Rick Borotsik
Encyclopedia
Rick Borotsik is a politician
in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served as Mayor of Brandon
from 1989 to 1997, was a member of the Canadian House of Commons
from 1997 to 2004, and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
in 2007. Borotsik is a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
.
family in Brandon
, was raised in that city, and graduated from Brandon University
in 1971. He was elected to the Brandon City Council in 1977
and served for three terms before standing down in 1985.
He joined the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
in 1978. Borotsik sought the provincial PC party's nomination for Brandon West in the buildup to the 1986 provincial election
, but lost to Jim McCrae.
Borotsik was an employee of the shopping-centre firm Bramalea Inc. during the 1980s. He was transferred from Brandon to Calgary
in 1985, and again to the firm's head office in Toronto
one year later. He remained the city for three years, and became director of 32 centres. Finding it difficult to adjust to life in Toronto, he returned to Brandon in 1989. He ran for mayor in that year's municipal election
, and won an upset victory over four-term incumbent Ken Burgess
.
He supported the introduction of Video Lottery Terminal
s into Brandon, and pressured the provincial government to turn over VLT revenues to the municipalities. He also called for a casino
to be set up in the city, and endorsed unrestricted Sunday shopping
. In 1992, he supported the Charlottetown Accord
on constitutional reform.
Borotsik sought and won the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada's nomination for Brandon-Souris in the 1997 federal election
. The party had been reduced to only two seats in the previous election
, and was trying to rebuild its support base. Borotsik was a strong supporter of party leader Jean Charest
, and was considered a star candidate
. He indicated that he opposed the ideology of the rival, right-wing Reform Party of Canada
, which he described as a "flash-in-the-pan regional party" with no national perspective. He was narrowly elected over both a Reform candidate and Liberal
incumbent Glen McKinnon
.
The Liberals under Jean Chrétien
were re-elected to a second consecutive majority government in the 1997 election, while the Progressive Conservatives won twenty seats for a fifth-place finish. Borotsik was his party's only elected representative from western Canada
. He served critic for agriculture, the Canadian Wheat Board
and western economic diversification, and had unofficial duties for the western provinces.
Charest resigned as party leader in 1998, despite requests from Borotsik and other MPs that he remain in the position. Borotsik was subsequently chosen as national caucus chairman, and endorsed Joe Clark
's successful bid to succeed Charest as leader. Borotsik was also an opponent of the United Alternative, a Reform-sponsored drive for a new political party that resulted in the creation of the Canadian Alliance
.
Borotsik opposed the Canadian gun registry
, which he described as unworkable. He endorsed a 1998 bill that reversed Louis Riel
's conviction for treason, and recognized him as a Father of Confederation
. Later, he broke with his party's official position to support the Chrétien government's Clarity Bill. There was speculation that Borotsik would seek the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba in 2000, but he declined.
Second term (2000–04)
Borotsik was narrowly re-elected in the 2000 federal election
over a candidate of the Canadian Alliance, as the Liberals won a third consecutive majority government nationally. The Progressive Conservatives fell to twelve seats and remained the fifth-largest party in parliament, but avoided the loss of official party status that some had feared. Borotsik was subsequently named as party whip
and Critic for Agriculture, Indian Affairs and the Canadian Wheat Board.
Borotsik took part in preliminary discussions between the Progressive Conservatives and the Canadian Alliance in early 2001. He said that a "mutual compromise" would have to be reached before the next election, in order to prevent the Liberals from remaining in power. No agreements were reached, and Borotsik later called for disgruntled Canadian Alliance members to rejoin the Progressive Conservative Party.
Clark resigned as Progressive Conservative leader in mid-2002. There were rumours that Borotsik would run to succeed him, but he declined and endorsed fellow westerner Jim Prentice
. Prentice was defeated by Peter MacKay
on the final ballot of the party's 2003 leadership convention; Borotsik resigned as party whip, but remained Agriculture Critic.
During this period, Borotsik surprised some political observers by declaring his support for the legalization of same-sex marriage
. He also endorsed the principles of public health care and employment insurance, and became associated with the Red Tory
wing of his party.
