Peter Burtniak
Encyclopedia
Peter Burtniak was a politician
in Manitoba, Canada
. He was a New Democratic
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1969 to 1977, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Edward Schreyer
.
Burtniak was educated in the Manitoba school system, and worked as a farm implement dealer and farmer. He was President of the Fork River Branch of the Manitoba Pool Elevators for twenty years, and served as Provincial Director of the Manitoba Farmers Union from 1952 to 1956. He was also a board member of the Manitoba Federation of Agriculture from 1954 to 1956.
He first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1958
as a candidate of the CCF in Ethelbert Plains, but lost to Liberal-Progressive
incumbent Michael Hryhorczuk
by 981 votes. He ran for the same riding in the 1959 election
, this time losing to Hryhorczuk by 266 votes.
Burtniak backed Edward Schreyer for the provincial NDP leadership in 1969, and gave the nomination speech for Schreyer at the party's leadership convention
. He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1969 election
, defeating former Progressive Conservative
leadership candidate Stewart McLean
by 41 votes in Dauphin. He NDP formed a minority government
after this election, and Burtniak was appointed Minister of Tourism and Recreation on July 15, 1969. He was also given responsibility for the Manitoba Telephone System on August 4, 1970, and was given the second portfolio of Minister of Cultural Affairs on November 4, 1970. After a cabinet shuffle on December 1, 1971, he was named Minister of Highways, retaining responsibility for the MTS.
Burtniak defeated Tory candidate Art Rampton by 999 votes in the 1973 election
, and was retained as Highways Minister in the Schreyer government's second term. He was also given responsibility for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation on September 22, 1976.
The NDP were defeated in the provincial election of 1977
, and Burtniak narrowly lost his seat to Tory candidate James Galbraith
. He did not seek a return to politics after this time.
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 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...
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 1969 to 1977, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of 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....
.
Burtniak was educated in the Manitoba school system, and worked as a farm implement dealer and farmer. He was President of the Fork River Branch of the Manitoba Pool Elevators for twenty years, and served as Provincial Director of the Manitoba Farmers Union from 1952 to 1956. He was also a board member of the Manitoba Federation of Agriculture from 1954 to 1956.
He first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1958
Manitoba general election, 1958
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1958 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was the first to be held in Manitoba after a comprehensive electoral redistribution in 1956...
as a candidate of the CCF in Ethelbert Plains, but lost to Liberal-Progressive
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 :...
incumbent Michael Hryhorczuk
Michael Hryhorczuk
Michael Nicholas Hryhorczuk was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1949 to 1966, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Douglas Campbell. Hryhorczuk was originally a Liberal-Progressive, and later became a Liberal after...
by 981 votes. He ran for the same riding in the 1959 election
Manitoba general election, 1959
Manitoba's general election of May 14, 1959 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a majority victory for the Progressive Conservative Party under the leadership of Dufferin Roblin...
, this time losing to Hryhorczuk by 266 votes.
Burtniak backed Edward Schreyer for the provincial NDP leadership in 1969, and gave the nomination speech for Schreyer at the party's leadership convention
Leadership convention
In Canadian politics, a leadership convention is held by a political party when the party needs to choose a leader due to a vacancy or a challenge to the incumbent leader.- Overview :...
. He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1969 election
Manitoba general election, 1969
The Manitoba General Election of June 25, 1969 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was a watershed moment in the province's political history. The social-democratic New Democratic Party emerged for the first time as the largest party in...
, defeating former 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:...
leadership candidate Stewart McLean
Stewart McLean
Stewart McLean was a Manitoba politician. He served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Dufferin Roblin and Walter Weir, and unsuccessfully ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba in 1967.McLean was born and raised in Dauphin, Manitoba, and received a B.A....
by 41 votes in Dauphin. He NDP formed a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
after this election, and Burtniak was appointed Minister of Tourism and Recreation on July 15, 1969. He was also given responsibility for the Manitoba Telephone System on August 4, 1970, and was given the second portfolio of Minister of Cultural Affairs on November 4, 1970. After a cabinet shuffle on December 1, 1971, he was named Minister of Highways, retaining responsibility for the MTS.
Burtniak defeated Tory candidate Art Rampton by 999 votes in the 1973 election
Manitoba 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...
, and was retained as Highways Minister in the Schreyer government's second term. He was also given responsibility for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation on September 22, 1976.
The NDP were defeated in the provincial election of 1977
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...
, and Burtniak narrowly lost his seat to Tory candidate James Galbraith
James Galbraith
James Galbraith is a politician in Manitoba. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1977 to 1981 for the riding of Dauphin....
. He did not seek a return to politics after this time.