Ron Lemieux
MLA
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Sport and Consumer Protection
In office
October 18, 2013 – May 3, 2016
PremierGreg Selinger
Preceded byFlor Marcelino
Manitoba Minister of Local Government
In office
November 3, 2009 – October 18, 2013
PremierGreg Selinger
Preceded bySteve Ashton
Succeeded byStan Struthers
Manitoba Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation
In office
September 21, 2006 – November 3, 2009
PremierGary Doer
Greg Selinger
Preceded bynew portfolio
Succeeded bySteve Ashton
Manitoba Minister of Transportation and Government Services
In office
November 4, 2003 – September 21, 2006
PremierGary Doer
Preceded byScott Smith
Succeeded byportfolio abolished
Manitoba Minister of Education and Youth
In office
September 25, 2002 – November 4, 2003
PremierGary Doer
Preceded byDrew Caldwell
Succeeded byPeter Bjornson
Manitoba Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism
In office
January 17, 2001 – September 25, 2002
PremierGary Doer
Preceded byDiane McGifford
Succeeded byEric Robinson
Manitoba Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs
In office
October 5, 1999 – January 17, 2001
PremierGary Doer
Preceded byShirley Render
Succeeded byScott Smith
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Dawson Trail
La Verendrye, 1999–2011
In office
October 4, 2011 – April 19, 2016
Preceded bynew constituency
Succeeded byBob Lagassé
In office
September 21, 1999 – October 4, 2011
Preceded byBen Sveinson
Succeeded byDennis Smook
Personal details
Born (1950-08-15) August 15, 1950
Dauphin, Manitoba
Political partyNew Democratic Party
Residence(s)Lorette, Manitoba
Alma materUniversity of Winnipeg
University of Manitoba

Ron Lemieux, MLA (born August 15, 1950) is a Canadian politician, who was an elected member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1999 to 2016, and a former professional ice hockey player.[1][2]

Born in Dauphin, Manitoba, Lemieux was an ice hockey defenceman and was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins 110th overall in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft. Lemieux started with the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, helping the Kings to the Manitoba championship in 1971–72.[3] He played for the Green Bay Bobcats in the United States Hockey League for the 1974–75 season (scoring seven goals and eighteen assists), but was never called up to the NHL. He later coached girls' hockey in Lorette, Manitoba and St. Adolphe.[4]

After leaving hockey, Lemieux received degrees in Bachelor of Arts in 1979 and Bachelor of Education in 1985 from the University of Winnipeg.[5][6] He completed post-baccalaureate work in education at the University of Manitoba.[1][7] He worked as a teacher for several years, coaching various high school teams and holding positions in the teacher's association.[2]

In the provincial election of 1999, Lemieux was elected to the Manitoba legislature for the rural riding of La Verendrye, defeating Progressive Conservative incumbent Ben Sveinson by 3,533 votes to 3,367. Lemieux's victory was something of an upset, as it occurred in a riding which had never before been won by the New Democratic Party or its social-democratic predecessors (despite having existed since 1879).

On October 5, 1999, Premier of Manitoba Gary Doer appointed Lemieux to be Minister of Consumer of Corporate Affairs, with responsibility for the Gaming Control Act. He was relieved of the latter responsibility on July 4, 2000; after a cabinet shuffle on January 17, 2001, he was appointed Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism with responsibility for Sport.

Lemieux later served as Minister of Education and Youth from September 25, 2002, until he was reassigned as Minister of Transportation and Government Services on November 4, 2003. In the 2003 election, Lemieux was re-elected with 58% of his riding's vote.

In September 2006 he was appointed Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation in Gary Doer's new cabinet.[8]

In November 2009, Premier Greg Selinger named Lemieux as Minister of Local Government. He served in this capacity until October 2013, when he became Minister of Tourism, Culture, Sport and Consumer Protection. He did not seek a fifth term as MLA at the 2016 provincial election.[1]

Lemieux has described his political views as being closer to the "New Labour" philosophy espoused by former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair than to traditional democratic socialism. In 2003, he supported Bill Blaikie's campaign to become leader of the federal New Democratic Party.[9] He was re-elected in the 2007 and 2011 provincial elections.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "MLA Biographies - Living". Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Ron Lemieux". New Democratic Party of Manitoba. Archived from the original on September 17, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  3. ↑ Taylor, Derek (April 29, 2013). "In The Elevator: Ron Lemieux". Global News.
  4. ↑ "Ron Lemieux career profile". hockeydraftcentral.com.
  5. ↑ "Electoral Divisions: Dawson Trail". Manitoba Votes 2011. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2011. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  6. ↑ Van der Graaf, Betsy (2003). Cherney, Lois (ed.). "Class Acts" (PDF). The Journal. University of Winnipeg: 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-01-06. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Cabinet Ministers: Ron Lemieux". Government of Manitoba. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  8. ↑ Squires, Rochelle (September 22, 2006). "Premier's New Lineup". Winnipeg Sun. p. 4.
  9. ↑ "Cross Canada Support for Bill". Bill Blaikie, Elmwood—Transcona. Archived from the original on April 1, 2007. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
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