MacKay and Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper
announced plans to merge their parties in late 2003. Borotsik strongly opposed this decision, and said that he would not be a candidate for the merged party if Stephen Harper was chosen as its leader. He openly considered joining the Liberals once the merger was finalized, and was on hand to provide "moral support" for Progressive Conservative MP Scott Brison
when he announced his own defection to the Liberal Party.
Borotsik ultimately chose to sit with the merged Conservative Party of Canada
until the next election, but made no secret of his opposition to Stephen Harper and the new party's social conservatism
. He turned down an offer to become Agriculture Critic, and did not stand in the 2004 campaign
. Just before election day, he publicly endorsed the Liberals. Borotsik supported Belinda Stronach
's decision to leave the Conservatives for the Liberals in 2005, and indicated that he would consider running for either the Liberal Party of Canada or the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba at some time in the future.
announced his resignation as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba in 2005. Some considered Borotsik as a possible replacement, but he quickly ruled himself out as a candidate. In June 2006, however, he announced that he would run for the party in the next provincial campaign.
He was narrowly elected in the 2007 election
, defeating New Democratic Party
cabinet minister Scott Smith by 56 votes in Brandon West. Borotsik provoked some controversy when he announced that he favoured an end to Manitoba's tuition freeze; the party's official policy was to keep the freeze in place.
The New Democratic Party was re-elected to a third consecutive majority government in the 2007 election, and Borotsik entered the legislature as a member of the Official Opposition. In September 2007, he was appointed to the high-profile position of Finance Critic. Later in the year, he described Manitoba's increasing debt as an economic danger signal.
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 served as Mayor of Brandon
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...
from 1989 to 1997, was a member of the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
from 1997 to 2004, and was elected to 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...
in 2007. Borotsik is a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
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:...
.
Early life and career
Borotsik was born to a UkrainianUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
family in Brandon
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...
, was raised in that city, and graduated from Brandon University
Brandon University
Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
in 1971. He was elected to the Brandon City Council in 1977
Manitoba municipal elections, 1977
The 1977 Manitoba municipal elections were held in October 1977 to elect mayors, councillors and school trustees in various communities throughout Manitoba, Canada.-Brandon:*Jonathan Robin Toogood appears to have been a first-time candidate....
and served for three terms before standing down in 1985.
He joined 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 1978. Borotsik sought the provincial PC party's nomination for Brandon West in the buildup to the 1986 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1986
The Manitoba general election of March 18, 1986 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which took 30 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party won 26 seats and formed the official opposition...
, but lost to Jim McCrae.
Borotsik was an employee of the shopping-centre firm Bramalea Inc. during the 1980s. He was transferred from Brandon to Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
in 1985, and again to the firm's head office in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
one year later. He remained the city for three years, and became director of 32 centres. Finding it difficult to adjust to life in Toronto, he returned to Brandon in 1989. He ran for mayor in that year's municipal election
Manitoba municipal elections, 1989
The 1989 Manitoba municipal elections were held on October 25, 1989 to elect mayors, councillors and school trustees in various communities throughout Manitoba, Canada.-Brandon:-Rockwood:...
, and won an upset victory over four-term incumbent Ken Burgess
Ken Burgess
Kenneth John Burgess was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He is the longest-serving mayor of Brandon, Manitoba, having held the position from 1979 to 1989....
.
Mayor of Brandon
A colourful and bombastic figure, Borotsik was elected on a platform of aggressive municipal development and became known for his efforts to promote the city. He brought the Canada Games and the World Curling Championships to Brandon, and presided over a period of significant agribusiness expansion. He was also given credit for saving the city's airport.He supported the introduction of Video Lottery Terminal
Video Lottery Terminal
A Video Lottery Terminal or VLT is a gaming machine that allows gamblers to bet on the outcome of a video game.A VLT is similar to a slot machine, in that each terminal is a stand-alone device containing a random-number generator...
s into Brandon, and pressured the provincial government to turn over VLT revenues to the municipalities. He also called for a casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
to be set up in the city, and endorsed unrestricted Sunday shopping
Sunday shopping
Sunday shopping refers to the ability of retailers to operate stores on Sunday, a day that Christian tradition typically recognizes as the Sabbath, a "day of rest". Rules governing shopping hours, such as Sunday shopping, vary around the world but some European nations continue to ban Sunday shopping...
