Charles Greenlay
Encyclopedia
Charles Edwin Greenlay was a politician in Manitoba, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
as a from 1943 to 1959, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of Stuart Garson
and Douglas Campbell
.
.
, to pursue Provincial politics, he was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in a by-election
held on November 18, 1943, replacing William Raymond Sexsmith. At this time, Manitoba was governed by a coalition of Liberal-Progressives
and Conservatives
. Running in Portage La Prairie, Greenlay easily won election as a pro-coalition Conservative. Shortly after his election, the Conservatives renamed themselves as Progressive Conservatives.
Greenlay was re-elected as a coalition Progressive Conservative in the general election of 1945
, defeating opponents from the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and Labour Progressive Party. On February 14, 1946, he was appointed to Stuart Garson's cabinet as Provincial Secretary
. When Douglas Campbell replaced Garson as Premier of Manitoba
on December 14, 1948, he named Greenlay as his Minister of Labour. Greenlay would hold this portfolio until 1958, usually in tandem with other ministerial responsibilities.
Greenlay was re-elected without opposition in the 1949 provincial election
. The following year, the Progressive Conservatives left the coalition government to sit on the opposition benches. Greenlay opposed this decision, and left the Progressive Conservatives to sit as a Liberal-Progressive. He was named Provincial Secretary again on February 13, 1950, also retaining the Minister of Labour portfolio.
Greenlay was re-elected as a Liberal-Progressive in the 1953 election
, defeating his Progressive Conservative opponent by 324 votes. After a cabinet shuffle on September 4, 1953, he was named Minister of Mines and Natural Resources. During this time, he was instrumental in the leadership to create a recreational area for all Manitobans to enjoy, the Whiteshell Provincial Park. On July 6, 1956, he was promoted to Provincial Treasurer.
The Liberal-Progressives were defeated by the Progressive Conservatives in the 1958 provincial election
, although Greenlay was re-elected in Portage la Prairie with an increased majority. In the 1959 election
, however, he lost his seat to Progressive Conservative candidate John Christianson
by 473 votes. Manitoba CCF leader Lloyd Stinson
once described Greenlay as "a mild, quiet little man, not lacking in ability but essentially cautious and stubborn". Likeable on a personal level, he was a very conservative administrator. His decision to switch parties in 1950 was met with little controversy.
Upon retiring, Greenlay and his wife, Gladys, relocated back to Portage la Prairie, where he lived until his death in 1984. During his entire life, Greenlay maintained a cottage at Delta Beach, where he enjoyed fishing, hunting, as well as entertaining many friends and family.
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 served in 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...
as a from 1943 to 1959, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of Stuart Garson
Stuart Garson
Stuart Sinclair Garson, was a Canadian politician and lawyer. He served as the 12th Premier of Manitoba from 1943 to 1948, and later became a federal cabinet minister....
and Douglas Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell, OC was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as the 13th Premier of Manitoba from 1948 to 1958...
.
Early life
Born at High Bluff, on 8 June 1899, son of Gardner Greenlay and Eliza Donnelly, he was educated at High Bluff and the Portage Collegiate Institute. He ran a garage at High Bluff until 1930, when he entered political life. On 8 November 1930, he married Gladys B. Northcott, daughter of George H. Northcott, of Portage la Prairie. Together they had three children: Norma, Gayle, and Andrew. He was also active member of the Methodist Church, and was instrumental in the formation of the United Church in Portage La Prairie, ManitobaPortage la Prairie, Manitoba
-Transportation:Portage la Prairie railway station is served by Via Rail with both The Canadian and Winnipeg – Churchill trains calling at the station....
.
Political Life
Greenlay first entered political life in 1930 as the Secretary-Treasuer of the Rural Municipality of Portage. In 1943, persuaded by his childhood friend, Douglas Lloyd CampbellDouglas Lloyd Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell, OC was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as the 13th Premier of Manitoba from 1948 to 1958...
, to pursue Provincial politics, he was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held on November 18, 1943, replacing William Raymond Sexsmith. At this time, Manitoba was governed by a coalition of Liberal-Progressives
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 :...
and Conservatives
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:...
