Jim Carr
Encyclopedia
James Gordon Carr is a businessman and former politician
in Winnipeg, Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a member of the province's legislative assembly from 1988 to 1991, representing the Liberal Party
.
Carr was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was educated at the University of Manitoba
and McGill University
. He worked as a journalist, musician and administrator, serving as both an oboist
and trustee with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
on different occasions. Before entering public life, he was also executive director of the Manitoba Arts Council.
On June 3, 1969, Carr and four other Young Liberals joined the New Democratic Party of Manitoba
so as to support Sidney Green's unsuccessful bid to lead the party. He later returned to the Liberals. During the early 1980s, he worked as a reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press
.
Carr first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1986
, losing to Progressive Conservative
leader Gary Filmon
in the upscale west Winnipeg riding of Tuxedo. He ran again in the provincial election of 1988
during a period of increased support for the provincial Liberals, and scored a surprisingly strong victory in the riding of Fort Rouge, defeating NDP cabinet minister
Roland Penner
by over 2000 votes. The Progressive Conservatives formed a minority government after this election, and Carr became Deputy Leader of the official opposition party.
Following redistribution, Carr sought re-election in the 1990 provincial election
in the riding of Crescentwood, where he defeated Progressive Conservative Tom DeNardi by 1310 votes. The Liberals fell from twenty seats to seven in this election, and Carr resigned his seat in February 1992. He has not sought a return to political life since this time.
From 1992 to 1997, Carr was on the editorial board of the Winnipeg Free Press. In 1998, he became president and CEO of the Business Council of Manitoba, an organization which he co-founded. Carr is also a board member on the Canada West Foundation, and the Winnipeg Airports Authority, and well as vice-president of the Performing Arts Consortium of Winnipeg, and a director of the Manitoba Arts Stabilization Fund. Carr, who is Jewish, has also been very active in the Canadian Jewish Congress
and in support of Zionist causes.
In July, 2011, Carr was awarded the Order of Manitoba.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Winnipeg, 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 member of the province's legislative assembly from 1988 to 1991, representing the Liberal Party
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 :...
.
Carr was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was educated at 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...
and McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. He worked as a journalist, musician and administrator, serving as both an oboist
Oboist
An oboist is a musician who plays the oboe or any oboe family instrument, including the cor anglais, oboe d'amore, shawm and oboe musette....
and trustee with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its primary concert venue is the Centennial Concert Hall, and the orchestra also performs throughout the province of Manitoba.-History:...
on different occasions. Before entering public life, he was also executive director of the Manitoba Arts Council.
On June 3, 1969, Carr and four other Young Liberals joined the New Democratic Party of Manitoba
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...
so as to support Sidney Green's unsuccessful bid to lead the party. He later returned to the Liberals. During the early 1980s, he worked as a reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
.
Carr first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1986
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...
, losing to 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:...
leader 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:...
in the upscale west Winnipeg riding of Tuxedo. He ran again in the provincial election of 1988
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...
during a period of increased support for the provincial Liberals, and scored a surprisingly strong victory in the riding of Fort Rouge, defeating NDP 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....
Roland Penner
Roland Penner
Roland Penner was Dean of Law at the University of Manitoba and a is a former politician and Manitoba Cabinet minister.Penner was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the son of Winnipeg alderman Jacob Penner...
by over 2000 votes. The Progressive Conservatives formed a minority government after this election, and Carr became Deputy Leader of the official opposition party.
Following redistribution, Carr sought re-election 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...
in the riding of Crescentwood, where he defeated Progressive Conservative Tom DeNardi by 1310 votes. The Liberals fell from twenty seats to seven in this election, and Carr resigned his seat in February 1992. He has not sought a return to political life since this time.
From 1992 to 1997, Carr was on the editorial board of the Winnipeg Free Press. In 1998, he became president and CEO of the Business Council of Manitoba, an organization which he co-founded. Carr is also a board member on the Canada West Foundation, and the Winnipeg Airports Authority, and well as vice-president of the Performing Arts Consortium of Winnipeg, and a director of the Manitoba Arts Stabilization Fund. Carr, who is Jewish, has also been very active in the Canadian Jewish Congress
Canadian Jewish Congress
The Canadian Jewish Congress was one of the main lobby groups for the Jewish community in the country, although it often competed with the more conservative B'nai Brith Canada in that regard. At its dissolution, the president of the CJC was Mark Freiman. Its past co-presidents were Sylvain Abitbol...
and in support of Zionist causes.
In July, 2011, Carr was awarded the Order of Manitoba.