Linda McIntosh
Encyclopedia
Linda Laughlin McIntosh (born December 14, 1943) is a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1990 to 1999, and a cabinet minister for most of this period.
, Quebec
, the child of a career military officer (RCAF), and was educated in Canada
and Europe
, attending eleven different schools during the course of her elementary and high school education. In 1960 she graduated from Royal George High School in Greenfield Park
and moved to Manitoba
(the province in which her parents were raised and to which they eventually retired) and began studies at St. John's College, University of Manitoba
. McIntosh graduated with honours from the Manitoba Teachers' College, Tuxedo Campus, in 1963.
and freelance commercial artist for several years, and was also a political commentator at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
in 1985-86. McIntosh was elected as a school trustee in the Winnipeg region of St. James-Assiniboia in 1980, and served until 1989, becoming its first female chair in 1984. She was elected to serve as president of the Manitoba Association of School Trustees
in the mid-eighties. In June 1988, she was hired as special assistant to Progressive Conservative
leader Gary Filmon
, who had become Manitoba's Premier
the previous month.
, defeating incumbent Liberal Ed Mandrake
by 1324 votes in the western Winnipeg riding of Assiniboia.
On February 5, 1991, she was named Minister of Cooperative, Consumer and Corporate Affairs, with responsibility for the Liquor Control Act. In those roles she had the Residential Tenancy Act re-written and established a Residential Tenancy Court which enabled landlords and tenants with disputes to have their issues resolved quickly and inexpensively without lengthy civil court battles.
McIntosh was appointed to the Provincial Treasury Board on January 14, 1992.
On September 10, 1993, she was transferred to the Ministry of Urban Affairs and Housing. In this portfolio she worked closely with then Winnipeg Mayor Susan Thompson
on a wide variety of inter-provincial issues such as the Shoal Lake aqueduct agreement and the Municipal/Provincial/Federal Infrastructure Agreements.
Her work in the Housing Department earned her public recognition from public housing tenants. McIntosh was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 1995
, defeating Liberal Allen Green by 1130 votes. On May 9, 1995, she was appointed Minister of Education and Training. In this capacity, she was responsible for developing measurable standards for literacy and numeracy at three year intervals at grades 3, 6, 9, and 12. Mainly diagnostic in nature, these standards tests also counted for a portion of students' final marks at the upper levels of learning.
McIntosh felt that her most significant work was the undertaking of a two-year long Special Needs Study, culminating in recommendations, widely praised, which recommended how to best meet the challenges and opportunities of inclusivism; and how to create the most enabling learning experience for all students, in regular and special needs categories.
As the minister responsible for all post-secondary education, she created the Council on Post-Secondary Education to be responsible for co-ordinating efforts amongst Manitoba's Universities and Colleges, to better avoid duplication and overlap, and to ensure seamless movement from one level of learning to another throughout the province.
It was under McIntosh's tenure that the Canadian Mennonite University
was established, and that a Task Force was established and completed recommendations on what needed to be done to arrange better opportunities for Apprenticeship and Trades training.
She increased the student representation on the Universities' Boards of Governors and approved the University of Manitoba
's Student Union's Pathways to Excellence brief to the provincial government. Under her Tenure the Red River Community College expanded and was granted new nomenclature, becoming Red River College
. She also imposed a number of surcharges for certain university categories in 1995–1996, which were regarded by some as particularly severe on foreign students, since foreign students would no longer be given a preferential tuition rate and would have to pay the same fees as Canadian students.
McIntosh was no stranger to controversy. Amongst many items which became the topic of public debate during her tenure as Education Minister was the whole question of patriotic exercises in schools. In 1998, school principals brought to her attention that the portion of the Manitoba Schools Act concerning patriotic exercises was not being followed in many schools. McIntosh won the support of the Monarchists across the province, and the ire of Canadian republicans, when she sent out a memo to School Divisions reminding them that the Act was to be followed.
It became a provincial controversy, with many complaining that semestered school timetables made such exercises difficult to successfully accomplish since not all students would be present for them. In one memorable moment during this controversy, the entire opposition NDP caucus stood and with great gusto sang all the verses of God Save the Queen
in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
MLA Doug Martindale
(NDP, Burrows) said afterwards that the performance was a "serenade" for Minister McIntosh. The Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, who was present in the House during this escapade, wisely stood silently at attention during the "serenade" and afterwards made no comment.
