Mark Minenko
Encyclopedia
Mark Minenko
Mark Minenko (born March 29, 1957 in is a former politician
in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1988 to 1990, representing the Winnipeg riding
of Seven Oaks for the Manitoba Liberal Party
.
, New York
, Minenko's father was the Very Rev. Tymofiy Minenko, a priest in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He was raised in Winnipeg, and was educated at the University of Winnipeg
and the University of Manitoba
. He worked as a lawyer, and also joined the Canadian Forces
Medical Services in 1976, eventually reaching the rank of Captain. He was awarded the Canada Forces Decoration in 1988.
, who was at the time the only Liberal representative in the provincial legislature.
Minenko first ran for provincial office in the election of 1988
, scoring an upset victory over outgoing New Democratic
Finance Minister Eugene Kostyra
in Seven Oaks. Minenko won the election by 332 votes, at a time when provincial support for the NDP was at its lowest ebb since the 1960s. He was named as Deputy Speaker
on July 21, 1988, but resigned on May 18, 1989.
In the provincial election of 1990
, redistribution forced him to run in the riding of St. Johns against another incumbent, New Democrat Judy Wasylycia-Leis
. He lost, by almost two thousand votes, amid a general decline in support for the Liberal Party. He has not sought a return to provincial politics since this time.
Minenko later became active in the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, and has sought a formal apology from the federal government for the detainment of Ukrainians in concentration camps during the First World War
. He also continued his education at the University of Alberta
, working towards a Master of Laws degree.
Mark Minenko (born March 29, 1957 in is a former politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in 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 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 1990, representing the Winnipeg riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Seven Oaks for 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 years and education
Born New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Minenko's father was the Very Rev. Tymofiy Minenko, a priest in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He was raised in Winnipeg, and was educated at the University of Winnipeg
University of Winnipeg
The University of Winnipeg is a public university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that offers undergraduate faculties of art, business and economics, education, science and theology as well as graduate programs. The U of W's founding colleges were Manitoba College and Wesley College, which merged...
and 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...
. He worked as a lawyer, and also joined 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."...
Medical Services in 1976, eventually reaching the rank of Captain. He was awarded the Canada Forces Decoration in 1988.
Political career
In 1981, Minenko worked an assistant to MLA June WestburyJune Westbury
June Westbury was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1979 to 1981, sitting as a Liberal....
, who was at the time the only Liberal representative in the provincial legislature.
Minenko first ran for provincial office in the 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...
, scoring an upset victory over outgoing New Democratic
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...
Finance Minister Eugene Kostyra
Eugene Kostyra
Eugene Michael Kostyra is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1981 to 1988, and a cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party government of Howard Pawley for all of this period.Kostyra dropped out of St...
in Seven Oaks. Minenko won the election by 332 votes, at a time when provincial support for the NDP was at its lowest ebb since the 1960s. He was named as Deputy Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
on July 21, 1988, but resigned on May 18, 1989.
In the provincial election of 1990
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...
, redistribution forced him to run in the riding of St. Johns against another incumbent, New Democrat Judy Wasylycia-Leis
Judy Wasylycia-Leis
Klazina Judith "Judy" Wasylycia-Leis is a Canadian politician. She was a Manitoba cabinet minister in the government of Howard Pawley from 1986 to 1988, and was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from September 22, 1997 to April 30, 2010...
. He lost, by almost two thousand votes, amid a general decline in support for the Liberal Party. He has not sought a return to provincial politics since this time.
Minenko later became active in the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, and has sought a formal apology from the federal government for the detainment of Ukrainians in concentration camps during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He also continued his education at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
, working towards a Master of Laws degree.