George Renouf
Encyclopedia
George Poddester Renouf (November 12, 1878 at Jersey
, in the Channel Islands
– 1961) was a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1932 to 1958, initially as a Conservative and later as a Progressive Conservative
, once the party changed its name.
Renouf was educated at a private school in Jersey, and came to Canada in 1896. Ten years later, he married the daughter of Cpt. Thomas Leelleur, also from Jersey. He worked as a farmer, and was reeve of the Minitonas
municipality for eleven years.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1932 provincial election
, defeating independent candidate S. Einarson by 419 votes in the Swan River
constituency. He was re-elected in the 1936 election
, defeating Liberal-Progressive
D. Baldwin by only twelve votes.
The Conservative Party, which was Manitoba's official opposition in the 1930s, joined the Liberal-Progressives in a coalition government in 1940. Renouf became a government backbencher, and was easily returned in the 1941 election
. In the 1945 election
, he defeated CCF candidate Robert Niven by over one thousand votes.
Renouf appears to have left the Progressive Conservative caucus and the government coalition in 1948, after Douglas Campbell
was chosen as Premier of Manitoba
. In the 1949 provincial election
, he ran as a Conservative opposing the coalition. Easily re-elected, he served as opposition house leader for the start of the parliament which followed.
The Progressive Conservatives left the coalition government in 1950. Renouf rejoined the party caucus, and was re-elected one final time in 1953
. He did not seek re-election in 1958, in which the Progressive Conservatives won a minority government
under Dufferin Roblin
. Renouf seems to have tacitly endorsed Roblin's bid to become party leader in 1954.
He retired to Victoria, British Columbia
in 1959, and died two years later.
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
, in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
– 1961) was a politician in 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 served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
from 1932 to 1958, initially as a Conservative and later as 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:...
, once the party changed its name.
Renouf was educated at a private school in Jersey, and came to Canada in 1896. Ten years later, he married the daughter of Cpt. Thomas Leelleur, also from Jersey. He worked as a farmer, and was reeve of the Minitonas
Minitonas, Manitoba
Minitonas is a community in Manitoba. It is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Minitonas and the Swan Valley. It is 15 km east of Swan River. The town is close to the Duck Mountain Provincial Park. According to the 2001 census, the town had a population of 538, with an additional 1,152...
municipality for eleven years.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1932 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1932
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1932 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This was the second election in Manitoba where the single transferable ballot was used in all electoral divisions...
, defeating independent candidate S. Einarson by 419 votes in the Swan River
Swan River, Manitoba
-Economy:The economic base of the town lies in agriculture and forestry along with support industries for same.Almost fifty percent of the surrounding area is under cultivation, most of which is seeded to cereal grain, oilseeds, and other specialty crops. Wheat, rye, barley, oats, flax, and canola...
constituency. He was re-elected in the 1936 election
Manitoba general election, 1936
Manitoba's general election of July 27, 1936 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The was the second election in Manitoba after the formation of a Liberal-Progressive alliance in 1932...
, defeating Liberal-Progressive
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 :...
D. Baldwin by only twelve votes.
The Conservative Party, which was Manitoba's official opposition in the 1930s, joined the Liberal-Progressives in a coalition government in 1940. Renouf became a government backbencher, and was easily returned in the 1941 election
Manitoba general election, 1941
Manitoba's general election of April 22, 1941 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held shortly after the formation of a coalition government in December 1940...
. In the 1945 election
Manitoba general election, 1945
Manitoba's general election of October 15, 1945 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The 1945 provincial election was extremely different from the previous election, which was held in 1941...
, he defeated CCF candidate Robert Niven by over one thousand votes.
Renouf appears to have left the Progressive Conservative caucus and the government coalition in 1948, after Douglas Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell, OC was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as the 13th Premier of Manitoba from 1948 to 1958...
was chosen as Premier of Manitoba
Premier of Manitoba
The Premier of Manitoba is the first minister for the Canadian province of Manitoba. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. Until the early 1970s, the title "Prime Minister of Manitoba" was used frequently. Afterwards, the word Premier, derived from the French...
. In the 1949 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1949
Manitoba's general election of November 10, 1949 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election pitted the province's coalition government, made up of the Liberal-Progressive Party and the Progressive Conservative Party, against a variety of...
, he ran as a Conservative opposing the coalition. Easily re-elected, he served as opposition house leader for the start of the parliament which followed.
The Progressive Conservatives left the coalition government in 1950. Renouf rejoined the party caucus, and was re-elected one final time in 1953
Manitoba general election, 1953
Manitoba's general election of June 8, 1953 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. This was the first election held in Manitoba after the breakup of a ten-year coalition government led by the Liberal-Progressives and Progressive Conservatives...
. He did not seek re-election in 1958, in which the Progressive Conservatives 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...
under Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin "Duff" Roblin, PC, CC, OM was a Canadian businessman and politician. Known as "Duff," he served as the 14th Premier of Manitoba from 1958 to 1967. Roblin was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In the government of Brian Mulroney, he served as...
. Renouf seems to have tacitly endorsed Roblin's bid to become party leader in 1954.
He retired to Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
in 1959, and died two years later.