Some of the History of the Liberal Party in Manitoba (so far...)

    The Liberal Party in Manitoba played a major role in fostering the growth and development of Manitoba, particularily during it's formative years.  During Maintoba's first 90 years, Manitobans repeatedly elected Liberal leaders to the Legislature.

    In 1888, Thomas Greenway was elected as the first Liberal Premier of Manitoba.  Greenway and his Liberal caucus formed the first declared partisian government in Manitoba.  Premier Greenway was a prominent figure in the history of Manitoba politics.  He lead the province for 12 years and was Liberal Party Leader for more then 20 years.  Under his leadership, the Liberal Party elevated Manitoba to a position of equality with the older, more established provinces in the Dominion.

    T.C. Norris succeeded Greenway as party leader and was elected Premier in 1914, defeating Rodmond Roblin and his Conservative government.  Norris successfully implemented extensive reforms, including giving equal voting rights to women and making education compulsory in the province.

    In 1931, the Liberal Party chose Dr. Murdoch Mackay as it's new leader.  At this time, the United Farmers of Manitoba had governed for nine years under John Bracken.  It was during this period that the province was encountering serious economic problems due to the world wide Depression.  Because of these challenges, a party coalition took place in Manitoba.  The election of 1932 saw John Bracken return as premier and an overwhelming majority for the newly united Liberal-Progressive Party.

    The 1940s was a decade of significant change for the Manitoba Liberal Party.  In 1942, Bracken resigned from provincial politics and the Premiership was passed to S.S. Garson.  In 1948 Garson was succeeded by Douglas L. Campbell, who carried the leadership of the Liberal Party and the Premiership of the province for ten years.  Ultimately, Duff Roblin and the Conservatives defeated the Campbell administration in the 1958 general election.  Gildas Molgat took over the leadership of the Liberal Party during the next decade.  Molgat and his team provided strong and effective opposition in the legislature.

    The 1970s and early 1980s proved to be a very challenging time for Manitoba's Liberal Party as it underwent declining popularity and many changes in leadership, including a period when there was no leader (1982-1984).  Bobby Bend was leader from 1969 to 1971; Israel (Izzy) Asper from 1971 to 1975; Charles Huband from 1976 to 1978; and Doug Laughlan from 1980 to 1982.

    In 1984, the Liberal Party made history by electing Sharon Carstairs as leader.  Carstairs was the first Manitoba female to hold such an office.  Known for standing on principals and acting on personal convictions, Carstairs demonstrated strong leadership and is widely credited with reviving the Liberal Party.  Today the party enjoys a solid core of support evidenced by a significant share of the popular vote in recent elections and a core of seats in the Legislature.

    In 1993, Paul Edwards became the new leader of the Party under the one-member, one-vote process.  In the past, only delegates could vote for leader.  This new voting process gave every member of the party a vote.  Under his leadership, the membership grew and the party made a financial comeback.  In the 1995 election, due to Edwards popularity, there were more contested nominations then ever before.  The party took principaled stands on social issues such as the declining state of the health care system and the governments heavy reliance on gambling revenues.

    In 1996, Ginny Hasselfield, former President of the Liberal Party, became the second woman in the history of the party to be elected as leader.  The Liberal Party is the only political party in Manitoba that has ever elected female leaders.  The tradition of the one-memeber, one-vote process was continued for her election, with the other parties not yet attuned to this process.

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