- Manitoba Liberal Party candidates, 2007 Manitoba provincial election
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The Manitoba Liberal Party fielded a full slate of 57 candidates in the 2007 provincial election, and won two seats to remain as the third-largest party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Some of the party's candidates have their own biography pages; information about others may be found here.
Candidates
Arthur-Virden: Fred Curry
Curry holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Mathematics, a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy, and a Masters of City Planning degree, all from the University of Manitoba. He was a teaching assistant at the University of Manitoba during the 2007 election, and was involved with several inner-city resident associations in Winnipeg. He is also a practising Catholic, and a liturgical musician.[1] During the 1990s, he called on the City of Winnipeg to take action against escort services and massage parlours operating in the city.[2]
Curry ran in the north Winnipeg division of River East in the 2003 provincial election. In 2007, he ran in the rural, southwestern Manitoba division of Arthur-Virden. He defended his choice to run in an area where he did not reside by citing family connections to the region, and by indicating that he wanted to give residents the option of voting for a Liberal candidate.[3]
Electoral record Election Division Party Votes % Place Winner 2003 provincial River East Liberal 286 2.97 3.3 Bonnie Mitchelson, Progressive Conservative 2007 provincial Arthur-Virden Liberal 357 5.14 3/3 Larry Maguire, Progressive Conservative Assiniboia: Bernie Bellan
Bellan was born in West Kildonan, and has lived in Winnipeg for all of his life. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree (1974) and a Master's Degree in Public Affairs (1983), both from the University of Manitoba. He was also accepted for a Bachelor of Laws program in 1976, but left to pursue a full-time career as a letter carrier with Canada Post. He first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the 1981 provincial election, as a candidate of Sidney Green's newly-formed Progressive Party.
Bellan became co-publisher and business manager of the Jewish Post & News in 1984, and remains involved with the paper as of 2007. He was 53 years old during the 2007 campaign.[4]
Bellan was an investor in the Crocus Investment Fund, and was among the first to raise concerns about the fund's stability in a 2002 article entitled "Some things you may not have known about the Crocus Fund".[5] The fund threatened a lawsuit, and Bellan withdrew from the story for a time.[6] Crocus failed in 2004-05, and Bellan subsequently became the lead plaintiff in a $200 million dollar class-action lawsuit against the fund.[7] He filed a separate $200 million suit against the Government of Manitoba in 2006, charging that the government was responsible for damages suffered by shareholders.[8]
Bellan originally planned to run for the Liberal Party in the Tuxedo division in 2007, but was persuaded to run in Assiniboia instead.[9] He acknowledged that he did not expect to win, and said that his sole purpose in running was to embarrass the government of Gary Doer over the Crocus fund. At one public meeting, he called for voters to support either the Liberals or the Progressive Conservatives in order to defeat the New Democratic Party.[10]
On another occasion, Bellan sent an e-mail to Premier Doer indicating that he would stand down as a candidate if the government reached a settlement with shareholders. Doer subsequently forwarded this letter to Elections Manitoba. Under Manitoba law, it is illegal to request personal benefit in return for standing down as a candidate. Elections Manitoba investigated the matter, and cleared Bellan of any wrongdoing.[11]
Electoral record Election Division Party Votes % Place Winner 1981 provincial St. Johns Progressive 446 6.35 4/5 Donald Malinowski, New Democratic Party 2007 provincial Assiniboia Liberal 459 5.52 3/3 Jim Rondeau, New Democratic Party Brandon East: Cheryl Burke
Burke was born into a military family, and was raised in several communities throughout Canada. She has a diploma in Social Services from Mount Royal College in Calgary, and has worked in financial services for Great-West Life and the Bank of Nova Scotia. She moved to Brandon in 1992, and has owned a small business with her husband since 1996.[12]
Burke was elected to the Brandon School Board in the 1998 municipal elections, winning one of eight at-large seats in the city. She served as vice-chair of the board during her first term.[13] She was re-elected in 2002, and served as chair in the term that followed. She approved the introduction of surveillance cameras into one secondary school in 2004.[14] She was narrowly defeated in her bid for a third term in 2006.
