He worked as a railroad accountant for the Canadian National Railway, and became involved in the provincial labour movement in 1915.
From 1917 to 1921, he served as general chairman of the Canadian Brotherhood Railroad Employees Western Lines.
Running in St. Boniface, he defeated longtime Conservative representative Joseph Bernier[1] by 504 votes.
For the 1936 provincial election, the ILP ran candidates in an alliance with the newly formed Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF).
Lawrence again finished second on first preferences, but was declared elected[1] on the third count over Liberal-Progressive candidate L.P. Gagnon.