Aimé Adam
Encyclopedia
Aime Raleigh Adam (December 5, 1913 – January 7, 2009) was a politician
in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served as a New Democratic
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1971 to 1986, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Howard Pawley
.
Adam was a successful farmer and rancher before entering political life. He was a charter member of the National Farmers Union
, and served as president of its Local 509.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in a 1971 by-election
in the rural riding of Ste. Rose, called after the sitting MLA, former Liberal
leader Gildas Molgat
, was appointed to the Canadian Senate
. Although the NDP had never won the seat before, Adam scored a convincing victory over his Liberal and Progressive Conservative
opponents, and provided Edward Schreyer
's government with a functioning majority. He was easily re-elected in the election of 1973
, although he was not appointed to Schreyer's cabinet.
Adam was again re-elected in the 1977 election
, which was won by the Tories under Sterling Lyon
. In early 1979, he supported Howard Pawley
's bid to replace Schreyer as interim leader of the party.
The NDP under Pawley returned to government in the election of 1981
, although Adam ironically faced the toughest re-election challenge of his career, defeating Progressive Conservative candidate Ivan Traill by fewer than 200 votes. It may be noted that there was no Liberal candidate in this race, and that most traditionally Liberal voters in rural Manitoba had shifted to the Progressive Conservatives by this time.
Despite being almost seventy years old, Adam was appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of Cooperative Development on November 30, 1981. He was relieved of the latter position on August 20, 1982, and of the former on November 4, 1983, when he was named Minister of Government Services in a cabinet shuffle. Adam left cabinet entirely on January 30, 1985, and did not seek re-election in 1986.
Adam was a prominent defender of Canada's Western Grain Transportation Act
(sometimes called the "Crow Benefit"), a subsidy which covered transportation costs for farmers shipping wheat. On one occasion, he printed off a series of buttons with the slogan, "Save the Crow".
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as a New Democratic
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
from 1971 to 1986, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Howard Pawley
Howard Pawley
Howard Russell Pawley, PC, OC, OM is a Canadian politician and professor who was the 18th Premier of Manitoba from 1981 to 1988.-Personal life:...
.
Adam was a successful farmer and rancher before entering political life. He was a charter member of the National Farmers Union
National Farmers Union
National Farmers Union may refer to:*National Farmers Union *National Farmers Union *National Farmers Union *National Farmers Union of Scotland*National Farmers Union -See also:...
, and served as president of its Local 509.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in a 1971 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in the rural riding of Ste. Rose, called after the sitting MLA, former Liberal
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
leader Gildas Molgat
Gildas Molgat
Gildas L. Molgat, CD was a Canadian politician. He served as leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party from 1961 to 1969, and was subsequently appointed to the Canadian Senate, where he served as Speaker from 1994 until 2001. He died shortly thereafter.Molgat was born in Ste. Rose du Lac, Manitoba. ...
, was appointed to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
. Although the NDP had never won the seat before, Adam scored a convincing victory over his Liberal and Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
opponents, and provided Edward Schreyer
Edward Schreyer
Edward Richard Schreyer , commonly known as Ed Schreyer, is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 22nd since Canadian Confederation....
's government with a functioning majority. He was easily re-elected in the election of 1973
Manitoba general election, 1973
The Manitoba General Election of June 28, 1973 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the social-democratic New Democratic Party, which took 31 of 57 seats...
, although he was not appointed to Schreyer's cabinet.
Adam was again re-elected in the 1977 election
Manitoba general election, 1977
The Manitoba general election of October 11, 1977 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which took 33 seats out of 57...
, which was won by the Tories under Sterling Lyon
Sterling Lyon
Sterling Rufus Lyon, PC, OC was a lawyer, cabinet minister, and the 17th Premier of Manitoba, Canada from 1977 to 1981. His government introduced several fiscally-conservative measures, and was sometimes seen as a local version of the government of Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom...
. In early 1979, he supported Howard Pawley
Howard Pawley
Howard Russell Pawley, PC, OC, OM is a Canadian politician and professor who was the 18th Premier of Manitoba from 1981 to 1988.-Personal life:...
's bid to replace Schreyer as interim leader of the party.
The NDP under Pawley returned to government in the election of 1981
Manitoba general election, 1981
The Manitoba general election of November 17, 1981 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the opposition New Democratic Party, which took 34 of 57 seats. The governing Progressive Conservative Party took the remaining 23, while the...
, although Adam ironically faced the toughest re-election challenge of his career, defeating Progressive Conservative candidate Ivan Traill by fewer than 200 votes. It may be noted that there was no Liberal candidate in this race, and that most traditionally Liberal voters in rural Manitoba had shifted to the Progressive Conservatives by this time.
Despite being almost seventy years old, Adam was appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of Cooperative Development on November 30, 1981. He was relieved of the latter position on August 20, 1982, and of the former on November 4, 1983, when he was named Minister of Government Services in a cabinet shuffle. Adam left cabinet entirely on January 30, 1985, and did not seek re-election in 1986.
Adam was a prominent defender of Canada's Western Grain Transportation Act
Western Grain Transportation Act
The Western Grain Transportation Act was Canadian legislation under which a transport subsidy, informally called the Crow benefit or Crow subsidy, was provided by the Canadian federal government to assist the rail transportation of specified grains and grain products to specified destinations...
(sometimes called the "Crow Benefit"), a subsidy which covered transportation costs for farmers shipping wheat. On one occasion, he printed off a series of buttons with the slogan, "Save the Crow".