Electoral record Election Division Party Votes % Place Winner 1998 municipal Brandon School Division, urban trustee n/a 4,065 7.94 6/13 Marty Snelling, Malcolm Jolly, Linda L. Ross, Jim Murray, Donna Young, herself, Lynne McCaughey, Mark Rukin 2002 municipal Brandon School Division, urban trustee n/a not listed not listed not listed Malcolm Jolly, herself, Jim Murray, Linda L. Ross, Marty Snelling, Donna Young, Patricia Bowslaugh, Howard Hoy 2006 municipal Brandon School Division, urban trustee n/a 4,127 5.92 9/20 Brian Mayes, Jim Murray, Marty Snelling, Peter Bartlette, Bea Jolly, Linda L. Ross, Ramona Coey, George Buri 2007 provincial Brandon East Liberal 554 7.95 3/3 Drew Caldwell, New Democratic Party Brandon West: Martha Jo "M.J." Willard
Willard was raised in Lebanon, Missouri, America. Her biography indicates that she received a Bachelor's Degree in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Missouri in 1970, and then received a Master's Degree in Education in Virginia. She was accepted to the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1978, where she completed a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture, defended a Master's thesis in Physiology and Pharmacology, and earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. After receiving her degree, she became an Emergency Veterinarian in Winnipeg. She subsequently started her own veterinary practice in 1986.
Willard applied and was accepted to the University of Manitoba, where she attended Medical School, completing her Medical Degree in 1997. She sold her veterinary practice in 2001. She completed a five year residency in Pathology in 2002, and moved to Brandon.[15] She is known as an expert on turtles, and has argued against selling them as pets.[16] She was hired as a pathologist for the Sunrise Health Region in Saskatchewan in early 2007.[17]
She received 398 votes (4.04%) in 2007, finishing third against Progressive Conservative candidate Rick Borotsik.
She ran in the 2008 Canadian general election as a candidate in Brandon Souris for the Liberal Party of Canada. She received 2,836 votes, or 4th place overall.
Burrows: Bernd Hohne
Hohne was a machinist with EPT Manufacturing at the time of the election, and had previously worked as an entrepreneur, manager and salesperson. He is active with the Cubs and Scouts, and has held leading volunteer positions with these organizations.[18] He received 562 votes (10.49%), finishing third against New Democratic Party incumbent Doug Martindale.
Concordia: Leslie Worthington
Worthington was born in Winnipeg, and works as a legal secretary.[19] In 2004, she drew attention to the situation of her father's death in a Winnipeg hospital after receiving unsatisfactory medical treatment.[20] (Her father, a World War II veteran, was given only one bath during his three months in hospital and suffered several infections due to a lack of cleanliness.[21] The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority later criticized his doctor's actions, although the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba determined that the doctor had acted appropriately.) Worthington subsequently emerged as a prominent advocate for patient safety, and said that doctors should be monitored by independent observers.[22][23]
In the 2007 election, Worthington stood beside party leader Jon Gerrard as he called for a province-wide project to study and fix medical mistakes.[24] She received 336 votes (6.01%) on election day, finishing third against New Democratic Party Premier Gary Doer.
Shortly after the election, Worthington was told that the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority had never conducted a promised audit into her father's death.[25] The Winnipeg Free Press newspaper described her as "justified in her outrage".[26]
Elmwood: David Love
Love worked as a police officer for thirteen years, serving with the River East School Division and walking a beat. He has also been an addications counsellor, and since 2001 has been a marriage commissioner.[27] He argued against the Payday loan industry before the Manitoba Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development in 2006.[28] He received 1,101 votes (17.48%), finishing third against New Democratic Party incumbent Jim Maloway.
