  4. ^ "Registration Of Death". royalbcmuseum.bc.ca. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015.
  5. ^ "James Aubrey Simmons, M.P." lop.parl.ca. Date of Death: 1979-11-30
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Parliament of Canada
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Yukon—Mackenzie River
1949 – 1953
Succeeded by
Member of Parliament for Yukon
1953 – 1957