Minister of Infrastructure (Manitoba)

The Minister of Infrastructure (French: Ministre de l'Infrastructure) is a cabinet position in the government of Manitoba charged with oversight of the department of Manitoba Infrastructure. The department

"is responsible for the development of transportation policy and legislation, and for the management of the province’s vast infrastructure network."

— "Government of Manitoba"[1]

On May 3, 2016, Blaine Pedersen was appointed to the portfolio by the Progressive Conservative government of Brian Pallister.[2][3]

History

1871–1967 Minister of Public Works

The Minister of Public Works was created on January 13, 1871, carrying out the responsibilities of the Board of Public Works from the defunct Council of Assiniboia. The minister was responsible for overseeing the new government's involvement in the development and maintenance of roads, bridges, ferries and related services.

The first Public Works minister of Manitoba was Thomas Howard, who resigned from the position after only ten days to exchange portfolios with Provincial Secretary Alfred Boyd. Until Edward Hay's resignation in 1874, all ministers of Public Works in Manitoba were also ministers of Agriculture (J.H. Ellis, The Ministry of Agriculture in Manitoba, p. 54).

Manitoba's population increased significantly in the late nineteenth century, and the department of Public Works became increasingly important in providing services to new arrivals. During the premiership of Rodmond Roblin (1900–1915), the department became especially powerful as a tool of government patronage. Robert Rogers, who held the portfolio for eleven years, was sometimes regarded as the second-most-important figure in the Roblin government.

In late 1914, Public Works Minister Walter Humphries Montague was forced to announce that expenditures for the province's new legislative buildings would be exceeded by fifty per cent. Roblin was forced to appoint a Royal Commission to study the controversy, and his government resigned from office the following year after the commission report identified instances government corruption and kickbacks. Montague was indicted on fraud charges, but died before legal proceedings could begin.[4]

In later years, specific government works were taken away from the Public Works ministry and allocated to separate portfolios. The position gradually came to have less authority, though it remained responsible for road construction and related projects in mid-century.

Upon the establishment of an all-party coalition government in 1940, Progressive Conservative leader Errick French Willis was appointed as Public Works minister under a Liberal-Progressive premier. He held the position for ten years, until the Progressive Conservatives left the coalition.

1967–1999 Division into two ministries

In 1967, a new position was created, the Minister of Highways. Initially, it was held by Walter Weir, the Minister of Public Works at the time of its creation. Later that year, Stewart McLean was appointed to the Public Works portfolio while Weir continued in the Highways position. In 1968, the government of Walter Weir expanded the role of the former department of Public Works to provide common services needed by all departments, renaming it Government Services to signal the change in its operation.[5] Thelma Forbes became the new Minister of Government Services.[6] At the same time, Minister of Highways was renamed Minister of Transportation and McLean appointed to the portfolio.[7][8]

The NDP administration of Edward Schreyer kept the name Minister of Transportation and appointed Joseph Borowski in 1969. At the same time Minister of Public Works became the Minister of Government Services with the appointment of Howard Pawley. Pawley was succeeded in the position later that year by Russell Paulley. In 1970, Joseph Borowski left the Transportation portfolio for the renamed Minister of Public Works. Peter Burtniak succeeded Borowski as Minister of Highways. Russell Doern succeeded Borowski in 1971.[7][8]

The Conservative government led by Sterling Lyon changed Public Works back to Minister of Government Services with the appointment of Harry Enns in 1977. Enns held the Minister of Highways at the same time. In 1978, Sidney Spivak was appointed to the Government Services portfolio. Enns continued as the renamed Minister of Highways and Transport. Enns was succeeded by Donald Orchard in 1979, while Enns succeeded Spivak in the Government Services office. In 1981, Warner H. Jorgenson became Minister of Government Services.[7][8]

In 1981, the NDP government led by Howard Pawley appointed Sam Uskiw as both Minister of Highways and Transportation and Minister of Government Services. In 1982, John Plohman was appointed Minister of Government Services. A year later Plohman was appointed Minister of Highways and Transportation and Aimé Adam succeeded him in Government Services. John Plohman assumed the Government services portfolio again in 1985, holding both positions until the appointment of Harry Harapiak to Government Services in early 1987. John Bucklaschuk was appointed to the renamed Minister of Highways later that same year.[7][8]

