Rosann Wowchuk
Encyclopedia
Rosann Wowchuk is a Manitoba
politician, and a current cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party
government of Premier
Greg Selinger.
Wowchuk was born in Cowan, Manitoba. She attended Manitoba Teacher's College, and subsequently worked as a teacher and farmer. Wowchuk served as a municipal councillor and deputy reeve in the mid-northern community of Swan River from 1983 to 1990. Her brothers, Leonard and Harry Harapiak
, were both NDP cabinet ministers during the 1980s.
Wowchuk was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1990 provincial election
, defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative
Parker Burrell
in the riding of Swan River. She was re-elected in the 1995 election
, defeating Tory candidate Fred Betcher by only 36 votes. There are many who believe that Independent Native Voice
candidate Nelson Contois, who received 118 votes, was encouraged to run by local Tory organizers in an attempt to split the riding's left-of-centre vote. Also in 1995, Wowchuk supported Lorne Nystrom
's campaign to become leader of the federal New Democratic Party
.
After spending nine years as an opposition MLA, Wowchuk moved to the government benches in 1999 after Gary Doer
's NDP won a parliamentary majority. She was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Food
on October 5, 1999, and held this portfolio for the entirety of the Doer government's first term. In 2003, she supported Bill Blaikie
's campaign to become leader of the federal NDP.
Wowchuk was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 2003
, and was named deputy premier three days later. Retaining the agriculture portfolio, she was given ministerial responsibility for Intergovernmental Affairs and Cooperative Development on June 25. On November 4, the name of her ministry was changed to Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
, and she was relieved of responsibilities for Intergovernmental Affairs.
Although Wowchuk opposed the decision of Gary Filmon
's government to eliminate the "single-desk" marketing of hog farm
s, she did not reverse the policy upon joining government. In 2004, she rejected a request from the Manitoba Cattle Producers that all livestock animals killed in a proposed Winnipeg plant be tested for BSE
.
Wowchuk was also named acting Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade on May 18, 2004, following the resignation of Mary Ann Mihychuk. She retained this position until October 22, 2004.
Wowchuk was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election
. On July 4, 2011, she announced that she will not run in the next provincial election
.
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 a current cabinet minister in 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...
government of 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"...
Greg Selinger.
Wowchuk was born in Cowan, Manitoba. She attended Manitoba Teacher's College, and subsequently worked as a teacher and farmer. Wowchuk served as a municipal councillor and deputy reeve in the mid-northern community of Swan River from 1983 to 1990. Her brothers, Leonard and Harry Harapiak
Harry Harapiak
Harry Harapiak was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1981 to 1990, and was a cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party government of Howard Pawley...
, were both NDP cabinet ministers during the 1980s.
Wowchuk was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1990 provincial election
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...
, defeating incumbent 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:...
Parker Burrell
Parker Burrell
Parker Burrell is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1988 to 1990, representing the northern riding of Swan River for the Progressive Conservative Party.Burrell was educated at The Pas, Manitoba, and received a Certificate of...
in the riding of Swan River. She was re-elected in the 1995 election
Manitoba general election, 1995
The Manitoba general election of April 25,1995 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which won 31 seats out of 57...
, defeating Tory candidate Fred Betcher by only 36 votes. There are many who believe that Independent Native Voice
Independent Native Voice
Independent Native Voice, also known as Native Voice, was a short-lived political party in Manitoba, Canada. It was created in 1995 to address aboriginal issues, and ran three candidates in the 1995 provincial election. Native Voice was not registered with Elections Manitoba, and its candidates...
candidate Nelson Contois, who received 118 votes, was encouraged to run by local Tory organizers in an attempt to split the riding's left-of-centre vote. Also in 1995, Wowchuk supported Lorne Nystrom
Lorne Nystrom
Lorne Edmund Nystrom, PC a Canadian politician, was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1993 when he lost his reelection bid. He returned to parliament in 1997 and served until 2004...
's campaign to become leader of the federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
.
After spending nine years as an opposition MLA, Wowchuk moved to the government benches in 1999 after 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 NDP won a parliamentary majority. She was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Food
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (Manitoba)
The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives is a cabinet minister in the province of Manitoba, Canada. The minister oversees Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, a department is often referred to as MAFRI...
on October 5, 1999, and held this portfolio for the entirety of the Doer government's first term. In 2003, she supported Bill Blaikie
Bill Blaikie
William Alexander "Bill" Blaikie, PC is a Canadian politician. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba since April 2009, representing the Winnipeg division of Elmwood as a member of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba, and Minister of Conservation and Government House Leader...
's campaign to become leader of the federal NDP.
Wowchuk was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 2003
Manitoba general election, 2003
The Manitoba general election held on June 3, 2003 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 35 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party finished second with twenty seats...
, and was named deputy premier three days later. Retaining the agriculture portfolio, she was given ministerial responsibility for Intergovernmental Affairs and Cooperative Development on June 25. On November 4, the name of her ministry was changed to Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (Manitoba)
The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives is a cabinet minister in the province of Manitoba, Canada. The minister oversees Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, a department is often referred to as MAFRI...
, and she was relieved of responsibilities for Intergovernmental Affairs.
Although Wowchuk opposed the decision of 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:...
's government to eliminate the "single-desk" marketing of hog farm
Intensive pig farming
Intensive piggeries are a type of factory farm ' specialized in the raising of domestic pigs up to slaughter weight...
s, she did not reverse the policy upon joining government. In 2004, she rejected a request from the Manitoba Cattle Producers that all livestock animals killed in a proposed Winnipeg plant be tested for BSE
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy , commonly known as mad-cow disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in cattle that causes a spongy degeneration in the brain and spinal cord. BSE has a long incubation period, about 30 months to 8 years, usually affecting adult cattle at a peak age onset of...
.
Wowchuk was also named acting Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade on May 18, 2004, following the resignation of Mary Ann Mihychuk. She retained this position until October 22, 2004.
Wowchuk was re-elected in the 2007 provincial 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...
. On July 4, 2011, she announced that she will not run in the next provincial election
Manitoba general election, 2011
The 40th general election of Manitoba was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. It took place on October 4, 2011, due to the new fixed-date election laws...
.