Fort Whyte: Angelina Olivier-Job
Olivier-Job was born in Trinidad and Tobago. She worked as a telephone operator at Manitoba Telecom Systems for a number of years, before retiring in 2003.[29] She started Olivier-Job Personal and Professional Consulting Services in 1996, assisting businesses with issues of cultural and racial sensitivity.[30] Olivier-Job was also a member of the Inkster-Garden Grove advisory committee in the 1990s, and sought to expand community youth facilities in the neighbourhood.[31] At the time of the 2007 election, she was completing an Education degree from the University of Winnipeg.[32]
She ran for a position on the Winnipeg School Board in 1992, and sought election to the provincial legislature in 2003 and 2007. She has said that she chose to run for provincial office due to her opposition to the education policies pursued by Gary Doer's government.[33] She has also served on the National Women’s Liberal Commission.[34]
Electoral record Election Division Party Votes % Place Winner 1992 Winnipeg municipal Winnipeg School Board, Ward Three n/a 3,041 6.16 9/11 Edward Kowalchuk, Roman Yereniuk and Bill Sanderson 2003 provincial The Maples Liberal 885 15.94 2/3 Cris Aglugub, New Democratic Party 2007 provincial Fort Whyte Liberal 1,637 14.22 3/3 Hugh McFadyen, Progressive Conservative Minnedosa: Christopher Baker
Christopher Baker was a late entry to the Minnedosa campaign.[35] He received 268 votes (3.73%), finishing fourth against Progressive Conservative incumbent Leanne Rowat.
Point Douglas: Mary Lou Bourgeois
Bourgeois is an Aboriginal Canadian. She was a respite worker in adolescent care with Winnipeg's Child and Family Services East Emergency Foster Home from 1994 to 1997, and became an apartment counsellor with Stradbrook Residential Services in 1996. She has an extensive history of volunteer work, including work with the intellectually challenged and people with mental illness.[36] Bourgeois campaigned for the Manitoba Liberal Party in the 2003 and 2007 provincial election.
Electoral record Election Division Party Votes % Place Winner 2003 provincial Point Douglas Liberal 547 14.23 2/4 George Hickes, New Democratic Party 2007 provincial Point Douglas Liberal 591 14.72 2/5 George Hickes, New Democratic Party Radisson: Murray James Cliff
Cliff was born in Toronto, and was 44 years old in 2006. He worked as a building product specialist, and served on the provincial Liberal Party's policy committee.[37] He has campaigned for the provincial legislature on two occasions, in 2003 and 2007. On the latter occasion, he said that his most important issue was providing a future in Manitoba for young people.[38]
Cliff has also campaigned for a seat on the Winnipeg City Council on two occasions. He called for property tax cuts in his first campaign, and argued that the city needed to fix its basic infrastructure before considering a rapid transit program.[39] When he ran again in 2006, he announced that he would not ask to be reimbursed for any election expenses, and challenged his opponents to make the same commitment.[40] He endorsed Mayor Sam Katz's bid for re-election during this campaign.[41]
Electoral record Election Division Party Votes % Place Winner 2003 provincial Radisson Liberal 624 8.42 3/3 Bidhu Jha, New Democratic Party municipal by-election, 22 June 2004 Winnipeg City Council, St. Boniface Ward n/a 1,040 5.22 6/7 Franco Magnifico 2006 municipal Winnipeg City Council, St. Boniface Ward n/a 485 2.81 3/3 Dan Vandal 2007 provincial Radisson Liberal 677 7.99 3/3 Bidhu Jha, New Democratic Party Rossmere: Isaiah Oyeleru
Oyeleru moved from Nigeria to Winnipeg in 1987. He is a college graduate, and owns a women's clothing store in the city.[42] Oyeleru is a Christian and holds conservative views on social issues, although his views on matters such as poverty and children's programs are more liberal.
He first ran for public office in the 2006 Winnipeg municipal election. His primary issue was the revitalization of the city's community centres, though he also called for the elimination of the city's business tax and for a reduction in children's bus fares.[43] He finished fourth against incumbent councillor Lillian Thomas.