In 1988, the Conservative government led by Gary Filmon appointed Albert Driedger as Minister of Government Services and Minister of Highways and Transportation. He was succeeded as Minister of Government Services by Gerald Ducharme in 1991. Driedger retained the Highways and Transportation portfolio until the appointment of Glen Findlay in 1993. Brian Pallister was appointed Minister of Government Services in 1995. Frank Pitura succeeded Pallister in 1997. Darren Praznik was appointed Minister of Highways and Transportation in early 1999.

1999 to Present

In 1999, the incoming government of Gary Doer combined the two ministries into a single portfolio, the Minister of Highways and Government Services. In 2001, it was renamed Minister of Transportation and Government Services. In 2006, the position name changed to Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation. In 2016, the name was shortened to the Minister of Infrastructure by the incoming government of Brian Pallister.

List of Ministers

Between 1871 and 1967, the Minister of Public Works held oversight over roads and government buildings.[7]

1871-1967[7]
  Party Name Took Office Left Office
Ministers of Public Works
Conservative Thomas Howard January 13, 1871 January 23, 1871
Government Alfred Boyd January 23, 1871 December 14, 1871
Conservative John Norquay December 14, 1871 July 8, 1874
Liberal Edward Hay July 8, 1874 December 2, 1874
Conservative Joseph Royal[9] December 3, 1874 May 11, 1876
Conservative John Norquay May 11, 1876 October 16, 1878
Conservative Joseph Royal October 16, 1878 May 1879
Government Samuel Biggs[10] May 1879 June 1879
Liberal Corydon Brown June 1879 August 27, 1886
Conservative David H. Wilson August 27, 1886 December 24, 1887
Conservative David H. Wilson December 26, 1887 January 19, 1888
Liberal James Smart January 19, 1888 May 26, 1892
Liberal Robert Watson May 26, 1892 January 6, 1900
Conservative David H. McFadden January 10, 1900 December 20, 1900
Conservative Robert Rogers December 20, 1900 October 7, 1911
Conservative Colin H. Campbell October 11, 1911 November 4, 1913
Conservative Walter Humphries Montague November 4, 1913 May 12, 1915
Liberal Thomas Herman Johnson May 15, 1915 November 10, 1917
Liberal George Grierson November 10, 1917 January 20, 1921
Liberal Charles Duncan McPherson January 20, 1921 August 8, 1922
Farmer William Clubb August 8, 1922 February 22, 1929
Progressive Donald McKenzie (Acting) February 22, 1929 May 18, 1929
Progressive William Clubb May 18, 1929 1932
Lib–Progressive 1932 November 4, 1940
PC Errick Willis November 4, 1940 August 19, 1950
Lib–Progressive William Morton August 19, 1950 January 28, 1955
Lib–Progressive Francis Campbell Bell January 25, 1955 July 6, 1956
Lib–Progressive Ronald Robertson July 6, 1956 June 30, 1958
Conservative Errick Willis June 30, 1958 December 21, 1959
PC John Thompson December 21, 1959 October 24, 1962
PC Walter Weir November 5, 1962 July 22, 1967

Between 1967 and 1999, the portfolio was divided into two positions: Minister of Public Works and the Minister of Highways. These two positions remained distinct through a number of administrations and name changes. On occasion, both portfolios were held by the same individual at the same time.[8][7]

