Russell (Manitoba provincial electoral district)
Encyclopedia
Russell is a provincial electoral division (riding) in the Canadian
province of Manitoba
. It is located in the southwestern section of the province.
. The riding was primarily agrarian, and elected candidates from various parties who supported agrarian interests.
lasted from 1957 to 1979, and the subsequent riding of Roblin-Russell from 1979 to 1999. In 1999, the Roblin section of the riding was joined with Dauphin as Dauphin—Roblin
, and a separate Russell riding was re-established.
The modern riding is bordered to the north by Dauphin—Roblin
, to the east by Ste. Rose, to the south by Minnedosa and Arthur-Virden, and to the west by the province of Saskatchewan
. The town of Russell
is the main urban centre in this riding, which also includes Birtle
, Inglis
, Angusville
, Rossburn
, Erickson
, Oakburn
, Shoal Lake
and Hamiota
. The Riding Mountain National Park
and Asessippi Provincial Park
are also located in Russell.
The riding's population in 1996 was 18,647. As of 1999, the average family income was $39,999, and the unemployment rate was 6.10%. Russell remains primarily an agrarian riding, with agriculture accounting for 32% of its industry.
Fourteen per cent of the riding's residents are aboriginal, and a further 13% are Ukrainian
. The riding also has the second-highest percentage of senior citizens in Manitoba, at 21% of the total.
The current MLA is Len Derkach
of the Progressive Conservative Party
, who previously held the riding of Roblin-Russell from 1986 to 1999. The New Democratic Party
have made serious inroads in recent years, however, and the seat may be regarded as marginal.
In the next election, the riding will be renamed Riding Mountain
and expand to include parts of the riding of Minnedosa
.
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...
province of 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...
. It is located in the southwestern section of the province.
Historical riding
The original Russell riding was created in 1886, shortly after the expansion of Manitoba's western boundaries. It existed until 1957, when it was combined with the riding of Birtle as Birtle-RussellBirtle-Russell (Manitoba riding)
Birtle-Russell is a former provincial electoral division in Manitoba, Canada.Birtle-Russell was established in 1957, created by the first Independent Boundaries Commission in Manitoba. It was located in the western part of the province, on the border with Saskatchewan. It included the area around...
. The riding was primarily agrarian, and elected candidates from various parties who supported agrarian interests.
List of provincial representatives
| Name | Party | Took Office | Left Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Leacock | Cons 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:... | 1886 | 1888 |
| James Fisher James Fisher (Manitoba politician) James Fisher was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He may have served as leader of the parliamentary opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for a brief period in the mid-1890s.... | Lib 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 :... | 1888 | 1889(?) |
| Independent/Opposition | 1889(?) | 1896 | |
| Cons 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:... | 1896 | 1899 | |
| Henry Mullins Henry Mullins Henry Alfred Mullins was a Canadian exporter, farmer, and politician.Born in Oswestry, England, the son of James and Margaret Mullins, Mullins was educated in Lindsay, Ontario. In 1899, he was elected as the Conservative candidate to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for the electoral district... | Cons 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:... | 1899 | 1903 |
| W.J. Doig | Lib 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 :... | 1903 | 1907 |
| Angus Bonnycastle Angus Bonnycastle Angus Lorne Bonnycastle was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1907 to 1911, as a member of the Conservative Party... | Cons 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:... | 1907 | 1914 |
| Donald C. McDonald | Lib 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 :... | 1914 | 1915 |
| William Wilson | Lib 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 :... | 1915 | 1922 |
| Isaac Griffiths Isaac Griffiths Isaac Bertie Griffiths was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1922 to 1941, and was a cabinet minister in the government of John Bracken.... | Prog Progressive Party of Manitoba The Progressive Party of Manitoba, Canada, was a political party that developed from the United Farmers of Manitoba, an agrarian movement that became politically active following World War I... | 1922 | 1932 |
| Lib-Prog 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 :... | 1932 | 1941 | |
| William Wilson | Lib-Prog 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 :... | 1941 | 1949 |
| Rodney Clement | Independent Lib-Prog | 1949 | 1954(?) |
| Lib-Prog 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 :... | 1954(?) | 1958 |
Modern riding
The riding of Birtle-RussellBirtle-Russell (Manitoba riding)
Birtle-Russell is a former provincial electoral division in Manitoba, Canada.Birtle-Russell was established in 1957, created by the first Independent Boundaries Commission in Manitoba. It was located in the western part of the province, on the border with Saskatchewan. It included the area around...
lasted from 1957 to 1979, and the subsequent riding of Roblin-Russell from 1979 to 1999. In 1999, the Roblin section of the riding was joined with Dauphin as Dauphin—Roblin
Dauphin—Roblin
Dauphin—Roblin is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created by redistribution in 1999, combining territory from the former constituencies of Dauphin and Roblin-Russell....
, and a separate Russell riding was re-established.
