Gordon Johnston
Encyclopedia
Gordon Ellwood Johnston (born October 15, 1920- November 7, 2005) was a politician
in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a Liberal
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1962 to 1977.
Johnston was educated in the Manitoba public school system, and worked as a grocer. He served with the Royal Canadian Air Force
from 1941 to 1945, and later served as an alderman in Portage La Prairie
.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the general election of 1962
, defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative
John Christianson
by 290 votes in Portage La Prairie. In the 1966 election
, he was re-elected over Christianson by 735 votes.
The once-dominant Liberal Party was the official legislative opposition for most of the 1960s, and its support dropped even lower in the election of 1969
. The party won only five seats, and Johnston was re-elected over Tory candidate Harvey Carmichael by only eleven votes. After the election, he offered to serve as Speaker
of the legislature to allow Edward Schreyer
's New Democratic Party
to form a minority government.
Liberal Party leader Robert Bend
was defeated in the 1969 election, and Johnston was chosen to serve as house leader until a permanent replacement could be chosen.http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/hansard/3rd-38th/vol_14/h14.html He endorsed John Nesbitt's unsuccessful bid for the party leadership in 1970, and was one of only two opposition members who voted to amalgamate the city of Winnipeg in 1971.
Johnston increased his margin of victory to 36 votes in the election of 1973
, over Tory George Fairfield
. His party's fortunes continued to decline in this period, and he did not seek re-election in 1977.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
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 was a 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 :...
member of 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 1962 to 1977.
Johnston was educated in the Manitoba public school system, and worked as a grocer. He served with the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
from 1941 to 1945, and later served as an alderman in Portage La Prairie
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
-Transportation:Portage la Prairie railway station is served by Via Rail with both The Canadian and Winnipeg – Churchill trains calling at the station....
.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the general election of 1962
Manitoba general election, 1962
Manitoba's general election of December 16, 1962 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a second majority victory for the Progressive Conservative Party under the leadership of Dufferin Roblin...
, defeating incumbent 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:...
John Christianson
John Christianson
John Aaron Christianson Born November 23, 1923 in Langruth, Manitoba, Canada-Died December 15, 2010 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as a Progressive Conservative from 1959 to 1962 and was a cabinet minister in the government of Dufferin...
by 290 votes in Portage La Prairie. In the 1966 election
Manitoba general election, 1966
The Manitoba general election held on June 23, 1966, was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a third consecutive majority win for the Progressive Conservative Party led by Dufferin Roblin...
, he was re-elected over Christianson by 735 votes.
The once-dominant Liberal Party was the official legislative opposition for most of the 1960s, and its support dropped even lower in the election of 1969
Manitoba general election, 1969
The Manitoba General Election of June 25, 1969 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was a watershed moment in the province's political history. The social-democratic New Democratic Party emerged for the first time as the largest party in...
. The party won only five seats, and Johnston was re-elected over Tory candidate Harvey Carmichael by only eleven votes. After the election, he offered to serve as Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the legislature to allow Edward Schreyer
Edward Schreyer
Edward Richard Schreyer , commonly known as Ed Schreyer, is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 22nd since Canadian Confederation....
's New Democratic Party
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...
to form a minority government.
Liberal Party leader Robert Bend
Robert Bend
Robert Bend was a Manitoba politician, and was briefly the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party .-Early life:...
was defeated in the 1969 election, and Johnston was chosen to serve as house leader until a permanent replacement could be chosen.http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/hansard/3rd-38th/vol_14/h14.html He endorsed John Nesbitt's unsuccessful bid for the party leadership in 1970, and was one of only two opposition members who voted to amalgamate the city of Winnipeg in 1971.
Johnston increased his margin of victory to 36 votes in the election of 1973
Manitoba general election, 1973
The Manitoba General Election of June 28, 1973 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the social-democratic New Democratic Party, which took 31 of 57 seats...
, over Tory George Fairfield
George Fairfield
George Clark Fairfield was a Progressive Conservative party member of the Canadian House of Commons. He was a physician and surgeon by career, after graduating from the University of Manitoba....
. His party's fortunes continued to decline in this period, and he did not seek re-election in 1977.