Gary Kowalski
Encyclopedia
Gary Kowalski is a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a member of the Manitoba legislature from 1993 to 1999, sitting for most of that time as a Liberal.
Kowalski worked as a police officer
before entering public life, serving on the Winnipeg Police Department from 1974 to 1993. He received a Canada 125th Medal in 1992, and was elected as a trustee on the Seven Oaks School Division in September of the same year.
When Gulzar Cheema resigned as an MLA in 1993, Kowalski sought and won the Liberal nomination in the Winnipeg
riding of The Maples to succeed him. He won the resulting by-election
on September 21, defeating New Democrat
Norma Walker by about 1500 votes.
The Liberals were reduced to only three seats in the provincial election of 1995
, although Kowalski was able to retain The Maples by a significant margin.
The provincial Liberals went through a period of internal division in 1997. Kowalski disapproved of the leadership of Ginny Hasselfield
, and left the party to sit as an Independent Liberal on June 5, 1997. He was joined by former leadership candidate Kevin Lamoureux
shortly thereafter, leaving Neil Gaudry
as the only official Liberal MLA in the province. Kowalski initially considered joining the NDP caucus, but declined. Both Kowalski and Lamoureux were re-integrated into the party's caucus following Hasselfield's resignation in 1998.
Despite (or perhaps because of) his background as a police officer, Kowalski was a vocal supporter of gun control
during his time in the legislature.
Early in 1999, Kowalski refused to give unanimous consent for the legislature to discuss a motion addressing the farming crisis in southwestern Manitoba. He claimed he was acting on orders from Jon Gerrard
(who had replaced Hasselfield as leader), and did not appear to be comfortable with his actions. Kowalski did not seek re-election in 1999, and has not participated in public life since that time.
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 Manitoba legislature from 1993 to 1999, sitting for most of that time as a Liberal.
Kowalski worked as a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
before entering public life, serving on the Winnipeg Police Department from 1974 to 1993. He received a Canada 125th Medal in 1992, and was elected as a trustee on the Seven Oaks School Division in September of the same year.
When Gulzar Cheema resigned as an MLA in 1993, Kowalski sought and won the Liberal nomination in the Winnipeg
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...
riding of The Maples to succeed him. He won the resulting by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
on September 21, defeating 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...
Norma Walker by about 1500 votes.
The Liberals were reduced to only three seats 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...
, although Kowalski was able to retain The Maples by a significant margin.
The provincial Liberals went through a period of internal division in 1997. Kowalski disapproved of the leadership of Ginny Hasselfield
Ginny Hasselfield
Ginny Hasselfield is a Canadian politician, and was the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party between 1996 and 1998. A former Manitoba teacher and principal, she was also president and co-founder of Cross Cultural Communications International Inc. a company that provided diversity training and...
, and left the party to sit as an Independent Liberal on June 5, 1997. He was joined by former leadership candidate Kevin Lamoureux
Kevin Lamoureux
Kevin Lamoureux, MP is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. On November 29, 2010, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the constituency of Winnipeg North in a by-election. He was re-elected during the 2011 election by 44 votes...
shortly thereafter, leaving Neil Gaudry
Neil Gaudry
Neil Gaudry was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1988 until his death, sitting as a Liberal....
as the only official Liberal MLA in the province. Kowalski initially considered joining the NDP caucus, but declined. Both Kowalski and Lamoureux were re-integrated into the party's caucus following Hasselfield's resignation in 1998.
Despite (or perhaps because of) his background as a police officer, Kowalski was a vocal supporter of gun control
Gun control
Gun control is any law, policy, practice, or proposal designed to restrict or limit the possession, production, importation, shipment, sale, and/or use of guns or other firearms by private citizens...
during his time in the legislature.
Early in 1999, Kowalski refused to give unanimous consent for the legislature to discuss a motion addressing the farming crisis in southwestern Manitoba. He claimed he was acting on orders from Jon Gerrard
Jon Gerrard
Jon Gerrard, PC, MLA is a politician and medical doctor in Manitoba, Canada. He was a Member of Parliament from 1993 to 1997, and was a secretary of state in the government of Jean Chrétien...
(who had replaced Hasselfield as leader), and did not appear to be comfortable with his actions. Kowalski did not seek re-election in 1999, and has not participated in public life since that time.