Gregory Selinger
Encyclopedia
Gregory F. "Greg" Selinger, (born February 16, 1951) is a Canadian politician. He has been serving as the 21st Premier of Manitoba
since October 19, 2009, leading an NDP
government. From 1999 to 2009 he was the Minister of Finance in the government of his immediate predecessor, Gary Doer
. Selinger has been the member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
for St. Boniface
since 1999.
as a child with his single-parent mother. She ran a small clothing store in Winnipeg
.
Selinger received a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Manitoba
, a Master of Public Administration
from Queen's University
, and a PhD
from the London School of Economics
.
Before entering politics, he worked as an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba, and sat on the boards of the St. Boniface Hospital
, the St. Boniface Museum, the Community Income Tax Service Boards, and as President of the Old St. Boniface Residents Association.
in the late 1980s, Selinger was elected to the Winnipeg City Council
in 1989 as a candidate of the alliance in St. Boniface, defeating incumbent Guy Savoie
. During his time as a city councillor, Selinger was a member of the Executive Policy Committee and was the Chair of the Committee on Finance and Administration.
In 1992, Selinger ran for Mayor of Winnipeg and came in second place, narrowly losing to Susan Thompson
. Some have attributed his loss to his refusal to accept corporate
and union
donations, which he based on principle. Selinger recognizes that this may have been the case, but he stands by his decision.
, defeating his closest opponent, Liberal
Jean-Paul Boily, by 5439 votes to 2994 in the Winnipeg
riding of St. Boniface.
Selinger was appointed Minister of Finance, after the 1999 election, in Gary Doer's first cabinet, and was also given responsibility for French Language Services, the administration of the Crown Corporations Review and Accountability Act and the administration of the Manitoba Hydro Act. In his ten years as Minister of Finance, Selinger balanced every budget. On January 17, 2001, he was also given responsibility for the Civil Service.
Following a cabinet shuffle on September 25, 2002, he was charged with the administration of the Liquor Control Act
, while being relieved of his duties for the Manitoba Hydro Act.
In 2003, Selinger supported Bill Blaikie
's campaign to lead the federal New Democratic Party
.
Selinger was re-elected in the provincial election of 2003
with almost 75% of the vote in his riding. On November 4, 2003, he was relieved of responsibilities for the Liquor Control Act; on October 12, 2004, he was made responsible for the Public Utilities Board
.
In January 2005, Selinger announced that his government would change its system of accounting for expenditures and revenues. This followed a request from Auditor General Jon Singleton
, who criticized the government for listing crown corporation losses and other matters as off-budget spending. Selinger is considered a strong performer in the Doer Cabinet.
He was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election
.
On June 28, 2007, Selinger regained responsibility for the administration of the Liquor Control Act and was charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act
.
. He was running against fellow cabinet ministers Steve Ashton
and Andrew Swan until Swan dropped out of the race on September 28. The leadership convention
took place on October 17, 2009. Rosann Wowchuk replaced Selinger as interim Minister of Finance. He defeated his leadership rival, Steve Ashton
, taking 1,317 votes among delegates, to Ashton's 685. Selinger was sworn in as Premier of Manitoba
by the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
on October 19, 2009, the same day that Gary Doer was sworn in as Canadian Ambassador to the United States.
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...
since October 19, 2009, leading an NDP
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...
government. From 1999 to 2009 he was the Minister of Finance in the government of his immediate predecessor, 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...
. Selinger has been the 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...
for St. Boniface
St. Boniface (provincial electoral district)
St. Boniface is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It should not be confused with the federal electoral division of the same name, which includes most of the provincial riding's territory but has expanded borders and a larger population base...
since 1999.
Early life and education
Selinger came to Manitoba from SaskatchewanSaskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
as a child with his single-parent mother. She ran a small clothing store in 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...
.
Selinger received a Bachelor of Social Work from 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...
, a Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
from Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
, and a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
Before entering politics, he worked as an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba, and sat on the boards of the St. Boniface Hospital
St. Boniface General Hospital (Winnipeg)
St. Boniface General Hospital is Manitoba's second-largest hospital, located in the St. Boniface neighbourhood of Winnipeg. It was founded by the Sisters of Charity of Montreal in 1871, and was the first hospital in Western Canada...
, the St. Boniface Museum, the Community Income Tax Service Boards, and as President of the Old St. Boniface Residents Association.
Municipal politics
After joining an alliance of progressive municipal politicians called Winnipeg into the '90sWinnipeg into the '90s
Winnipeg into the '90s was an alliance of progressive and left-leaning municipal politicians in the Canadian city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It endorsed several candidates in the city's municipal elections of 1989, 1992 and 1995, including future mayor Glen Murray and future provincial Premier Greg...
in the late 1980s, Selinger was elected to the Winnipeg City Council
Winnipeg City Council
The Winnipeg City Council is the governing body of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors.-2006-2010:Council elected in the 2006 election:-2010-2014:...
in 1989 as a candidate of the alliance in St. Boniface, defeating incumbent Guy Savoie
Guy Savoie
Guy Savoie is a former politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a city councillor in Winnipeg from 1980 to 1989.Savoie first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1973, campaigning as a Liberal in Brandon West...
. During his time as a city councillor, Selinger was a member of the Executive Policy Committee and was the Chair of the Committee on Finance and Administration.
In 1992, Selinger ran for Mayor of Winnipeg and came in second place, narrowly losing to Susan Thompson
Susan Thompson
Susan Ann Thompson was the 40th mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was the first female to serve as mayor of Winnipeg and served two terms as mayor and held this post from 1992 to 1998.Thompson graduated with a BA from the University of Winnipeg in 1971...
