David Chomiak
Encyclopedia
David Walter Chomiak is a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He is currently a cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party
government of Greg Selinger.
Chomiak was born in Winnipeg and grew up in East Kildonan, graduating from Miles Macdonell Collegiate
; he currently lives in the West Kildonan
area. He worked as a lawyer before entering politics, and was a member of the Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre, the Canadian Shield Foundation and the Big Brother's Association of Manitoba.
Chomiak was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1990
, in the north Winnipeg riding of Kildonan. He defeated Progressive Conservative
candidate David Langtry by 210 votes; Progressive Party leader Sidney Green finished fourth. After the election, Chomiak joined with 19 other NDP MLAs as the official opposition to Gary Filmon
's government.
Chomiak was re-elected in the 1995 election
, defeating Tory Robert Praznik 5812 votes to 3324. He again increased his margin of victory in the 1999 election
, defeating PC candidate Shannon Martin by 6101 votes to 2542. The NDP won this election, and Chomiak was appointed to cabinet as Minister of Health with responsibility for Sport. He was relieved of responsibility for Sport on January 17, 2001.
In 2003, Chomiak supported Bill Blaikie
's campaign to lead the federal New Democratic Party
.
In 2003, he was re-elected in the once-marginal riding of Kildonan with over 70% of the vote. On October 12, 2004, he was appointed as Manitoba's Minister of Energy, Science and Technology, with responsibility for the Gaming Control Act and Manitoba Hydro. Chomiak had been the longest-serving health minister in Canada prior to this shuffle, and there were rumours that he requested a transfer to a less stressful portfolio.
In September 2006, Chomiak was appointed as Minister of Justice, and to the Manitoba Public Insurance and Manitoba Gaming Control Commission in Gary Doer
's new cabinet.
Chomiak is pro-life
, but as health minister never sought to criminalize abortions. He was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election
.
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 is currently 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...
government of Greg Selinger.
Chomiak was born in Winnipeg and grew up in East Kildonan, graduating from Miles Macdonell Collegiate
Miles Macdonell Collegiate
Miles Macdonell Collegiate is a high school in Winnipeg, Manitoba in the River East Transcona School Division. It is one of the five schools in Manitoba that participate in the International Baccalaureate Program. The school offers classes in French Immersion geared towards university attendance in...
; he currently lives in the West Kildonan
West Kildonan
West Kildonan is a residential suburb of Winnipeg, Manitoba, lying on the west side of the Red River, and immediately north of the old City of Winnipeg in the north-central part of the city...
area. He worked as a lawyer before entering politics, and was a member of the Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre, the Canadian Shield Foundation and the Big Brother's Association of Manitoba.
Chomiak was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1990
Manitoba general election, 1990
The Manitoba general election of September 11, 1990 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 30 out of 57 seats...
, in the north Winnipeg riding of Kildonan. He defeated Progressive Conservative
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:...
candidate David Langtry by 210 votes; Progressive Party leader Sidney Green finished fourth. After the election, Chomiak joined with 19 other NDP MLAs as the official opposition to Gary Filmon
Gary Filmon
Gary Albert Filmon, PC, OC, OM is a Manitoba politician. He was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1983 to 2000, and served as the 19th Premier from 1988 to 1999.-Early life and municipal career:...
's government.
Chomiak was re-elected in the 1995 election
Manitoba general election, 1995
The Manitoba general election of April 25,1995 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which won 31 seats out of 57...
, defeating Tory Robert Praznik 5812 votes to 3324. He again increased his margin of victory in the 1999 election
Manitoba general election, 1999
The Manitoba general election of September 21, 1999 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada....
, defeating PC candidate Shannon Martin by 6101 votes to 2542. The NDP won this election, and Chomiak was appointed to cabinet as Minister of Health with responsibility for Sport. He was relieved of responsibility for Sport on January 17, 2001.
In 2003, Chomiak supported Bill Blaikie
Bill Blaikie
William Alexander "Bill" Blaikie, PC is a Canadian politician. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba since April 2009, representing the Winnipeg division of Elmwood as a member of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba, and Minister of Conservation and Government House Leader...
's campaign to lead the federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
.
In 2003, he was re-elected in the once-marginal riding of Kildonan with over 70% of the vote. On October 12, 2004, he was appointed as Manitoba's Minister of Energy, Science and Technology, with responsibility for the Gaming Control Act and Manitoba Hydro. Chomiak had been the longest-serving health minister in Canada prior to this shuffle, and there were rumours that he requested a transfer to a less stressful portfolio.
In September 2006, Chomiak was appointed as Minister of Justice, and to the Manitoba Public Insurance and Manitoba Gaming Control Commission in Gary Doer
Gary Doer
Gary Albert Doer, OM is a Canadian diplomat and politician from Manitoba, Canada. Since October 19, 2009, he has served as Canada's Ambassador to the United States...
's new cabinet.
Chomiak is pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
, but as health minister never sought to criminalize abortions. He was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 2007
The Manitoba general election held on May 22, 2007 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which won 36 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party finished second with nineteen seats. The Liberal...
.