Paul Edwards (politician)
Encyclopedia
Paul Edwards is a Manitoba
politician and lawyer. He served as leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
between 1993 and 1996.
Edwards was born in Kingston, Ontario
and was educated at Trent University
and Queen's University. He later worked as a barrister and solicitor.
In 1988, Edwards was elected to the Manitoba legislature for the Winnipeg riding of St. James, defeating Progressive Conservative
Jae Eadie
by about 600 votes. He joined 19 other Liberals in forming the official opposition to the minority government of Progressive Conservative
Premier
Gary Filmon
.
The 1988 election was a landmark for the Manitoba Liberal Party
, in that it had previously been reduced to a marginal presence in the province. The unpopularity of Howard Pawley
's New Democratic
government in 1988 had given the party the support of many centre-left voters, and many believed that the Liberals had a chance to form government in the next election.
This did not occur. The New Democratic Party
recovered under Gary Doer
's leadership, and the Liberals were reduced to only seven seats (out of 57) in the election of 1990. Edwards was re-elected in St. James, this time defeating Tory
candidate Joanne Thibault by about 300 votes.
Liberal leader Sharon Carstairs
was blamed by many in the party for squandering a chance to form government, and resigned as party leader in 1993. Subsequently, Edwards defeated maverick MLA Kevin Lamoureux
to become the party's new leader.
The Liberals initially appeared to have a reasonable chance of winning the 1995 election, placing a strong second to the Tories in early polls. They ran a poor campaign, however, and were overtaken by the NDP well before election day. The Liberals fell to three seats in the election of 1995, Edwards's not being one of them. He was defeated by New Democratic
candidate Mary Ann Mihychuk, and announced his resignation as party leader later in the year. He formally resigned in 1996, and subsequently returned to a legal practice.
Edwards is married to Anne MacKay. They have four children: Beth, Evan, Wynn and Adam.
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...
politician and lawyer. He served as leader 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 :...
between 1993 and 1996.
Edwards was born in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
and was educated at Trent University
Trent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
and Queen's University. He later worked as a barrister and solicitor.
In 1988, Edwards was elected to the Manitoba legislature for the Winnipeg riding of St. James, defeating 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:...
Jae Eadie
Jae Eadie
Jae Eadie born in 1948 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada is a former City Councillor for the St. James ward in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He was a councillor from 1980 until his defeat in 2006...
by about 600 votes. He joined 19 other Liberals in forming the official opposition to the minority government of 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:...
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"...
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:...
.
The 1988 election was a landmark 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 :...
, in that it had previously been reduced to a marginal presence in the province. The unpopularity of Howard Pawley
Howard Pawley
Howard Russell Pawley, PC, OC, OM is a Canadian politician and professor who was the 18th Premier of Manitoba from 1981 to 1988.-Personal life:...
's 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...
government in 1988 had given the party the support of many centre-left voters, and many believed that the Liberals had a chance to form government in the next election.
This did not occur. The 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...
recovered under Gary Doer
Gary Doer
Gary Albert Doer, OM is a Canadian diplomat and politician from Manitoba, Canada. Since October 19, 2009, he has served as Canada's Ambassador to the United States...
's leadership, and the Liberals were reduced to only seven seats (out of 57) in the election of 1990. Edwards was re-elected in St. James, this time defeating Tory
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:...
candidate Joanne Thibault by about 300 votes.
Liberal leader Sharon Carstairs
Sharon Carstairs
Sharon Carstairs, PC is a Canadian politician and former Senator.-Early life:Carstairs was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the daughter of former Nova Scotia Premier Harold Connolly and his wife Vivian...
was blamed by many in the party for squandering a chance to form government, and resigned as party leader in 1993. Subsequently, Edwards defeated maverick MLA Kevin Lamoureux
Kevin Lamoureux
Kevin Lamoureux, MP is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. On November 29, 2010, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the constituency of Winnipeg North in a by-election. He was re-elected during the 2011 election by 44 votes...
to become the party's new leader.
The Liberals initially appeared to have a reasonable chance of winning the 1995 election, placing a strong second to the Tories in early polls. They ran a poor campaign, however, and were overtaken by the NDP well before election day. The Liberals fell to three seats in the election of 1995, Edwards's not being one of them. He was defeated by 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...
candidate Mary Ann Mihychuk, and announced his resignation as party leader later in the year. He formally resigned in 1996, and subsequently returned to a legal practice.
Edwards is married to Anne MacKay. They have four children: Beth, Evan, Wynn and Adam.