Harold Neufeld
Encyclopedia
Harold Neufeld is a politician
in Manitoba, Canada
. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1988 to 1993, and a cabinet minister
in the government of Gary Filmon
from 1988 to 1992.
Neufeld began a public practice as a Chartered Accountant
in 1954, and was a member of the Chartered Accountants of Manitoba.
He first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the 1986 provincial election
as a Progressive Conservative
, losing to incumbent New Democrat
Vic Schroeder
by 527 votes in the north-end Winnipeg riding of Rossmere. In the 1988 election
, with NDP support falling throughout the province, he was able to defeat Schroeder by 526 votes in a rematch.
Neufeld was appointed Minister of Energy and Mines with responsibility for the Manitoba Hydro Act and Seniors on May 9, 1988. He was relieved of the latter responsibility on April 21, 1989. He was re-elected by an increased margin in the 1990 provincial election
.
Neufeld stepped down from his cabinet position on January 14, 1992, and resigned from the legislature on May 12, 1993. There are suggestions that Neufeld resigned as a matter of principle, disturbed by the dubious methods used by the Filmon government to conceal its deficit spending.
A lifelong Mennonite
, Neufeld joined the executive of Menno Simons College
and became chair of the Menno Simons College Foundation after his retirement from the legislature.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Manitoba, 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 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 1988 to 1993, and a cabinet minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
in the government of Gary Filmon
Gary Filmon
Gary Albert Filmon, PC, OC, OM is a Manitoba politician. He was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1983 to 2000, and served as the 19th Premier from 1988 to 1999.-Early life and municipal career:...
from 1988 to 1992.
Neufeld began a public practice as a Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
in 1954, and was a member of the Chartered Accountants of Manitoba.
He first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the 1986 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1986
The Manitoba general election of March 18, 1986 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which took 30 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party won 26 seats and formed the official opposition...
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:...
, losing to incumbent 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...
Vic Schroeder
Vic Schroeder
Victor Harold Schroeder is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1979 to 1988, and a senior cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party government of Howard Pawley from 1981 to 1988.-Education:Schroeder was educated at Mennonite College in...
by 527 votes in the north-end Winnipeg riding of Rossmere. In the 1988 election
Manitoba general election, 1988
The Manitoba general election of April 26, 1988 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a minority government...
, with NDP support falling throughout the province, he was able to defeat Schroeder by 526 votes in a rematch.
Neufeld was appointed Minister of Energy and Mines with responsibility for the Manitoba Hydro Act and Seniors on May 9, 1988. He was relieved of the latter responsibility on April 21, 1989. He was re-elected by an increased margin in the 1990 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1990
The Manitoba general election of September 11, 1990 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which took 30 out of 57 seats...
.
Neufeld stepped down from his cabinet position on January 14, 1992, and resigned from the legislature on May 12, 1993. There are suggestions that Neufeld resigned as a matter of principle, disturbed by the dubious methods used by the Filmon government to conceal its deficit spending.
A lifelong Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
, Neufeld joined the executive of Menno Simons College
Menno Simons College
Menno Simons College is a Mennonite college in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is one of the three founding colleges of Canadian Mennonite University and is affiliated with the University of Winnipeg. MSC is located on the downtown campus of the University of Winnipeg.-History: The college is named...
and became chair of the Menno Simons College Foundation after his retirement from the legislature.