Steve Ashton
Encyclopedia
Steve Ashton is a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He is a long-serving member of the Manitoba legislature, and is currently a cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party
government of Greg Selinger.
Ashton moved with his family to Thompson
, in northern Manitoba, at age eleven. He was educated at R.D. Parker Collegiate in that community, the University of Manitoba
in Winnipeg
and Lakehead University
in Thunder Bay
, Ontario
. He was President of the University of Manitoba Students Union in 1978-79 and has lectured in Economics for the former Inter Universities North in Thompson and Cross Lake.
Ashton was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1981 provincial election
, defeating Progressive Conservative
incumbent Ken MacMaster
by 72 votes in the constituency of Thompson. At the time of his first election, Ashton was involved in an INCO strike in the Thompson area as a member of the United Steelworkers of America. He was re-elected in the 1986 election
by a greater margin. Ashton did not serve in the cabinet of Howard Pawley
.
The NDP were defeated in the provincial election of 1988
, although Ashton won his own riding by a comfortable margin. He would later serve as House Leader for the NDP in opposition, and was easily re-elected in the provincial elections of 1990
, 1995
and 1999
. In 1995, he supported Lorne Nystrom
's bid to lead the federal New Democratic Party
.
When NDP leader Gary Doer
became Premier of Manitoba
in October 1999, Ashton was appointed Minister of Highways and Government Services. On July 4, 2000, he was charged with administration of the Gaming Control Act; his ministry was renamed as Transportation and Government Services on January 17, 2001. Following a cabinet shuffle on September 25, 2002, Ashton became Minister of Conservation (in which capacity he argued for national approval of the Kyoto Accord on climate change). On June 25, 2003, he was also made Minister of Labour and Immigration with responsibility for Multiculturalism and administration of the Worker's Compensation Act
.
In 2003, Ashton supported Bill Blaikie
's campaign to become leader of the federal NDP.
Ashton was re-elected in the 2003 election
with over 82% of the vote in his constituency. On November 4, 2003, he was named as the province's first Minister of Water Stewardship (created after highly-publicized water contamination tragedies in Walkerton
, Ontario
and North Battleford, Saskatchewan
).
Ashton is also Secretary of the Canadian Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles, seeking the return of the treasured sculptures from Britain to Greece
. He speaks Greek, and has written on the political culture of that nation.
His daughter, Niki Ashton
, is also a politician and is the New Democratic Party
Member of Parliament for the riding of Churchill.
Ashton was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election
and in September 2007 he was appointed Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Organization.
On September 4, 2009, Ashton announced his candidacy to succeed Gary Doer as leader of the Manitoba NDP.
Upon Greg Selinger's election as premier, Ashton was made Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation
, with the added responsibilities of Emergency Measures
and the administration of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act
. He is also the lead minister for Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure programs.
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 is a long-serving member of the Manitoba legislature, and is currently a 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 Greg Selinger.
Ashton moved with his family to Thompson
Thompson, Manitoba
Thompson is a city in northern Manitoba. As the "Hub of the North" it serves as the regional trade and service centre of northern Manitoba. Thompson is located north of the Canada – United States border, north of the provincial capital of Winnipeg, and is northeast of Flin Flon...
, in northern Manitoba, at age eleven. He was educated at R.D. Parker Collegiate in that community, the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
and Lakehead University
Lakehead University
Lakehead University is a public research university in Thunder Bay, and Orillia, Ontario, Canada.Lakehead University, shortened to 'Lakehead U', or 'LU', is non-denominational and provincially supported. It has undergraduate and graduate programs and a medical school.The school has more than 45,000...
in Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. He was President of the University of Manitoba Students Union in 1978-79 and has lectured in Economics for the former Inter Universities North in Thompson and Cross Lake.
Ashton was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1981 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1981
The Manitoba general election of November 17, 1981 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the opposition New Democratic Party, which took 34 of 57 seats. The governing Progressive Conservative Party took the remaining 23, while the...
