Bill Uruski
Encyclopedia
Bill Uruski is a politician
in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1969 to 1990, and was a cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party
governments of Edward Schreyer
and Howard Pawley
.
Uruski did not attend a university; however, he was a Royal Canadian Mounted Police
constable from 1962 to 1967, and also worked as a farmer
before entering public life.
Uruski was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1969
, defeating longtime Liberal
MLA Elman Guttormson
in the rural, mid-northern riding of St. George. The NDP formed government after this election, and Uruski served as a government backbencher for the next four years.
Uruski defeated Guttormson again in the 1973 provincial election
, despite the fact that the Progressive Conservative Party
declined to run a candidate for fear of vote-splitting with the Liberals. On August 29, 1973, he was named a Minister without Portfolio
, responsible for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation and the Motor Vehicle Branch. On March 31, 1976 he was also given responsibility for the Civil Service Act. On September 22, 1976, he was promoted to Minister of Municipal Affairs, still retaining responsibility for the CSA.
The NDP were defeated in the general election of 1977
, and Uruski was re-elected by a reduced margin. There were some suggestions that he would run to succeed Schreyer as party leader in 1979, although these ultimately came to nothing.
Howard Pawley led the NDP to a majority government in the 1981 election
, and Uruski was re-elected in the redistributed riding of Interlake. He returned to cabinet on November 30, 1981, as Minister of Agriculture. Until August 20, 1982, he also held responsibility for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act. Uruski attempted to develop his party's support base in rural Manitoba while serving as Agriculture Minister, though he had little success to this end. He did, however, attain some success in opening Manitoba hog production to the American marketplace.
On September 21, 1987, Uruski was again made Minister of Municipal Affairs with responsibility for the MPIC. Early in 1988, the NDP were unexpectedly defeated in the legislature when backbencher MLA Jim Walding
voted with the opposition in an evenly divided house. Uruski was one of only twelve New Democrats re-elected in the election which followed
, and formally stepped down from cabinet with the resignation of his government on May 9, 1988. He did not seek re-election in 1990.
Uruski was known as a promoter of aboriginal issues during his time in government (his riding has a large aboriginal population). In 1995, he was among the first to investigate alleged connections between the supposedly autonomous Independent Native Voice
party and the Progressive Conservatives, after reports circulated that Interlake INV candidate Darryl Sutherland was running at the behest of local Tory interests with the intent of splitting the NDP vote. These allegations would become public three years later, and a public inquiry would rule that Sutherland had, in fact, been persuaded to run by local Tory organizers. In 1999, Uruski served as the NDP campaign manager in Interlake, working for party candidate Tom Nevakshonoff.
Uruski later became part of the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council Inc.. He also returned to farming, and served on the board of the Manitoba Turkey Producers organization. In 2003, he represented the Poultry Welfare Coalition in a presentation to the Canadian Senate
. He has criticized the tactics of the Monsanto Company in expanding their corporate base in the Canadian prairies.
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 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 1969 to 1990, and was 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...
governments of 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....
and 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:...
.
Uruski did not attend a university; however, he was a Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
constable from 1962 to 1967, and also worked as a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
before entering public life.
Uruski was first elected to the Manitoba legislature 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...
, defeating longtime 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 :...
MLA Elman Guttormson
Elman Guttormson
Elman Kreisler Guttormson was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1956 to 1969....
in the rural, mid-northern riding of St. George. The NDP formed government after this election, and Uruski served as a government backbencher for the next four years.
Uruski defeated Guttormson again in the 1973 provincial 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...
, despite the fact that the Progressive Conservative Party
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:...
declined to run a candidate for fear of vote-splitting with the Liberals. On August 29, 1973, he was named a Minister without Portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
, responsible for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation and the Motor Vehicle Branch. On March 31, 1976 he was also given responsibility for the Civil Service Act. On September 22, 1976, he was promoted to Minister of Municipal Affairs, still retaining responsibility for the CSA.
The NDP were defeated in the general election of 1977
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...
, and Uruski was re-elected by a reduced margin. There were some suggestions that he would run to succeed Schreyer as party leader in 1979, although these ultimately came to nothing.
Howard Pawley led the NDP to a majority government in the 1981 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...
, and Uruski was re-elected in the redistributed riding of Interlake. He returned to cabinet on November 30, 1981, as Minister of Agriculture. Until August 20, 1982, he also held responsibility for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act. Uruski attempted to develop his party's support base in rural Manitoba while serving as Agriculture Minister, though he had little success to this end. He did, however, attain some success in opening Manitoba hog production to the American marketplace.
On September 21, 1987, Uruski was again made Minister of Municipal Affairs with responsibility for the MPIC. Early in 1988, the NDP were unexpectedly defeated in the legislature when backbencher MLA Jim Walding
Jim Walding
Derek James "Jim" Walding was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1971 to 1988, and served as speaker of the assembly from 1982 to 1986. Walding was a member of the New Democratic Party...
voted with the opposition in an evenly divided house. Uruski was one of only twelve New Democrats re-elected in the election which followed
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...
, and formally stepped down from cabinet with the resignation of his government on May 9, 1988. He did not seek re-election in 1990.
Uruski was known as a promoter of aboriginal issues during his time in government (his riding has a large aboriginal population). In 1995, he was among the first to investigate alleged connections between the supposedly autonomous Independent Native Voice
Independent Native Voice
Independent Native Voice, also known as Native Voice, was a short-lived political party in Manitoba, Canada. It was created in 1995 to address aboriginal issues, and ran three candidates in the 1995 provincial election. Native Voice was not registered with Elections Manitoba, and its candidates...
party and the Progressive Conservatives, after reports circulated that Interlake INV candidate Darryl Sutherland was running at the behest of local Tory interests with the intent of splitting the NDP vote. These allegations would become public three years later, and a public inquiry would rule that Sutherland had, in fact, been persuaded to run by local Tory organizers. In 1999, Uruski served as the NDP campaign manager in Interlake, working for party candidate Tom Nevakshonoff.
Uruski later became part of the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council Inc.. He also returned to farming, and served on the board of the Manitoba Turkey Producers organization. In 2003, he represented the Poultry Welfare Coalition in a presentation to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
. He has criticized the tactics of the Monsanto Company in expanding their corporate base in the Canadian prairies.