1967-1999 Minister of Public Works...[8][7]
  Party Name Took Office Left Office
Ministers of Public Works
PC Stewart McLean July 22, 1967 September 24, 1968
Minister of Government Services
PC Thelma Forbes September 24, 1968 July 15, 1969
New Democratic Howard Pawley July 15, 1969 December 18, 1969
New Democratic Russell Paulley December 18, 1969 September 3, 1970
Minister of Public Works
New Democratic Joseph Borowski September 3, 1970 September 8, 1971
New Democratic Russell Doern(*) September 9, 1971 October 24, 1977
Minister of Government Services
PC Harry Enns October 24, 1977 October 20, 1978
PC Sidney Spivak October 20, 1978 April 12, 1979
PC Harry Enns April 12, 1979 January 16, 1981
PC Warner H. Jorgenson January 16, 1981 November 30, 1981
New Democratic Sam Uskiw November 30, 1981 August 20, 1982
New Democratic John Plohman August 20, 1982 November 4, 1983
New Democratic Aimé Adam November 4, 1983 January 30, 1985
New Democratic John Plohman January 30, 1985 February 4, 1987
New Democratic Harry Harapiak February 4, 1987 May 9, 1988
PC Albert Driedger May 9, 1988 February 5, 1991
PC Gerald Ducharme February 5, 1991 May 9, 1995
PC Brian Pallister May 9, 1995 January 6, 1997
PC Frank Pitura January 6, 1997 October 5, 1999
  • Doern was acting minister until April 13, 1972.
1967-1999 Minister of Highways...[8][7]
  Party Name Took Office Left Office
Minister of Highways
PC Walter Weir July 1, 1967 November 27, 1967
PC Harry Enns (Acting) November 27, 1967 September 24, 1968
Minister of Transportation
PC Stewart McLean September 24, 1968 July 15, 1969
New Democratic Joseph Borowski July 17, 1969 September 8, 1971
Minister of Highways
New Democratic Peter Burtniak September 9, 1971 October 24, 1977
PC Harry Enns October 24, 1977 October 20, 1978
Minister of Highways and Transport
PC Harry Enns October 20, 1978 November 15, 1979
PC Donald Orchard November 15, 1979 November 30, 1981
Minister of Highways and Transportation
New Democratic Sam Uskiw November 30, 1981 November 4, 1983
New Democratic John Plohman November 4, 1983 September 21, 1987
Minister of Highways
New Democratic John Bucklaschuk September 21, 1987 May 9, 1988
Minister of Highways and Transportation
PC Albert Driedger May 9, 1988 September 10, 1993
PC Glen Findlay September 10, 1993 February 5, 1999
PC Darren Praznik February 5, 1999 October 5, 1999

In 1999, the two ministries were once again united.

1999-Current[8][7]
  Party Name Took Office Left Office
Minister of Highways and Government Services
New Democratic Steve Ashton October 5, 1999 January 17, 2001
Minister of Transportation and Government Services
New Democratic Steve Ashton January 17, 2001 September 25, 2002
New Democratic Scott Smith September 25, 2002 November 4, 2003
New Democratic Ron Lemieux November 4, 2003 September 21, 2006
Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation
New Democratic Ron Lemieux September 21, 2006 November 3, 2009
New Democratic Steve Ashton November 3, 2009 December 22, 2014
New Democratic Ron Kostyshyn December 23, 2014 April 29, 2015
New Democratic Steve Ashton April 29, 2015 May 3, 2016
Minister of Infrastructure
PC Blaine Pedersen May 3, 2016 incumbent
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References
  1. "About the Department". Manitoba Infrastructure. Government of Manitoba. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  2. "Brian Pallister sworn in as Manitoba premier". CBC News. May 3, 2016. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
  3. "Meet Manitoba's new government cabinet members". CBC News. May 3, 2016. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
  4. Orlikow, Lionel. "The Reform Movement in Manitoba, 1910–1915". Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  5. Weir, Walter. "Statement by Premier Weir on government changes at press conference" (PDF). News Archive. Manitoba Government. Retrieved 28 July 2017. In order that these program, or line, departments can operate more effectively and efficiently, the department of public works has been expanded to provide additional services common to all departments. Its new name is the Department of Government Services.
  6. "Thelma Forbes". Passages. Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 28 July 2017. In 1968, under new Premier Walter Weir, she became Minister of Government Services.
  7. "MLA Biographies - Deceased". Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  8. "MLA Biographies - Living". Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  9. Silver, A.I. "Royal, Joseph". Dictionary of Canadian biography. University of Toronto/Université Laval. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  10. Goldsborough, Gordon. "Samuel Clarke Biggs (1851-1911)". Memorable Manitobans. Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
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