Local

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

'A man of the highest principle'

Winnipegger quit Bank of Canada after dispute with PM

By: Kevin Rollason

Posted: 10/14/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

The Canadian Press Bank of Canada Governor James Coyne arrives at the Senate entrance to the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa on July 12, 1961, the day the Senate rejected a bill to terminate his employment at the bank. Coyne resigned the next day. (CP)

Enlarge Image

Boris Minkevich / Winnipeg Free Press LEFT: Lt.-Gov. Philip Lee (left) gives the Order of Manitoba to James Coyne, the second governor of the Bank of Canada, from 1955 to 1961. BELOW: Bank of Canada Governor James Coyne arrives at the Senate entrance to the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa on July 12, 1961, the day the Senate rejected a bill to terminate his employment at the bank. Coyne resigned the next day. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

He left his job after tangling with Prime Minister John Diefenbaker over monetary policy, but his criticisms led to greater independence from government for the Bank of Canada.

James Elliott Coyne, a former governor of the Bank of Canada, died in Winnipeg on Friday. He was 102.

"He was a good example for all of us -- right to the end, he was still alert and keeping himself active," Patrick Riley, a local lawyer and his son, said on Saturday.

"He was always a man of the highest principle. He set that kind of example. He was willing to stand on principle."

Another son, Sandy Riley, CEO of the Richardson Financial Group, said his father "was a wonderful role model for us and a great mentor.

"He had a great life. To be 102 and living at home with your wife and be making breakfast and playing bridge, he was extraordinarily lucky."

Coyne was honoured by the province in July with the Order of Manitoba.

Coyne was born in Winnipeg to James Bowes Coyne, a Manitoba Court of Appeal justice, and mother Edna in 1910.

Coyne graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Arts in 1931 and went to Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, receiving his bachelor of arts in jurisprudence and bachelor of civil law in 1934, the Bank of Canada website says.

Patrick Riley said his father practiced as a lawyer before joining the Bank of Canada in 1938. Coyne left that job the next year to join the Central Mortgage Bank, before also working with the Foreign Exchange Control Board, the Canadian Embassy in Washington and the Wartime Prices and Trade Board.

Coyne also served in the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1942 to 1944.

Coyne rejoined the Bank of Canada and rose through the ranks to become deputy governor from 1950 to 1954, when he was appointed the bank's second governor and president of the Industrial Development Bank on Jan. 1, 1955.

Coyne resigned at the end of what's become known as either the Coyne Affair or the Coyne Crisis. Coyne made repeated speeches criticizing the Diefenbaker government's fiscal policies -- it was borrowing massive amounts of money to stimulate the economy -- and he rejected lowering interest rates.

The government voted to terminate Coyne from his position, but the Liberal-dominated Senate rejected the bill.

Coyne resigned anyway the next day, July 13, 1961.

Otto Lang, a Liberal federal cabinet minister in the 1970s whose portfolios included justice, said that's how Coyne will best be remembered.

"He took a stand on the need for independence of the bank and for it not to be pushed around by government politics of the day," Lang said.

"It was a really significant contribution, and now every sensible country that has a solid way of doing things does it that way.

"It took leaders like him for others to follow."

Patrick Riley said Coyne married his mother after his father, Robert Sanford Riley, died of cancer.

"I remember meeting him (Coyne) when I was five," he said.

"He brought chocolate gold coins. As usual, it was a kind and wise gesture."

Coyne is survived by his wife of 55 years, Meribeth, his sons, Patrick Riley, Sandy Riley and Andrew Coyne, a National Post columnist, two daughters, Nancy Riley and Susan Coyne, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A celebration of his life is still in the planning stages.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 14, 2012 A3

Fact Check

Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.

* Required

In which story did you find the error? *
Please post the headline of the story or the title of the video with the error.
What was the error? *
Please post exactly what was wrong with the story.
What should we have written?
Please indicate your source for the correct information.
Who else should we interview to improve this story?
Please include any contact information you may have.
Can we contact you in the future for advice on stories about this topic?
Yes

No
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E–mail Address: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Phone: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Colour:
Are you blue? If you can see this, leave it blank and get some CSS support.
Enter the words that you see: * This is to prevent our forms from being filled out automatically.
You have failed to correctly identify the words in the box above. Please try again.

More Local

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

Have Your Say

Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?

Have Your Say

Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.