. Some have attributed his loss to his refusal to accept corporate
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
and union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
donations, which he based on principle. Selinger recognizes that this may have been the case, but he stands by his decision.
Minister of Finance
Selinger was easily elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1999Manitoba 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....
, defeating his closest opponent, 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 :...
Jean-Paul Boily, by 5439 votes to 2994 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 St. Boniface.
Selinger was appointed Minister of Finance, after the 1999 election, in Gary Doer's first cabinet, and was also given responsibility for French Language Services, the administration of the Crown Corporations Review and Accountability Act and the administration of the Manitoba Hydro Act. In his ten years as Minister of Finance, Selinger balanced every budget. On January 17, 2001, he was also given responsibility for the Civil Service.
Following a cabinet shuffle on September 25, 2002, he was charged with the administration of the Liquor Control Act
Minister charged with the administration of the Liquor Control Act (Manitoba)
The Minister charged with the administration of The Liquor Control Act is a government position in the province of Manitoba, Canada. It is not a full portfolio, and has always been held by ministers with other cabinet responsibilities...
, while being relieved of his duties for the Manitoba Hydro Act.
In 2003, Selinger 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 lead 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...
.
Selinger was re-elected in the provincial election of 2003
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...
with almost 75% of the vote in his riding. On November 4, 2003, he was relieved of responsibilities for the Liquor Control Act; on October 12, 2004, he was made responsible for the Public Utilities Board
Manitoba Public Utilities Board
The Manitoba Public Utilities Board is a utility board in Manitoba, Canada. Its primary responsibility is to regulate the province's natural gas rates....
.
In January 2005, Selinger announced that his government would change its system of accounting for expenditures and revenues. This followed a request from Auditor General Jon Singleton
Jon Singleton
Jon Singleton is a public servant in Manitoba, Canada. He is best known for his high-profile tenure as Auditor General of Manitoba from 1996 to 2006....
, who criticized the government for listing crown corporation losses and other matters as off-budget spending. Selinger is considered a strong performer in the Doer Cabinet.
He was re-elected 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...
.
On June 28, 2007, Selinger regained responsibility for the administration of the Liquor Control Act and was charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act
Minister responsible for the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act
The Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act is a government position in the province of Manitoba, Canada...
.
Premier
On September 8, 2009, Selinger resigned from his cabinet position and announced his candidacy for the leadership of the New Democratic Party of ManitobaNew 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...
. He was running against fellow cabinet ministers Steve Ashton
Steve Ashton
Steve Ashton is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He is a long-serving member of the Manitoba legislature, and is currently a cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party government of Greg Selinger....
and Andrew Swan until Swan dropped out of the race on September 28. The leadership convention
New Democratic Party of Manitoba leadership election, 2009
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba leadership election of 2009 was prompted by former leader Gary Doer's resignation. Doer announced on August 27, 2009 that he intended to resign as leader of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba and Premier of Manitoba and the next day he announced that he was to...
took place on October 17, 2009. Rosann Wowchuk replaced Selinger as interim Minister of Finance. He defeated his leadership rival, Steve Ashton
Steve Ashton
Steve Ashton is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He is a long-serving member of the Manitoba legislature, and is currently a cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party government of Greg Selinger....
, taking 1,317 votes among delegates, to Ashton's 685. Selinger was sworn in 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...
by the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
The Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba is the viceregal representative in Manitoba of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
on October 19, 2009, the same day that Gary Doer was sworn in as Canadian Ambassador to the United States.
Electoral record
| New Democratic Party of Manitoba leadership election, 2009 New Democratic Party of Manitoba leadership election, 2009 The New Democratic Party of Manitoba leadership election of 2009 was prompted by former leader Gary Doer's resignation. Doer announced on August 27, 2009 that he intended to resign as leader of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba and Premier of Manitoba and the next day he announced that he was to... |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
| Greg Selinger | 1,317 | 65.75% |
| Steve Ashton Steve Ashton Steve Ashton is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He is a long-serving member of the Manitoba legislature, and is currently a cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party government of Greg Selinger.... |
685 | 34.20% |
| Spoiled ballots | 1 | 0.05% |
| Total | 2,003 | 100.00% |
| 1992 Winnipeg mayoral election Winnipeg municipal election, 1992 The 1992 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 28, 1992 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Susan Thompson defeated Greg Selinger in the mayoral contest.-Councillors:... |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
| Susan Thompson Susan Thompson Susan Ann Thompson was the 40th mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was the first female to serve as mayor of Winnipeg and served two terms as mayor and held this post from 1992 to 1998.Thompson graduated with a BA from the University of Winnipeg in 1971... |
89,743 | 39.01% |
| Greg Selinger | 75,123 | 32.66% |
| Dave Brown | 31,859 | 13.85% |
| Ernie Gilroy | 26,001 | 11.30% |
| Natalie Pollock | 1,311 | 0.57% |
| Dan Zyluk | 833 | 0.36% |
| Darryl Soshycki | 727 | 0.32% |
| Walter Diawol | 553 | 0.24% |
| Menardo A. Caneda | 534 | 0.23% |
| Martin Barnes | 526 | 0.23% |
| James W. Miller (Pin The Elder) | 500 | 0.22% |
| Bryan R. Benson | 491 | 0.21% |
| Bob McGugan | 433 | 0.19% |
| Charles-Alwyn Scotlend | 421 | 0.18% |
| Ed Hay | 374 | 0.16% |
| Aurel Joseph Prefontaine | 348 | 0.15% |
| Rudolph Parker | 267 | 0.12% |
| Total | 230,044 | 100.00% |