. Running in Portage La Prairie, Greenlay easily won election as a pro-coalition Conservative. Shortly after his election, the Conservatives renamed themselves as Progressive Conservatives.
Greenlay was re-elected as a coalition Progressive Conservative in the general election of 1945
Manitoba general election, 1945
Manitoba's general election of October 15, 1945 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The 1945 provincial election was extremely different from the previous election, which was held in 1941...
, defeating opponents from the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and Labour Progressive Party. On February 14, 1946, he was appointed to Stuart Garson's cabinet as Provincial Secretary
Provincial Secretary (Manitoba)
The position of Provincial Secretary was particularly important in Manitoba from 1870 to 1874, as that province's institutions were being established. The province had no Premier during this period, and its Lieutenant-Governor acted as the de facto leaders of government...
. When Douglas Campbell replaced Garson as Premier of Manitoba
Premier of Manitoba
The Premier of Manitoba is the first minister for the Canadian province of Manitoba. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. Until the early 1970s, the title "Prime Minister of Manitoba" was used frequently. Afterwards, the word Premier, derived from the French...
on December 14, 1948, he named Greenlay as his Minister of Labour. Greenlay would hold this portfolio until 1958, usually in tandem with other ministerial responsibilities.
Greenlay was re-elected without opposition in the 1949 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1949
Manitoba's general election of November 10, 1949 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election pitted the province's coalition government, made up of the Liberal-Progressive Party and the Progressive Conservative Party, against a variety of...
. The following year, the Progressive Conservatives left the coalition government to sit on the opposition benches. Greenlay opposed this decision, and left the Progressive Conservatives to sit as a Liberal-Progressive. He was named Provincial Secretary again on February 13, 1950, also retaining the Minister of Labour portfolio.
Greenlay was re-elected as a Liberal-Progressive in the 1953 election
Manitoba general election, 1953
Manitoba's general election of June 8, 1953 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. This was the first election held in Manitoba after the breakup of a ten-year coalition government led by the Liberal-Progressives and Progressive Conservatives...
, defeating his Progressive Conservative opponent by 324 votes. After a cabinet shuffle on September 4, 1953, he was named Minister of Mines and Natural Resources. During this time, he was instrumental in the leadership to create a recreational area for all Manitobans to enjoy, the Whiteshell Provincial Park. On July 6, 1956, he was promoted to Provincial Treasurer.
The Liberal-Progressives were defeated by the Progressive Conservatives in the 1958 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1958
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1958 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was the first to be held in Manitoba after a comprehensive electoral redistribution in 1956...
, although Greenlay was re-elected in Portage la Prairie with an increased majority. In the 1959 election
Manitoba general election, 1959
Manitoba's general election of May 14, 1959 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a majority victory for the Progressive Conservative Party under the leadership of Dufferin Roblin...
, however, he lost his seat to Progressive Conservative candidate John Christianson
John Christianson
John Aaron Christianson Born November 23, 1923 in Langruth, Manitoba, Canada-Died December 15, 2010 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as a Progressive Conservative from 1959 to 1962 and was a cabinet minister in the government of Dufferin...
by 473 votes. Manitoba CCF leader Lloyd Stinson
Lloyd Stinson
Lloyd Stinson was a politician in Manitoba, Canada, and the leader of that province's Co-operative Commonwealth Federation from 1953 to 1959. Although widely regarded as a capable leader, he was unable to achieve a major electoral breakthrough for his party.Stinson was born in Treherne,...
once described Greenlay as "a mild, quiet little man, not lacking in ability but essentially cautious and stubborn". Likeable on a personal level, he was a very conservative administrator. His decision to switch parties in 1950 was met with little controversy.
Later life
Following his defeat to J. A. Christianson in the 1959 general election, he returned to municipal government as Secretary-Treasurer of the Municipality of Charleswood, serving there until retirement in 1968.Upon retiring, Greenlay and his wife, Gladys, relocated back to Portage la Prairie, where he lived until his death in 1984. During his entire life, Greenlay maintained a cottage at Delta Beach, where he enjoyed fishing, hunting, as well as entertaining many friends and family.