In the final cabinet shuffle of Filmon's government on February 5, 1999, McIntosh was named Minister of Environment with responsibility for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act.
McIntosh was very narrowly defeated by New Democrat
Jim Rondeau
in the 1999 provincial election
. McIntosh actually led Rondeau on election night, but fell three votes behind when the institutional and absentee ballots were counted.
McIntosh did not seek a return to office in 2003. McIntosh was associated with the Canadian Alliance
prior to its merger with the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
in 2003. During the federal election of 2004 McIntosh campaigned for successful Conservative candidates Steven Fletcher
and Joy Smith
.
McIntosh's nephew Hugh McFadyen
is the current PC Party leader.
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...
. She 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 1990 to 1999, and a cabinet minister for most of this period.
Early life
McIntosh (née Laughlin) was born in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, the child of a career military officer (RCAF), and was educated in 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...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, attending eleven different schools during the course of her elementary and high school education. In 1960 she graduated from Royal George High School in Greenfield Park
Greenfield Park, Quebec
Greenfield Park is a borough of the city of Longueuil, Quebec, Canada. It covers an area of , with a population of 17,491 as of December 2004. Greenfield Park is the only borough of Longueuil that has an officially bilingual status. It is primarily a post-war suburban area. Like the other two...
and moved to 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...
(the province in which her parents were raised and to which they eventually retired) and began studies at St. John's College, University of Manitoba
St. John's College, University of Manitoba
St John's College is a small Anglican college located on the University of Manitoba campus in Winnipeg, Canada. It is home to the Institute for Anglican Ministry, a ministry of the Diocese of Rupert's Land that seeks to train Anglican lay people.-History:...
. McIntosh graduated with honours from the Manitoba Teachers' College, Tuxedo Campus, in 1963.
Teacher
She worked as a teacherTeacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and freelance commercial artist for several years, and was also a political commentator at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
in 1985-86. McIntosh was elected as a school trustee in the Winnipeg region of St. James-Assiniboia in 1980, and served until 1989, becoming its first female chair in 1984. She was elected to serve as president of the Manitoba Association of School Trustees
Manitoba Association of School Trustees
The Manitoba School Boards Association is a voluntary organization of public school boards in Manitoba, Canada. Its stated purpose is to "enhance the work of locally elected school boards through leadership, advocacy and service, and to champion the cause of public education for all students in...
in the mid-eighties. In June 1988, she was hired as special assistant 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:...
, who had become Manitoba's Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
the previous month.
Legislature
McIntosh was herself elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1990Manitoba 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...
, defeating incumbent Liberal Ed Mandrake
Ed Mandrake
Edward Charles Mandrake is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1988 to 1990, representing the west-end Winnipeg riding of Assiniboia for the Manitoba Liberal Party.Mandrake was educated at the Red River Community College, receiving a...
by 1324 votes in the western Winnipeg riding of Assiniboia.
On February 5, 1991, she was named Minister of Cooperative, Consumer and Corporate Affairs, with responsibility for the Liquor Control Act. In those roles she had the Residential Tenancy Act re-written and established a Residential Tenancy Court which enabled landlords and tenants with disputes to have their issues resolved quickly and inexpensively without lengthy civil court battles.
McIntosh was appointed to the Provincial Treasury Board on January 14, 1992.
On September 10, 1993, she was transferred to the Ministry of Urban Affairs and Housing. In this portfolio she worked closely with then Winnipeg Mayor 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...
on a wide variety of inter-provincial issues such as the Shoal Lake aqueduct agreement and the Municipal/Provincial/Federal Infrastructure Agreements.
Her work in the Housing Department earned her public recognition from public housing tenants. McIntosh was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 1995
Manitoba general election, 1995
The Manitoba general election of April 25,1995 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which won 31 seats out of 57...
, defeating Liberal Allen Green by 1130 votes. On May 9, 1995, she was appointed Minister of Education and Training. In this capacity, she was responsible for developing measurable standards for literacy and numeracy at three year intervals at grades 3, 6, 9, and 12. Mainly diagnostic in nature, these standards tests also counted for a portion of students' final marks at the upper levels of learning.
