Wally McKenzie
Encyclopedia
James Wallace McKenzie (June 16, 1914 in Plenty
, Saskatchewan
– September 11, 1999) was a politician
in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a Progressive Conservative
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1966 to 1986.
McKenzie was the son of homesteaders who had moved to Manitoba from Ontario
. In the 1930s, he earned extra money by performing in dance bands. He did not attend university, and worked as a grain byer after leaving high school. McKenzie served in the Royal Canadian Air Force
from 1941 to 1945, and returned to his old job following the conclusion of World War II
. When his employer was bought out by Pool elevators, he opened a grocery store in Inglis, Manitoba
.
From 1955 to 1963, he was a member of the Inglis town council. He also served as President of the North Central Hockey League in 1965.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1966
, in the riding of Roblin, defeating New Democrat
Joseph Perchaluk by just over 200 votes. He did not serve in the cabinets
of Dufferin Roblin
or Walter Weir
, and sat as a backbench MLA on the government side for the next three years.
In the provincial election of 1969
, McKenzie narrowly defeated fellow incumbent Mike Kawchuk of the NDP in the redistributed riding of Roblin. The NDP under Edward Schreyer
formed government after this election, and McKenzie moved to the opposition benches. He was re-elected by an increased margin in the 1973 election
, due in part to the fact that there was no Liberal
candidate in the race.
The Progressive Conservatives returned to power until Sterling Lyon
in the 1977 election
. McKenzie, easily re-elected in his own riding, was named Deputy Speaker
of the assembly on November 24, 1977. He did not serve in Lyon's cabinet.
McKenzie was re-elected again for the new riding of Roblin-Russell in the 1981 provincial election
, which the Tories lost. He retired from politics in 1986.
Plenty, Saskatchewan
- See also :* List of communities in Saskatchewan* Villages of Saskatchewan-External links:***-Footnotes:...
, 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....
– September 11, 1999) was a politician
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 was a 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:...
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 1966 to 1986.
McKenzie was the son of homesteaders who had moved to Manitoba from 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....
. In the 1930s, he earned extra money by performing in dance bands. He did not attend university, and worked as a grain byer after leaving high school. McKenzie served in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
from 1941 to 1945, and returned to his old job following the conclusion of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. When his employer was bought out by Pool elevators, he opened a grocery store in Inglis, Manitoba
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...
.
From 1955 to 1963, he was a member of the Inglis town council. He also served as President of the North Central Hockey League in 1965.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1966
Manitoba general election, 1966
The Manitoba general election held on June 23, 1966, was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a third consecutive majority win for the Progressive Conservative Party led by Dufferin Roblin...
, in the riding of Roblin, defeating New Democrat
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...
Joseph Perchaluk by just over 200 votes. He did not serve in the cabinets
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin "Duff" Roblin, PC, CC, OM was a Canadian businessman and politician. Known as "Duff," he served as the 14th Premier of Manitoba from 1958 to 1967. Roblin was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In the government of Brian Mulroney, he served as...
or Walter Weir
Walter Weir
Walter C. Weir was a politician who served as the 15th Premier of Manitoba from 1967 to 1969.Weir was born in High Bluff, Manitoba, and worked as a funeral director. He served as chairman of the Minnedosa Hospital Board from 1955 to 1957, and of the Minnedosa Town Council from 1958 to 1959...
, and sat as a backbench MLA on the government side for the next three years.
In the provincial election of 1969
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...
, McKenzie narrowly defeated fellow incumbent Mike Kawchuk of the NDP in the redistributed riding of Roblin. The NDP under 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....
formed government after this election, and McKenzie moved to the opposition benches. He was re-elected by an increased margin 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...
, due in part to the fact that there was no Liberal
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 :...
candidate in the race.
The Progressive Conservatives returned to power until Sterling Lyon
Sterling Lyon
Sterling Rufus Lyon, PC, OC was a lawyer, cabinet minister, and the 17th Premier of Manitoba, Canada from 1977 to 1981. His government introduced several fiscally-conservative measures, and was sometimes seen as a local version of the government of Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom...
in the 1977 election
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...
. McKenzie, easily re-elected in his own riding, was named Deputy Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the assembly on November 24, 1977. He did not serve in Lyon's cabinet.
McKenzie was re-elected again for the new riding of Roblin-Russell 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...
, which the Tories lost. He retired from politics in 1986.