. In 1992, he supported the Charlottetown Accord
Charlottetown Accord
The Charlottetown Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada, proposed by the Canadian federal and provincial governments in 1992. It was submitted to a public referendum on October 26 of that year, and was defeated.-Background:...
on constitutional reform.
Member of Parliament
First term (1997–2000)Borotsik sought and won the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada's nomination for Brandon-Souris in the 1997 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1997
The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
. The party had been reduced to only two seats in the previous election
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
, and was trying to rebuild its support base. Borotsik was a strong supporter of party leader Jean Charest
Jean Charest
John James "Jean" Charest, PC, MNA is a Canadian politician who has been the 29th Premier of Quebec since 2003. He was leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1993 to 1998 and has been leader of the Quebec Liberal Party since 1998....
, and was considered a star candidate
Star candidate
A star candidate refers to a high profile individual who has been recruited as a candidate by a political party. Star candidates have usually excelled in fields outside of politics such as academia, business, the media, journalism and/or sports...
. He indicated that he opposed the ideology of the rival, right-wing Reform Party of Canada
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
, which he described as a "flash-in-the-pan regional party" with no national perspective. He was narrowly elected over both a Reform candidate and Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
incumbent Glen McKinnon
Glen McKinnon
Glen McKinnon is a Canadian educator and politician from Manitoba. He represented the federal electoral district of Brandon—Souris in the Canadian House of Commons from 1993-1997 as a member of the Liberal Party...
.
The Liberals under Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
were re-elected to a second consecutive majority government in the 1997 election, while the Progressive Conservatives won twenty seats for a fifth-place finish. Borotsik was his party's only elected representative from western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
. He served critic for agriculture, the Canadian Wheat Board
Canadian Wheat Board
The Canadian Wheat Board was established by the Parliament of Canada on 5 July 1935 as a mandatory producer marketing system for wheat and barley in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and a small part of British Columbia...
and western economic diversification, and had unofficial duties for the western provinces.
Charest resigned as party leader in 1998, despite requests from Borotsik and other MPs that he remain in the position. Borotsik was subsequently chosen as national caucus chairman, and endorsed Joe Clark
Joe Clark
Charles Joseph "Joe" Clark, is a Canadian statesman, businessman, and university professor, and former journalist and politician...
's successful bid to succeed Charest as leader. Borotsik was also an opponent of the United Alternative, a Reform-sponsored drive for a new political party that resulted in the creation of 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...
.
Borotsik opposed the Canadian gun registry
Canadian gun registry
The Canadian Firearms Registry is part of the Firearms Act and is managed by the Canadian Firearms Program of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police . It requires the registration of all guns in Canada. It was introduced by the Liberal government of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and implemented by...
, which he described as unworkable. He endorsed a 1998 bill that reversed Louis Riel
Louis Riel
Louis David Riel was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political and spiritual leader of the Métis people of the Canadian prairies. He led two resistance movements against the Canadian government and its first post-Confederation Prime Minister, Sir John A....
's conviction for treason, and recognized him as a Father of Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
. Later, he broke with his party's official position to support the Chrétien government's Clarity Bill. There was speculation that Borotsik would seek the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba in 2000, but he declined.
Second term (2000–04)
Borotsik was narrowly re-elected in the 2000 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
over a candidate of the Canadian Alliance, as the Liberals won a third consecutive majority government nationally. The Progressive Conservatives fell to twelve seats and remained the fifth-largest party in parliament, but avoided the loss of official party status that some had feared. Borotsik was subsequently named as party whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
and Critic for Agriculture, Indian Affairs and the Canadian Wheat Board.