Electoral record Election Division Party Votes % Place Winner 2006 municipal Winnipeg City Council, Elmwood-East Kildonan Ward n/a 390 4.55 4/4 Lillian Thomas 2007 provincial Rossmere Liberal 522 6.55 3/3 Erna Braun, New Democratic Party Transcona: Gerald Basarab
Basarab is a machinist for CN Rail, and has represented the Canadian Auto Workers on the Winnipeg Labour Council.[44] He is a frequent candidate for public office. He described himself as a political independent in 2006, though he indicated that the provincial Liberals had tried to draft him as a candidate. He also indicated his personal support for Mayor Sam Katz's re-election bid.[45]
In the 2006 municipal election, Basarab highlighted his opposition a proposed OlyWest pork processing plant near the Transcona ward by giving out novelty "gummy pig" candies to residents.[46]
Electoral record Election Division Party Votes % Place Winner 1992 municipal Transcona-Springfield School Division, Ward One n/a 1,728 11.14 5/8 Mary Andree, Betty Ann Watts, Colleen Carswell 1995 municipal Winnipeg City Council, Transcona Ward n/a 967 5.95 4/5 Shirley Timm-Rudolph 1995 municipal Transcona-Springfield School Division, Ward One n/a 2,184 13.94 4/8 Colleen Carswell, Mary Andree, Betty Ann Watts 1998 municipal Transcona-Springfield School Division, Ward One n/a 2,105 13.99 4/6 Colleen Carswell, Mary Andree, David George 2006 municipal Winnipeg City Council, Transcona Ward n/a 785 8.49 2/3 Russ Wyatt 2007 provincial Transcona Liberal 604 9.10 3/3 Daryl Reid, New Democratic Party Candidates in post-2007 by-elections
Elmwood, 24 March 2009: Regan Wolfrom
Regan Wolfrom is a community activist and small business owner.[47] In 2006, he led a residents' group called the Concerned Elmwood Neighbours that tried to prevent the closure of the Kelvin Community Club.[48] He received 877 votes (20.28%), finishing third against New Democratic Party candidate Bill Blaikie.
Footnotes
- ^ "Fred Curry", Manitoba Liberal Party campaign biography from the 2007 election, accessed 8 May 2007.
- ^ Nick Martin, "City wants its share from escort services ", Winnipeg Free Press, 21 June 1995, B2.
- ^ Mia Rabson, "No-chance candidates risk getting what they (don't really) wish for ", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 May 2007, A6.
- ^ "Bernie Bellan", Liberal Party campaign biography from the 2007 election, accessed 21 May 2007.
- ^ Gordon Sinclair, "How a 'little' postman delivered", Winnipeg Free Press, 31 May 2005, A11.
- ^ Paul Waldie, "How the bloom came off Crocus", Globe and Mail, 4 July 2004, B1.
- ^ Carrie Tait, "Crocus 'certain' to face class-action", National Post, 7 April 2005, FP11; "Crocus fund shareholders to file suit this week", Montreal Gazette, 1 June 2005, A4; Steve Lambert, "Shareholders in Manitoba's failed Crocus Investment Fund have filed a $200-million lawsuit against the fund's former directors, former officers, the Manitoba Securities Commission and others", Canadian Press, 12 July 2005.
- ^ "No Crocus error, premier maintains", Winnipeg Free Press, 10 May 2006, p. 10.
- ^ "Bellan seeks Liberal nod", Winnipeg Free Press, 31 August 2006, B2.
- ^ "Doer is too smart to do the right thing", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 January 2007, A17.
- ^ "Liberal candidate cleared of wrongdoing", Winnipeg Free Press, 26 April 2007, Web Extra.
- ^ "Cheryl Burke", Liberal Party 2007 campaign biography, accessed 8 May 2007.
- ^ Nick Martin, "High school costs disappoint Doer", Winnipeg Free Press, 8 November 2001, A8.
- ^ Nick Martin, "More surveillance cameras wanted", Winnipeg Free Press, 14 June 2004, B8.
- ^ "M.J. Willard", Liberal Party campaign biography from the 2007 election, accessed 8 May 2007.
- ^ Bruce Owen, "Turtle lady to the rescue", Winnipeg Free Press, 18 October 1994; Al Besson, "Cute turtle pets need a major commitment", Winnipeg Free Press, 27 November 2001, A5.
- ^ "Local health professionals, local health issues", Sunrise Health Region, 2007, accessed 6 October 2007.
- ^ "Burrows", 2007 election page, Winnipeg Free Press Online, accessed 1 November 2007; "Bernd Hohne", Manitoba Liberal party campaign
- ^ "Leslie Worthington", Liberal Party campaign biography from the 2007 election, accessed 21 May 2007.
- ^ Mia Rabson, "ER tracking on way?", Winnipeg Free Press, 2 March 2004, B1; "Winnipegger alleges shoddy hospital care, no answers 9 months after dad died", Canadian Press, 2 November 2004, 18:32.