McIntosh felt that her most significant work was the undertaking of a two-year long Special Needs Study, culminating in recommendations, widely praised, which recommended how to best meet the challenges and opportunities of inclusivism; and how to create the most enabling learning experience for all students, in regular and special needs categories.
As the minister responsible for all post-secondary education, she created the Council on Post-Secondary Education to be responsible for co-ordinating efforts amongst Manitoba's Universities and Colleges, to better avoid duplication and overlap, and to ensure seamless movement from one level of learning to another throughout the province.
It was under McIntosh's tenure that the Canadian Mennonite University
Canadian Mennonite University
Canadian Mennonite University is a Christian university located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that awards three and four-year degrees in a variety of programs...
was established, and that a Task Force was established and completed recommendations on what needed to be done to arrange better opportunities for Apprenticeship and Trades training.
She increased the student representation on the Universities' Boards of Governors and approved 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...
's Student Union's Pathways to Excellence brief to the provincial government. Under her Tenure the Red River Community College expanded and was granted new nomenclature, becoming Red River College
Red River College
Red River College of Applied Arts, Science and Technology is located in Winnipeg. The College offers degree, diploma, certificate, and apprenticeship programs in the applied arts, applied sciences, and various trades. The university press, The Projector, is a member of CUP.-Campus:It has a number...
. She also imposed a number of surcharges for certain university categories in 1995–1996, which were regarded by some as particularly severe on foreign students, since foreign students would no longer be given a preferential tuition rate and would have to pay the same fees as Canadian students.
McIntosh was no stranger to controversy. Amongst many items which became the topic of public debate during her tenure as Education Minister was the whole question of patriotic exercises in schools. In 1998, school principals brought to her attention that the portion of the Manitoba Schools Act concerning patriotic exercises was not being followed in many schools. McIntosh won the support of the Monarchists across the province, and the ire of Canadian republicans, when she sent out a memo to School Divisions reminding them that the Act was to be followed.
It became a provincial controversy, with many complaining that semestered school timetables made such exercises difficult to successfully accomplish since not all students would be present for them. In one memorable moment during this controversy, the entire opposition NDP caucus stood and with great gusto sang all the verses of God Save the Queen
God Save the Queen
"God Save the Queen" is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms and British Crown Dependencies. The words of the song, like its title, are adapted to the gender of the current monarch, with "King" replacing "Queen", "he" replacing "she", and so forth, when a king reigns...
in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
MLA Doug Martindale
Doug Martindale
Doug Martindale is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba since 1990, serving as a member of the New Democratic Party.-Early life and career:...
(NDP, Burrows) said afterwards that the performance was a "serenade" for Minister McIntosh. The Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, who was present in the House during this escapade, wisely stood silently at attention during the "serenade" and afterwards made no comment.
In the final cabinet shuffle of Filmon's government on February 5, 1999, McIntosh was named Minister of Environment with responsibility for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act.
McIntosh was very narrowly defeated by 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...
Jim Rondeau
Jim Rondeau
Jim Rondeau is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba since 1999, and is currently a cabinet minister in the provincial government of Greg Selinger. Rondeau is a member of the New Democratic Party.-Early life and career:Rondeau was born in...
in the 1999 provincial election
Manitoba 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....
. McIntosh actually led Rondeau on election night, but fell three votes behind when the institutional and absentee ballots were counted.
McIntosh did not seek a return to office in 2003. McIntosh was associated with the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
prior to its merger with the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
in 2003. During the federal election of 2004 McIntosh campaigned for successful Conservative candidates Steven Fletcher
Steven Fletcher
Steven John Fletcher, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. He has served in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004, representing the riding of Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia as a member of the Conservative Party. He is the first quadriplegic to serve in the House of Commons, as well as in Cabinet...
and Joy Smith
Joy Smith
Joy Ann Smith is a Canadian politician. She served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba between 1999 and 2003, and was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 2004.-Education and business career:...
.
McIntosh's nephew Hugh McFadyen
Hugh McFadyen
Hugh Daniel McFadyen is a lawyer and politician in Manitoba, Canada. Since 2006, he has been leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba and Leader of the Opposition in the Manitoba legislature. Following his party's loss in the 2011 election he announced that he would resign as...
is the current PC Party leader.