Bonnie Mitchelson
Encyclopedia
Bonnie Mitchelson is a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. She has been a Progressive Conservative
member of the Manitoba legislature since 1986, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Gary Filmon
from 1988 to 1999. She also served as interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in 2000, following Filmon's resignation.
Her husband, Don Mitchelson, was a politician, having served as a city councillor in Winnipeg.
Mitchelson was educated at the Health Sciences Centre School of Nursing and practiced as a Registered Nurse
. She was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in 1986
, defeating incumbent New Democrat Phil Eyler
in the northeast Winnipeg riding of River East
. She was re-elected by a wider margin in 1988
, as Filmon's Tories won a minority government
.
On May 9, 1988, Mitchelson was appointed Minister of Culture, Heritage and Recreation (later renamed Culture, Heritage and Citizenship), with responsibility for the Manitoba Lotteries Foundation Act. On February 5, 1991, she was also named Minister of Multiculturalism with responsibility for Status of Women. As Minister of Culture, Mitchelson made the controversial decision to establish a review commission for Manitoba's arts policy that was made up entirely of non-artists.
After a cabinet shuffle on September 10, 1993, she was named Minister of Family Services
, and retained the position until the Filmon government was defeated in 1999. Prior to the election of 1999, she proposed a series of workfare
measures as part of a policy of welfare reform.
Mitchelson was re-elected by a comfortable margin in 1990
, and again in 1995
and 1999
. She was chosen as interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party on May 29, 2000, and held the position until Stuart Murray
was acclaimed as party leader in November. She was then named as the party's Deputy Leader. To date, she is the only woman to lead the Manitoba Progressive Conservative party, and only the third female party leader in Manitoba's history.
In the general election of 2003
, Mitchelson defeated New Democrat
Doug Longstaffe, 4,935 votes to 4,402. She is currently the only Progressive Conservative MLA to hold a seat in the north of Winnipeg.
She was a supporter of Hugh McFadyen
’s campaign to succeed Stuart Murray as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, and was narrowly re-elected in the 2007 provincial election
.
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...
. She has been a 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:...
member of the Manitoba legislature since 1986, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Gary Filmon
Gary Filmon
Gary Albert Filmon, PC, OC, OM is a Manitoba politician. He was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1983 to 2000, and served as the 19th Premier from 1988 to 1999.-Early life and municipal career:...
from 1988 to 1999. She also served as interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in 2000, following Filmon's resignation.
Her husband, Don Mitchelson, was a politician, having served as a city councillor in Winnipeg.
Mitchelson was educated at the Health Sciences Centre School of Nursing and practiced as a Registered Nurse
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
. She was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in 1986
Manitoba general election, 1986
The Manitoba general election of March 18, 1986 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which took 30 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party won 26 seats and formed the official opposition...
, defeating incumbent New Democrat Phil Eyler
Phil Eyler
Phil Eyler is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1981 to 1986....
in the northeast Winnipeg riding of River East
River East
River East is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was officially created by redistribution in 1979, and has formally existed since the provincial election of 1981. The riding is located on the northeast corner of the City of Winnipeg...
. She was re-elected by a wider margin in 1988
Manitoba general election, 1988
The Manitoba general election of April 26, 1988 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a minority government...
, as Filmon's Tories won a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
.
On May 9, 1988, Mitchelson was appointed Minister of Culture, Heritage and Recreation (later renamed Culture, Heritage and Citizenship), with responsibility for the Manitoba Lotteries Foundation Act. On February 5, 1991, she was also named Minister of Multiculturalism with responsibility for Status of Women. As Minister of Culture, Mitchelson made the controversial decision to establish a review commission for Manitoba's arts policy that was made up entirely of non-artists.
After a cabinet shuffle on September 10, 1993, she was named Minister of Family Services
Minister of Family Services (Manitoba)
The Minister of Family Services is a former cabinet position in the government of Manitoba, Canada. The position was created in 1990, and was incorporated into the successor ministry of Family Services and Housing in 1999....
, and retained the position until the Filmon government was defeated in 1999. Prior to the election of 1999, she proposed a series of workfare
Workfare
Workfare is an alternative model to conventional social welfare systems. The term was first introduced by civil rights leader James Charles Evers in 1968; however, it was popularized by Richard Nixon in a televised speech August 1969...
measures as part of a policy of welfare reform.
Mitchelson was re-elected by a comfortable margin in 1990
Manitoba general election, 1990
The Manitoba general election of September 11, 1990 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 30 out of 57 seats...
, and again in 1995
Manitoba general election, 1995
The Manitoba general election of April 25,1995 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which won 31 seats out of 57...
and 1999
Manitoba general election, 1999
The Manitoba general election of September 21, 1999 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada....
. She was chosen as interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party on May 29, 2000, and held the position until Stuart Murray
Stuart Murray
Stuart Murray is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba and leader of the opposition in the Manitoba legislature from 2000 to 2006.-Early life and career:...
was acclaimed as party leader in November. She was then named as the party's Deputy Leader. To date, she is the only woman to lead the Manitoba Progressive Conservative party, and only the third female party leader in Manitoba's history.
In the general election of 2003
Manitoba general election, 2003
The Manitoba general election held on June 3, 2003 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which won 35 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party finished second with twenty seats...
, Mitchelson defeated New Democrat
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...
Doug Longstaffe, 4,935 votes to 4,402. She is currently the only Progressive Conservative MLA to hold a seat in the north of Winnipeg.
She was a supporter of Hugh McFadyen
Hugh McFadyen
Hugh Daniel McFadyen is a lawyer and politician in Manitoba, Canada. Since 2006, he has been leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba and Leader of the Opposition in the Manitoba legislature. Following his party's loss in the 2011 election he announced that he would resign as...
’s campaign to succeed Stuart Murray as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, and was narrowly re-elected in the 2007 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 2007
The Manitoba general election held on May 22, 2007 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which won 36 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party finished second with nineteen seats. The Liberal...
.