Diane McGifford
Encyclopedia
Diane McGifford is a Manitoba
politician, and a current member of Premier
Greg Selinger's cabinet.
McGifford was born in Manchester
, England
, and moved to Manitoba at a young age. She was educated at the University of Manitoba
, receiving a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1970, a Master of Arts
degree in 1974, and a Ph.D.
in English in 1979. She subsequently worked as a professor at the University of Saskatchewan
, the University of Manitoba
and the University of Winnipeg
, and has served as a director of the Fort Garry Women's Resource Centre and Kali-Shiva AIDS Services. McGifford has edited Shafti's Words: An Anthology of South Asian Canadian Women's Poetry and The Geography of Voice: Canadian Literature of the South Asian Diaspora.
McGifford was elected to the Manitoba assembly in the provincial election of 1995
, defeating incumbent Liberal
Norma McCormick
by almost one thousand votes in the central Winnipeg riding of Osborne. She was easily re-elected in the 1999 election
in the redistributed riding of Lord Roberts.
The New Democratic Party won the election of 1999, and McGifford was appointed to Premier
Gary Doer
's first cabinet as Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism on October 5, 1999.
On January 17, 2001, she was transferred to the Ministry of Advanced Education and Training. On her initial appointment to cabinet, she was also given responsibility for the Status of Women
and Seniors, and the administration of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act. She was relieved of the last responsibility on September 25, 2002, and of the first two on November 4, 2003.
In 2003, McGifford supported Bill Blaikie
's campaign to become leader of the federal New Democratic Party
.
McGifford was easily re-elected in the 2003 provincial election
, and again in the 2007 provincial election
. She was replaced as Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy
by Southdale MLA Erin Selby
, in a brief ceremony in March 2011.
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, and a current member of Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
Greg Selinger's cabinet.
McGifford was born in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and moved to Manitoba at a young age. She 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...
, receiving a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1970, a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in 1974, and a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in English in 1979. She subsequently worked as a professor at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
, 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...
and the University of Winnipeg
University of Winnipeg
The University of Winnipeg is a public university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that offers undergraduate faculties of art, business and economics, education, science and theology as well as graduate programs. The U of W's founding colleges were Manitoba College and Wesley College, which merged...
, and has served as a director of the Fort Garry Women's Resource Centre and Kali-Shiva AIDS Services. McGifford has edited Shafti's Words: An Anthology of South Asian Canadian Women's Poetry and The Geography of Voice: Canadian Literature of the South Asian Diaspora.
McGifford was elected to the Manitoba assembly in the provincial election of 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...
, defeating incumbent 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 :...
Norma McCormick
Norma McCormick
Norma McCormick is a Canadian politician. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1993 to 1995, and a member of the Liberal Party of Manitoba....
by almost one thousand votes in the central Winnipeg riding of Osborne. She was easily re-elected in the 1999 election
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....
in the redistributed riding of Lord Roberts.
The New Democratic Party won the election of 1999, and McGifford was appointed to Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
Gary Doer
Gary Doer
Gary Albert Doer, OM is a Canadian diplomat and politician from Manitoba, Canada. Since October 19, 2009, he has served as Canada's Ambassador to the United States...
's first cabinet as Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism on October 5, 1999.
On January 17, 2001, she was transferred to the Ministry of Advanced Education and Training. On her initial appointment to cabinet, she was also given responsibility for the Status of Women
Minister responsible for the Status of Women (Manitoba)
Since 1982, the Executive Council of Manitoba has included a minister responsible for the Status of Women. The position is not a full cabinet portfolio, and has always been held by a minister with other cabinet responsibilities....
and Seniors, and the administration of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act. She was relieved of the last responsibility on September 25, 2002, and of the first two on November 4, 2003.
In 2003, McGifford supported Bill Blaikie
Bill Blaikie
William Alexander "Bill" Blaikie, PC is a Canadian politician. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba since April 2009, representing the Winnipeg division of Elmwood as a member of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba, and Minister of Conservation and Government House Leader...
's campaign to become leader of the federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
.
McGifford was easily re-elected in the 2003 provincial election
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...
, and again 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...
. She was replaced as Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy
Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy (Manitoba)
The Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy is a cabinet minister in the province of Manitoba, Canada. The department's primary responsibility is oversight of Manitoba's post-secondary institutions....
by Southdale MLA Erin Selby
Erin Selby
Erin Selby is a politician and former TV personality in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.Selby earned a bachelor's degree in communications studies from Concordia University....
, in a brief ceremony in March 2011.