- ^ "Vet, 80, suffered in final months", Toronto Star, 11 November 2005, A6.
- ^ David Kuxhaus, "College dismisses conflict allegations", Winnipeg Free Press, 2 March 2006, B2.
- ^ On a separate matter, Worthington later criticized a crystal meth treatment program started by provincial Health Minister Theresa Oswald, saying that it would not to reach all addicts. See Leslie Worthington, Letter to the Editor, 14 November 2005, A10.
- ^ Mary Agnes Welch, "Liberals want team to investigate, fix medical mistakes", Winnipeg Free Press, 6 May 2007, A1.
- ^ "Audit that was planned into Winnipeg man's death wasn't done", Canadian Press, 25 June 2007, 00:29.
- ^ "Policy in error" [editorial], Winnipeg Free Press, 26 June 2007, A10.
- ^ "Elmwood: 2007 Candidates", Winnipeg Free Press online, accessed 13 September 2007.
- ^ Minutes, 8 June 2006, LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MANITOBA: THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, accessed 13 September 2007.
- ^ Thomas Walkom, "In moody Manitoba, election is far from mind", Toronto Star, 17 May 2003, H1.
- ^ Olivier-Job Personal and Professional Consulting Services, Home Page, accessed 8 August 2007.
- ^ Nick Martin, "Access creates furore", Winnipeg Free Press, 21 April 1994.
- ^ "Angelina Olivier-Job", Liberal Party campaign biography from the 2007 election, accessed 21 May 2007.
- ^ Walkom, "In moody Manitoba [...]".
- ^ Laura Dowrich-Phillips, "Trini gets into Canadian politics", The Trinidad Guardian, 28 August 2005, accessed 8 August 2007.
- ^ NDP, Tories prepare for rematch in Minnedosa, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 7 May 2007, accessed 1 June 2009.
- ^ "Mary Lou Bourgeois: Campaign biography", Manitoba Liberal Party, accessed 8 May 2007.
- ^ Mary Agnes Welch, "St. Boniface race close, oddly quiet", Winnipeg Free Press, 21 October 2006, B2. The source for Cliff's middle name is Candidate Financial Election Returns, Elections Manitoba, 2007, accessed 5 October 2007.
- ^ Mia Rabson, "Battle is fierce for NDP 'safe seat'", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 May 2007, A9.
- ^ Jason Bell, "St. B candidates promise renewal of French Quarter", Winnipeg Free Press, 17 June 2004, B4; "Who wants to represent city's francophone centre", Winnipeg Free Press, 2 June 2004, B3. He made a point of not spending any money on this campaign. See Kevin Rollason, "Council candidate forced to file audit", Winnipeg Free Press, 2 February 2005, B3.
- ^ Winnipeg Votes 2006: Council Races: St. Boniface, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, accessed 2 March 2007.
- ^ Mary Agnes Welch, "St. Boniface race close, oddly quiet", Winnipeg Free Press, 21 October 2006, B2.
- ^ Council Races: Elmwood-East Kildonan, Winnipeg Votes 2006, accessed 30 November 2007.
- ^ "It's a low-key race east of Red River", Winnipeg Free Press, 24 October 2006, B2.
- ^ "Gerald Basarab", Winnipeg Free Press, 29 September 1995, A11; Bartley Kives, "Gerald Basarab", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 October 2006, B2. The 2006 report lists him as 52 years old.
- ^ Bartley Kives, "Gerald Basarab", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 October 2006, B2.
- ^ Council Races: Transcona: Gerald Basarab, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, accessed 28 September 2007.
- ^ Mary Agnes Welch, "Doer considers separate dates for byelections", Winnipeg Free Press, 3 January 2009, A7; Steve Lambert, "Former MP Bill Blaikie wins one of two Manitoba byelections", Canadian Press, 24 March 2009, 10:15.
- ^ Mary Agnes Welch, "Residents rally in effort to save community club", Winnipeg Free Press, 30 August 1996, B6; Bartley Kives, "'Mindless mincing minions': Councillor livid after colleagues vote to shut community centre", Winnipeg Free Press, 11 January 2007, B3.
Categories:- Manitoba Liberal Party candidates in Manitoba provincial elections
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