Ken Dillen
Encyclopedia
Kenneth George Dillen is a Canadian politician
and political activist. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1973 to 1977, serving as a member of the social democratic New Democratic Party
. His political views later shifted to the right, and he is currently seeking re-election to the Manitoba legislature as a candidate of the Manitoba Liberal Party
.
in Cutler, Ontario
, and was educated in Ontario schools and at the Canadian Army Apprentice Training School in Camp Borden. He trained as an ironworker and became president of one of the largest industrial unions in Manitoba after moving to that province. He was also a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation
in the 1970s.
, narrowly defeating Progressive Conservative
candidate Anna Derby in the northern riding of Thompson. He was the province's first Member of the Legislative Assembly
of indigenous background in several years.
The New Democratic Party won a majority government
in this election under Edward Schreyer
's leadership. Dillen entered the legislature as a government backbencher, serving as Schreyer's legislative assistant. He lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Ken MacMaster
by 916 votes in the 1977 provincial election
.
Dillen later moved to Saskatchewan and held several positions, including field staff coordinator for the Key Lake Board of Inquiry, overseeing uranium
mining operations. He was also a member of the Interprovincial Association on Native Employment, the Interprovincial Inland Fisherman's Association and the Canadian Taxpayers Federation
.
Notwithstanding his background in the labour movement and New Democratic Party, Dillen is now a supporter of the "right-to-work" movement and an opponent of closed shop
unionization. In late 2004, he referred to the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party as communistic
for its efforts to unionize part-time workers. He has also dismissed the right-wing Saskatchewan Party
as "nothing more than disaffected socialists" and has referenced Milton Friedman
's Capitalism and Freedom
as representative of his own beliefs. Dillen also opposes gun control, the Canadian Wheat Board
and the Kyoto Accord, and has spoken out against efforts by the Ontario
government to ban pit bull
s.
In the late 2000s, he was secretary of the Prairie Centre Policy Institute. He has returned to Manitoba after spending a number of years in Saskatchewan, and is seeking re-election as a Liberal for the Thompson electoral division.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and political activist. 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 1973 to 1977, serving as a member of the social democratic 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...
. His political views later shifted to the right, and he is currently seeking re-election to the Manitoba legislature as a candidate of the Manitoba 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 :...
.
Early life and career
Dillen was born at the Serpent River Indian ReserveSerpent River First Nation
The Serpent River First Nation, a signatory to the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850, is an Anishinaabe First Nation in the Canadian province of Ontario, located midway between Sault Ste...
in Cutler, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, and was educated in Ontario schools and at the Canadian Army Apprentice Training School in Camp Borden. He trained as an ironworker and became president of one of the largest industrial unions in Manitoba after moving to that province. He was also a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation
Manitoba Métis Federation
The Manitoba Métis Federation is an aboriginal organization in Manitoba, Canada. Its current president is David Chartrand. MMF is an affiliate of the Métis National Council.-History:...
in the 1970s.
Legislator
He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1973 provincial electionManitoba 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...
, narrowly defeating Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
candidate Anna Derby in the northern riding of Thompson. He was the province's first Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
of indigenous background in several years.
The New Democratic Party won a majority government
Majority government
A majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
in this election under 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 leadership. Dillen entered the legislature as a government backbencher, serving as Schreyer's legislative assistant. He lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Ken MacMaster
Ken MacMaster
Kenneth MacMaster is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1977 to 1981, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Sterling Lyon....
by 916 votes in the 1977 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1977
The Manitoba general election of October 11, 1977 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 33 seats out of 57...
.
Dillen later moved to Saskatchewan and held several positions, including field staff coordinator for the Key Lake Board of Inquiry, overseeing uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
mining operations. He was also a member of the Interprovincial Association on Native Employment, the Interprovincial Inland Fisherman's Association and the Canadian Taxpayers Federation
Canadian Taxpayers Federation
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is a Canadian federally incorporated, non-profit organization and taxpayers union that claims to have over 70,000 supporters across Canada. The organization advocates lower taxes, and a reduction of what it considers to be waste in government...
.
Notwithstanding his background in the labour movement and New Democratic Party, Dillen is now a supporter of the "right-to-work" movement and an opponent of closed shop
Closed shop
A closed shop is a form of union security agreement under which the employer agrees to hire union members only, and employees must remain members of the union at all times in order to remain employed....
unionization. In late 2004, he referred to the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party as communistic
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
for its efforts to unionize part-time workers. He has also dismissed the right-wing Saskatchewan Party
Saskatchewan Party
The Saskatchewan Party is a conservative liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The party was established in 1997 by a coalition of former provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal party members and supporters who sought to remove the Saskatchewan New Democratic...
as "nothing more than disaffected socialists" and has referenced Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman was an American economist, statistician, academic, and author who taught at the University of Chicago for more than three decades...
's Capitalism and Freedom
Capitalism and Freedom
Capitalism and Freedom is a book by Milton Friedman originally published in 1962 by the University of Chicago Press which discusses the role of economic capitalism in liberal society. It sold over 400,000 copies in the first 18 years and more than half a million since 1962. It has been translated...
as representative of his own beliefs. Dillen also opposes gun control, the Canadian Wheat Board
Canadian Wheat Board
The Canadian Wheat Board was established by the Parliament of Canada on 5 July 1935 as a mandatory producer marketing system for wheat and barley in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and a small part of British Columbia...
and the Kyoto Accord, and has spoken out against efforts by the Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
government to ban pit bull
Pit bull
A Pit bull is any of several breeds of dog in the molosser breed group.Many jurisdictions that restrict pit bulls, including Ontario, Canada,, Miami, Florida, U.S...
s.
In the late 2000s, he was secretary of the Prairie Centre Policy Institute. He has returned to Manitoba after spending a number of years in Saskatchewan, and is seeking re-election as a Liberal for the Thompson electoral division.