, 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:...
incumbent Ken MacMaster
Ken MacMaster
Kenneth MacMaster is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1977 to 1981, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Sterling Lyon....
by 72 votes in the constituency of Thompson. At the time of his first election, Ashton was involved in an INCO strike in the Thompson area as a member of the United Steelworkers of America. He was re-elected in the 1986 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...
by a greater margin. Ashton did not serve in the cabinet 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:...
.
The NDP were defeated in the provincial election of 1988
Manitoba general election, 1988
The Manitoba general election of April 26, 1988 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a minority government...
, although Ashton won his own riding by a comfortable margin. He would later serve as House Leader for the NDP in opposition, and was easily re-elected in the provincial elections of 1990
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...
, 1995
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...
and 1999
Manitoba general election, 1999
The Manitoba general election of September 21, 1999 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada....
. In 1995, he 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 bid to lead 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...
.
When NDP leader 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...
became Premier of Manitoba
Premier of Manitoba
The Premier of Manitoba is the first minister for the Canadian province of Manitoba. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. Until the early 1970s, the title "Prime Minister of Manitoba" was used frequently. Afterwards, the word Premier, derived from the French...
in October 1999, Ashton was appointed Minister of Highways and Government Services. On July 4, 2000, he was charged with administration of the Gaming Control Act; his ministry was renamed as Transportation and Government Services on January 17, 2001. Following a cabinet shuffle on September 25, 2002, Ashton became Minister of Conservation (in which capacity he argued for national approval of the Kyoto Accord on climate change). On June 25, 2003, he was also made Minister of Labour and Immigration with responsibility for Multiculturalism and administration of the Worker's Compensation Act
Workers Compensation Act (Manitoba ministerial responsibility)
Since 1981, the Executive Council of Manitoba has included a Minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Act. The specific ministerial designation has changed several times...
.
In 2003, Ashton 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.
Ashton was re-elected in the 2003 election
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...
with over 82% of the vote in his constituency. On November 4, 2003, he was named as the province's first Minister of Water Stewardship (created after highly-publicized water contamination tragedies in Walkerton
Walkerton, Ontario
Walkerton is a community in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within and governed by the municipality of Brockton. It is the site of Brockton's municipal offices and the county seat of Bruce County...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and North Battleford, 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....
).
Ashton is also Secretary of the Canadian Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles, seeking the return of the treasured sculptures from Britain to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. He speaks Greek, and has written on the political culture of that nation.
His daughter, Niki Ashton
Niki Ashton
Niki Christina Ashton is the New Democratic Member of Parliament for the electoral district of Churchill in Manitoba, Canada. She was first elected in the 2008 federal election....
, is also a politician and is the 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...
Member of Parliament for the riding of Churchill.
Ashton 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...
and in September 2007 he was appointed Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Organization.
On September 4, 2009, Ashton announced his candidacy to succeed Gary Doer as leader of the Manitoba NDP.
Upon Greg Selinger's election as premier, Ashton was made Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation
Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation (Manitoba)
The Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation is a cabinet minister in the government of Manitoba, Canada.The position was created in 1999 by a merger of the departments of Highways and Transportation and the Government Services. The new department was initially called the Ministry of Highways...
, with the added responsibilities of Emergency Measures
Minister responsible for Emergency Measures (Manitoba)
The Ministry responsible for Emergency Measures is a government position in the province of Manitoba, Canada. It is not a full ministerial portfolio, and has always been held by a member of the government with other ministerial responsibilities....
and the administration of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act
Minister responsible for the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act
The Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act is a government position in the province of Manitoba, Canada...
. He is also the lead minister for Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure programs.
Electoral results
| New Democratic Party of Manitoba leadership election, 2009 New Democratic Party of Manitoba leadership election, 2009 The New Democratic Party of Manitoba leadership election of 2009 was prompted by former leader Gary Doer's resignation. Doer announced on August 27, 2009 that he intended to resign as leader of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba and Premier of Manitoba and the next day he announced that he was to... |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
| Greg Selinger | 1,317 | 65.75% |
| Steve Ashton | 685 | 34.20% |
| Spoiled ballots | 1 | 0.05% |
| Total | 2,003 | 100.00% |