Alf Skowron
Encyclopedia
Alf Skowron is a retired politician in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a member of the Winnipeg City Council
from 1971 to 1989, originally a member of the New Democratic Party
and later as an independent.
, for the Talbot Ward in the St. Johns area. He was re-elected in 1974
.
When Winnipeg's city council was restructed in 1977, Skowron ran in the new division of Elmwood and defeated fellow councillor Ray Brunka
, whom he defeated again in 1980, 1983
and 1986
. He lost his seat to Lillian Thomas
in 1989
. Skowron also campaigned for Mayor of Winnipeg in a 1979 by-election, but finished well behind frontrunners Bill Norrie
and Joseph Zuken
.
Skowron was on the right-wing of the New Democratic Party. In 1979, he led council opposition to the introduction of bilingual English and French municipal signs. The signs were introduced to recognize the legal rights of Manitoba's francophone community; Skowron argued that they privileged one particular ethnic group. When he ran for mayor later in the same year, he sought but did not receive the provincial NDP's official endorsement. He accused the party of being infiltrated with communists, citing the fact that Communist Joseph Zuken
had emerged as the main left-of-centre candidate.
Skowron and fellow NDP councillor Bill Chornopyski broke with their party's position in September 1983, and voted for the City of Winnipeg to hold a plebiscite in response to the provincial government's decision to reintroduce official bilingualism. Both councillors left the NDP shortly after the 1983 election, and Skowron later affiliated with a centre-right group on council.
.
During the same year, Skowron became involved in a controversy involving his friend, councillor Al Golden
. Golden had attempted to convince the group Habitat For Humanity to purchase a warehouse owned by Skowron, and used council letterhead in his correspondence. Golden helped to manage the building in question and applied for permits on Skowron's behalf, though he denied any direct ownership. Golden said that he had applied for the documents as a favour to Skowron, whom he indicated had "never taken out a permit in his life". A report into the matter concluded that Golden's behaviour was inappropriate, but did not violate any law.
Skowron was fined $1,000 in 1996, after being found guilty of failing to file his 1993 income-tax return. The judge justified the lenient fine on the grounds that Skowron had not sought to hide or evade taxes. Skowron said that he failed to file his return because a former business partner refused to make financial records available. His lawyer indicated that Skowron was from the "old school", and believed his return had to be complete before it could be submitted.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, 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 was a member of the Winnipeg City Council
Winnipeg City Council
The Winnipeg City Council is the governing body of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors.-2006-2010:Council elected in the 2006 election:-2010-2014:...
from 1971 to 1989, originally a member of the New Democratic Party
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...
and later as an independent.
Councillor
Skowron was first elected to the Winnipeg City Council in the 1971 municipal electionWinnipeg municipal election, 1971
The 1971 Winnipeg municipal election was held in October 1971 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the City of Winnipeg. This was the first municipal election to take place after the amalgamation of Winnipeg with its suburban communities. Stephen Juba, who was the last mayor of...
, for the Talbot Ward in the St. Johns area. He was re-elected in 1974
Winnipeg municipal election, 1974
The 1974 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 23, 1974 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Stephen Juba was re-elected in the mayoral contest.-Results:...
.
When Winnipeg's city council was restructed in 1977, Skowron ran in the new division of Elmwood and defeated fellow councillor Ray Brunka
Ray Brunka
Raymond Brunka is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Winnipeg City Council from 1974 to 1977, and has since become a perennial candidate for office at several levels....
, whom he defeated again in 1980, 1983
Winnipeg municipal election, 1983
The 1983 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 26, 1983 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg. There were also two referendum questions, on bilingualism and nuclear disarmament....
and 1986
Winnipeg municipal election, 1986
The 1986 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 22, 1986 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Bill Norrie was re-elected to a fourth term as mayor, defeating former Member of the Legislative Assembly Russell Doern and ten other...
. He lost his seat to Lillian Thomas
Lillian Thomas
Lillian Thomas is a city councillor in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She has served on council continuously since 1989, initially for Elmwood and later for its successor ward of Elmwood-East Kildonan.-Early life:...
in 1989
Winnipeg municipal election, 1989
The 1989 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 25, 1989 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Bill Norrie was re-elected to a fifth term as mayor without serious opposition.-Councillors:...
. Skowron also campaigned for Mayor of Winnipeg in a 1979 by-election, but finished well behind frontrunners Bill Norrie
Bill Norrie
William Norrie, CM, OM, QC was the 39th Mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba and is the former Chancellor of the University of Manitoba....
and Joseph Zuken
Joseph Zuken
Joseph Zuken was a popular Communist politician in Winnipeg and the longest serving elected Communist party politician in North America....
.
Skowron was on the right-wing of the New Democratic Party. In 1979, he led council opposition to the introduction of bilingual English and French municipal signs. The signs were introduced to recognize the legal rights of Manitoba's francophone community; Skowron argued that they privileged one particular ethnic group. When he ran for mayor later in the same year, he sought but did not receive the provincial NDP's official endorsement. He accused the party of being infiltrated with communists, citing the fact that Communist Joseph Zuken
Joseph Zuken
Joseph Zuken was a popular Communist politician in Winnipeg and the longest serving elected Communist party politician in North America....
had emerged as the main left-of-centre candidate.
Skowron and fellow NDP councillor Bill Chornopyski broke with their party's position in September 1983, and voted for the City of Winnipeg to hold a plebiscite in response to the provincial government's decision to reintroduce official bilingualism. Both councillors left the NDP shortly after the 1983 election, and Skowron later affiliated with a centre-right group on council.
Since 1989
In 1993, Skowron played a role in having a recreation centre named after former councillor Magnus EliasonMagnus Eliason
Magnus Eliason was a founding member of the Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation. From 1969 to 1989, he was a Winnipeg City Councillor.He was born in Arnes, Manitoba, the son of Icelandic immigrants....
.
During the same year, Skowron became involved in a controversy involving his friend, councillor Al Golden
Al Golden (politician)
Allan Golden is a politician and businessman in Winnipeg, Manitoba.Golden is involved in many business operations, including the St. Vital Hotel and the Transcona Country Club. He entered politics after being encouraged by former Mayor of Winnipeg Stephen Juba, to run in the 1980 mayoral election...
. Golden had attempted to convince the group Habitat For Humanity to purchase a warehouse owned by Skowron, and used council letterhead in his correspondence. Golden helped to manage the building in question and applied for permits on Skowron's behalf, though he denied any direct ownership. Golden said that he had applied for the documents as a favour to Skowron, whom he indicated had "never taken out a permit in his life". A report into the matter concluded that Golden's behaviour was inappropriate, but did not violate any law.
Skowron was fined $1,000 in 1996, after being found guilty of failing to file his 1993 income-tax return. The judge justified the lenient fine on the grounds that Skowron had not sought to hide or evade taxes. Skowron said that he failed to file his return because a former business partner refused to make financial records available. His lawyer indicated that Skowron was from the "old school", and believed his return had to be complete before it could be submitted.