The modern riding is bordered to the north by Dauphin—Roblin
Dauphin—Roblin
Dauphin—Roblin is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created by redistribution in 1999, combining territory from the former constituencies of Dauphin and Roblin-Russell....
, to the east by Ste. Rose, to the south by Minnedosa and Arthur-Virden, and to the west by the province of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. The town of Russell
Russell, Manitoba
Russell is a town of 1,428 located in southwestern Manitoba, Canada, in the Rural Municipality of Russell. The town of Russell is located along Highway 16 and Highway 83, and is at the western terminus of Highway 45. Russell is approximately 15 km from the Saskatchewan border and 340 km...
is the main urban centre in this riding, which also includes Birtle
Birtle, Manitoba
Birtle is a small town of 690 people , located on the prairies of western Manitoba, Canada at the junction of Highways 83 and 42.-History:...
, Inglis
Inglis, Manitoba
Inglis is a small village located in the Rural Municipality of Shellmouth-Boulton, Manitoba, Canada, on Provincial Road 366 2 miles east of Hwy 83 between Russell and Roblin. Inglis is the closest town to the Asessippi Ski Area and the Lake of the Prairies...
, Angusville
Angusville, Manitoba
Angusville is a small community in the Canadian province of Manitoba,located in the Rural Municipality of Silver Creek. It was named after a pioneer family with the surname Angus.- Heritage :Angusville has a rich history in prairie settlement...
, Rossburn
Rossburn, Manitoba
Rossburn is a town in Manitoba, located near Waywayseecappo First Nation. The town is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Rossburn.-External links:*...
, Erickson
Erickson, Manitoba
Erickson is a town in the Rural Municipality of Clanwilliam in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is located on Highway 10 on 32-17-18W in south central Manitoba. The main industry of Erickson is agriculture....
, Oakburn
Oakburn, Manitoba
Oakburn, Manitoba is a community in the Rural Municipality of Shoal Lake, Manitoba.The Hamlet of Oakburn is located at the junction of Highway #21 and #45, 10 km north of Shoal Lake. It began when the Canadian National Railway was built in 1906...
, Shoal Lake
Shoal Lake, Manitoba
-Shoal Lake, Ontario:At the eastern border of the province with Ontario, a portion of Shoal Lake and the surrounding watershed lies within Manitoba.-Shoal Lake, Manitoba:...
and Hamiota
Hamiota, Manitoba
Hamiota is a growing community located on Provincial Trunk Highway 21 in Manitoba, Canada, midway between the Trans-Canada Highway and the Yellowhead Highway....
. The Riding Mountain National Park
Riding Mountain National Park
Riding Mountain National Park is a national park in Manitoba, Canada. The park sits atop the Manitoba Escarpment. Consisting of a protected area , the forested parkland stands in sharp contrast to the surrounding prairie farmland. The park is home to wolves, moose, elk, black bears, hundreds of...
and Asessippi Provincial Park
Asessippi Provincial Park
Asessippi Provincial Park is a provincial park located in Manitoba, Canada about 100 km west of Dauphin. The Park is 23.2 km2 . The focal point is the Lake of the Prairies also known as Shellmouth Reservoir. The lake has one of the largest walleye fisheries in Manitoba...
are also located in Russell.
The riding's population in 1996 was 18,647. As of 1999, the average family income was $39,999, and the unemployment rate was 6.10%. Russell remains primarily an agrarian riding, with agriculture accounting for 32% of its industry.
Fourteen per cent of the riding's residents are aboriginal, and a further 13% are Ukrainian
Ukraine
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...
. The riding also has the second-highest percentage of senior citizens in Manitoba, at 21% of the total.
The current MLA is Len Derkach
Len Derkach
Len Derkach is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a cabinet minister in the government of Gary Filmon, and is currently a member of the Manitoba legislature....
of the Progressive Conservative Party
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:...
, who previously held the riding of Roblin-Russell from 1986 to 1999. 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...
have made serious inroads in recent years, however, and the seat may be regarded as marginal.
In the next election, the riding will be renamed Riding Mountain
Riding Mountain (electoral district)
Riding Mountain is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created by redistribution in 2008 and was created out of parts of .Communities in the riding include Minnedosa, Rapid City, Rivers, and Russell...
and expand to include parts of the riding of Minnedosa
Minnedosa (electoral district)
Minnedosa is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created in 1881 with the expansion of the province's western boundary, and has existed continuously since that time. From 1886 to 1888, it was divided into Minnedosa East and Minnedosa West.Minnedosa is...
.
List of provincial representatives
| Name | Party | Took Office | Left Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Len Derkach Len Derkach Len Derkach is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a cabinet minister in the government of Gary Filmon, and is currently a member of the Manitoba legislature.... | PC 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:... | 1999 | present |
Electoral results
June 2003:- (x)Len DerkachLen DerkachLen Derkach is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a cabinet minister in the government of Gary Filmon, and is currently a member of the Manitoba legislature....
(PC) 4087 - Don Yanick (NDP) 3208
- Jan Clement (L) 571