Clayton Manness
Encyclopedia
Clayton Manness is a Manitoba
politician. In 1983, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
.
Manness was born in Winnipeg, and was educated at the University of Manitoba
. He worked as a farmer before entering public life. Manness served as President of the provincial Progressive Conservative Association in the early 1970s, and supported Sterling Lyon
over Sidney Spivak
in the divisive leadership challenge of 1975.
Manness was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in 1981, easily defeating his New Democratic
opponent in the rural riding of Morris. Two years later, he ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party against Gary Filmon
and Brian Ransom
.
Manness was regarded as the most right-wing of the three candidates. After he was eliminated on the first ballot, however, his supporters divided almost evenly between the more conservative Ransom and the more progressive Filmon. Subsequently, Ransom's supporters would allege that Filmon's team had encouraged Manness to run as a means of splitting the right-wing vote.
Manness was re-elected without difficulty in 1986, 1988 and 1990. When Filmon's Tories formed government in 1988, he was appointed Minister of Finance and Government House Leader
. Following a 1993 cabinet shuffle, he became Minister of Education and Training. In this capacity, he presided over a re-evaluation of funding methods for the public system which resulted in government cutbacks.
Manness did not run for re-election in 1995. He later became co-President of the Canadian Alliance
, and attempted to keep the party united during the controversies over Stockwell Day
's leadership in 2002. In 2004, he campaigned for the Conservative Party of Canada
.
Manness has also formed an organization called "Prairie Pulp and Paper Co." with actor Woody Harrelson
, promoting the development of an environmentally friendly, non-wood-based pulp program in the province.
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...
politician. In 1983, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
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:...
.
Manness was born in Winnipeg, and was educated at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
. He worked as a farmer before entering public life. Manness served as President of the provincial Progressive Conservative Association in the early 1970s, and supported 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...
over Sidney Spivak
Sidney Spivak
Sidney Spivak was a Manitoba politician. He was a Cabinet Minister in the governments of Dufferin Roblin, Walter Weir and Sterling Lyon, and was himself leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1971 to 1975.Spivak was born to a Jewish family in Winnipeg, and was educated at...
in the divisive leadership challenge of 1975.
Manness was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in 1981, easily defeating his 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...
opponent in the rural riding of Morris. Two years later, he ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party against 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:...
and Brian Ransom
Brian Ransom
Brian Ransom was a Manitoba politician. In 1983, he unsuccessfully ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba....
.
Manness was regarded as the most right-wing of the three candidates. After he was eliminated on the first ballot, however, his supporters divided almost evenly between the more conservative Ransom and the more progressive Filmon. Subsequently, Ransom's supporters would allege that Filmon's team had encouraged Manness to run as a means of splitting the right-wing vote.
Manness was re-elected without difficulty in 1986, 1988 and 1990. When Filmon's Tories formed government in 1988, he was appointed Minister of Finance and Government House Leader
House Leader
In Canada, each political party with representation in the House of Commons has a House Leader who is a front bench Member of Parliament and an expert in parliamentary procedure...
. Following a 1993 cabinet shuffle, he became Minister of Education and Training. In this capacity, he presided over a re-evaluation of funding methods for the public system which resulted in government cutbacks.
Manness did not run for re-election in 1995. He later became co-President of the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
, and attempted to keep the party united during the controversies over Stockwell Day
Stockwell Day
Stockwell Burt Day, Jr., PC, MP is a former Canadian politician, and a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. He is a former cabinet minister in Alberta, and a former leader of the Canadian Alliance. Day was MP for the riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla in British Columbia and the president of...
's leadership in 2002. In 2004, he campaigned for the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
.
Manness has also formed an organization called "Prairie Pulp and Paper Co." with actor Woody Harrelson
Woody Harrelson
Woodrow Tracy "Woody" Harrelson is an American actor.Harrelson's breakthrough role came in the television sitcom Cheers as bartender Woody Boyd...
, promoting the development of an environmentally friendly, non-wood-based pulp program in the province.