Borotsik took part in preliminary discussions between the Progressive Conservatives and the Canadian Alliance in early 2001. He said that a "mutual compromise" would have to be reached before the next election, in order to prevent the Liberals from remaining in power. No agreements were reached, and Borotsik later called for disgruntled Canadian Alliance members to rejoin the Progressive Conservative Party.
Clark resigned as Progressive Conservative leader in mid-2002. There were rumours that Borotsik would run to succeed him, but he declined and endorsed fellow westerner Jim Prentice
Jim Prentice
James "Jim" Prentice, PC, QC is a Canadian lawyer, and politician. In the 2004 federal election he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a candidate of the Conservative Party of Canada...
. Prentice was defeated by Peter MacKay
Peter MacKay
Peter Gordon MacKay, PC, QC, MP is a lawyer and politician from Nova Scotia, Canada. He is the Member of Parliament for Central Nova and currently serves as Minister of National Defence in the Cabinet of Canada....
on the final ballot of the party's 2003 leadership convention; Borotsik resigned as party whip, but remained Agriculture Critic.
During this period, Borotsik surprised some political observers by declaring his support for the legalization of same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage in Canada
On July 20, 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world and the first country in the Americas to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide with the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act which provided a gender-neutral marriage definition...
. He also endorsed the principles of public health care and employment insurance, and became associated with the Red Tory
Red Tory
A red Tory is an adherent of a particular political philosophy, tradition, and disposition in Canada somewhat similar to the High Tory tradition in the United Kingdom; it is contrasted with "blue Tory". In Canada, the phenomenon of "red toryism" has fundamentally, if not exclusively, been found in...
wing of his party.
MacKay and Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
announced plans to merge their parties in late 2003. Borotsik strongly opposed this decision, and said that he would not be a candidate for the merged party if Stephen Harper was chosen as its leader. He openly considered joining the Liberals once the merger was finalized, and was on hand to provide "moral support" for Progressive Conservative MP Scott Brison
Scott Brison
Scott A. Brison, PC, MP is a Canadian politician from Nova Scotia, Canada. Brison has been the Member of Parliament for the riding of Kings-Hants since the 1997 federal election. Brison was originally elected as a Progressive Conservative but crossed the floor to join the Liberal Party in 2003...
when he announced his own defection to the Liberal Party.
Borotsik ultimately chose to sit with the merged Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
until the next election, but made no secret of his opposition to Stephen Harper and the new party's social conservatism
Social conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
. He turned down an offer to become Agriculture Critic, and did not stand in the 2004 campaign
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
. Just before election day, he publicly endorsed the Liberals. Borotsik supported Belinda Stronach
Belinda Stronach
Belinda Caroline Stronach, PC is a Canadian businessperson, philanthropist and former politician. She was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 2004 to 2008. Originally elected as a Conservative, she later crossed the floor to join the Liberals...
's decision to leave the Conservatives for the Liberals in 2005, and indicated that he would consider running for either the Liberal Party of Canada or the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba at some time in the future.
Member of the provincial legislature
Stuart MurrayStuart Murray
Stuart Murray is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba and leader of the opposition in the Manitoba legislature from 2000 to 2006.-Early life and career:...
announced his resignation as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba in 2005. Some considered Borotsik as a possible replacement, but he quickly ruled himself out as a candidate. In June 2006, however, he announced that he would run for the party in the next provincial campaign.
He was narrowly elected in the 2007 election
Manitoba general election, 2007
The Manitoba general election held on May 22, 2007 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which won 36 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party finished second with nineteen seats. The Liberal...
, defeating 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...
cabinet minister Scott Smith by 56 votes in Brandon West. Borotsik provoked some controversy when he announced that he favoured an end to Manitoba's tuition freeze; the party's official policy was to keep the freeze in place.
The New Democratic Party was re-elected to a third consecutive majority government in the 2007 election, and Borotsik entered the legislature as a member of the Official Opposition. In September 2007, he was appointed to the high-profile position of Finance Critic. Later in the year, he described Manitoba's increasing debt as an economic danger signal.