Maitland Steinkopf
Encyclopedia
Maitland B. Steinkopf (September 10, 1912 in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
– November 22, 1970 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) was a politician
in Manitoba, Canada
. He was a Progressive Conservative
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1962 to 1964, and again from 1964 to 1966. Steinkopf was a cabinet minister in the government of Dufferin Roblin
, the first Jewish cabinet minister in Manitoba.
Steinkopf was educated at the University of Manitoba
, and was called to the Manitoba Bar in December 1936. He served in the Canadian Forces
in World War II
, as a Private in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders and a Lieutenant Colonel with the R.C.O.C. He later founded the Canada West Shoe Manufacturing Company, and was a president of several companies including Bonded Investments Ltd., L.H. Packard Co. Ltd., Dayton Shoe Mfg. Col. Ltd., and the Tel Aviv
Hilton Hotel. Steinkopf was a member of the Canada Israel
Development Corporation, and served as chairman of State of Israel bonds in Manitoba. He was also an honorary counsel with the government of Czechoslovakia
until 1948. Prior to his election, he assisted the Roblin government in land-development for cultural projects.
Steinkopf was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1962 provincial election
, defeating Liberal
Roy Matas by over 1,000 votes in the upscale Winnipeg riding of River Heights. He was appointed to cabinet on June 12, 1963 as Provincial Secretary
and Minister of Public Utilities.
In 1964, Steinkopf was implicated in controversial a land assembly payment. Although Premier Roblin later referred to the matter as an innocent technical breach, it was considered serious enough for Steinkopf to resign his position and his seat in the legislature. He was re-elected in a by-election
on September 30, and was re-appointed to cabinet on October 8.
During the flag debates of the 1960s, Steinkopf favoured a design competition for a new provincial flag.
Steinkopf did not run for re-election in 1966. He later served as chair of the Manitoba Centennial Centre Corporation, which established a Maitland Steinkopf Youth Fund in 1972 for students in the arts.
He married Helen Katz of Chicago and they had six children. He was the son of Max Steinkopf and Hedwig Meyer, he graduated in law from the University of Manitoba in 1936. As a student he had organized the athletic board of control and was vice-president of students’s union. He succeeded his father as honorary consul for Czechoslovakia in 1937. During World War Two he served in the Canadian army. In 1962 he was elected MLA for River Heights, serving as Provincial Secretary and Minister of Public Utilities from 1963 to 1966. He served as chairman of a special committee of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly on consumer credit in 1966. He was Chancellor of Brandon University from 1967 to 1970. He was chairman of the Manitoba Centennial Corporation from 1963 until his death of a heart attack on 22 November 1970.
He received a Manitoba Centennial Medal from the Manitoba Historical Society (1970), and was inducted into the Manitoba Order of the Buffalo Hunt (1961) and the Order of Canada (1970).
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...
, 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...
– November 22, 1970 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) was a politician
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 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:...
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 1962 to 1964, and again from 1964 to 1966. Steinkopf was a cabinet minister in the government of Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin "Duff" Roblin, PC, CC, OM was a Canadian businessman and politician. Known as "Duff," he served as the 14th Premier of Manitoba from 1958 to 1967. Roblin was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In the government of Brian Mulroney, he served as...
, the first Jewish cabinet minister in Manitoba.
Steinkopf 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 was called to the Manitoba Bar in December 1936. He served in the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, as a Private in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders and a Lieutenant Colonel with the R.C.O.C. He later founded the Canada West Shoe Manufacturing Company, and was a president of several companies including Bonded Investments Ltd., L.H. Packard Co. Ltd., Dayton Shoe Mfg. Col. Ltd., and the Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
Hilton Hotel. Steinkopf was a member of the Canada Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
Development Corporation, and served as chairman of State of Israel bonds in Manitoba. He was also an honorary counsel with the government of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
until 1948. Prior to his election, he assisted the Roblin government in land-development for cultural projects.
Steinkopf was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1962 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1962
Manitoba's general election of December 16, 1962 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a second majority victory for the Progressive Conservative Party under the leadership of Dufferin Roblin...
, defeating 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 :...
Roy Matas by over 1,000 votes in the upscale Winnipeg riding of River Heights. He was appointed to cabinet on June 12, 1963 as Provincial Secretary
Provincial Secretary (Manitoba)
The position of Provincial Secretary was particularly important in Manitoba from 1870 to 1874, as that province's institutions were being established. The province had no Premier during this period, and its Lieutenant-Governor acted as the de facto leaders of government...
and Minister of Public Utilities.
In 1964, Steinkopf was implicated in controversial a land assembly payment. Although Premier Roblin later referred to the matter as an innocent technical breach, it was considered serious enough for Steinkopf to resign his position and his seat in the legislature. He was re-elected in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
on September 30, and was re-appointed to cabinet on October 8.
During the flag debates of the 1960s, Steinkopf favoured a design competition for a new provincial flag.
Steinkopf did not run for re-election in 1966. He later served as chair of the Manitoba Centennial Centre Corporation, which established a Maitland Steinkopf Youth Fund in 1972 for students in the arts.
He married Helen Katz of Chicago and they had six children. He was the son of Max Steinkopf and Hedwig Meyer, he graduated in law from the University of Manitoba in 1936. As a student he had organized the athletic board of control and was vice-president of students’s union. He succeeded his father as honorary consul for Czechoslovakia in 1937. During World War Two he served in the Canadian army. In 1962 he was elected MLA for River Heights, serving as Provincial Secretary and Minister of Public Utilities from 1963 to 1966. He served as chairman of a special committee of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly on consumer credit in 1966. He was Chancellor of Brandon University from 1967 to 1970. He was chairman of the Manitoba Centennial Corporation from 1963 until his death of a heart attack on 22 November 1970.
He received a Manitoba Centennial Medal from the Manitoba Historical Society (1970), and was inducted into the Manitoba Order of the Buffalo Hunt (1961) and the Order of Canada (1970).