Upon graduating, he moved to Saskatchewan to become director of livestock and equipment in the province for the federal Soldier Settlement Board.

"[3] The FLG elected five MLAs to the Saskatchewan legislature, including Williams in the constituency of Wadena, and he formed the official opposition to the Liberal government.

[1] In 1931, Williams had served as a Canadian delegate to the World Wheat Conference and subsequently, under the auspices of the United Farmers of Canada, he visited the Soviet Union.

The Soviet tour resulted in accusations that he was a Communist, and some CCFers came to believe he would be unable to take the party to power[4] even after it doubled its share of seats in the 1938 general election under his leadership.

Williams was appointed Minister of Agriculture in the new CCF government, but he resigned in February 1945 for ill health.