Frank Johnston (politician)
Encyclopedia
John Franklin Johnston is a politician
in Manitoba, Canada
. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1969 to 1988, and served as a cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative
government of Sterling Lyon
.
Johnston did not attend university. He began his political career at the municipal level, serving as an alderman
in the City of St. James (now part of Winnipeg) from 1964 to 1966, and in the successor city of St. James-Assiniboia from 1968 to 1972. He was chosen as the city's deputy mayor
in 1968, and also chaired the urban renewal committee. He was also active in freemasonry
, and was a member of the Northwest Commercial Travellers Association.
Johnston was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1969
, defeating Liberal
Robert Chipman by 530 votes in the Winnipeg riding of Sturgeon Creek. This election was the first in Manitoba's history won by the social democratic New Democratic Party
, and Johnston sat in the opposition benches. In the 1973 election
, he was re-elected with an increased majority.
Johnston was re-elected again in the 1977 election
, in which the Progressive Conservatives won a majority government. From October 24, 1977 to October 20, 1978, he was a Minister without Portfolio
responsible for the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation. On October 20, 1978, he was promoted to Minister of Economic Development; on November 15, 1981, this portfolio was changed to Economic Development and Tourism.
The Progressive Conservatives were defeated in the 1981 election
, and Johnston was re-elected with a reduced majority. He was re-elected in the 1986 election
, but ironically lost to Liberal
Iva Yeo
in the provincial election of 1988
, just as the Progressive Conservatives formed a minority government
under Gary Filmon
. He has not sought a return to political life since this time.
Johnston was an aggressively partisan MLA, and frequently referred to New Democrats as communists in legislative debates. In 1973, he injured Winnipeg mayor
Stephen Juba
in what was supposed to have been a friendly ice hockey
match between provincial and municipal politicians.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Manitoba, 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 1988, and served as a cabinet minister in the 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:...
government of Sterling Lyon
Sterling Lyon
Sterling Rufus Lyon, PC, OC was a lawyer, cabinet minister, and the 17th Premier of Manitoba, Canada from 1977 to 1981. His government introduced several fiscally-conservative measures, and was sometimes seen as a local version of the government of Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom...
.
Johnston did not attend university. He began his political career at the municipal level, serving as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in the City of St. James (now part of Winnipeg) from 1964 to 1966, and in the successor city of St. James-Assiniboia from 1968 to 1972. He was chosen as the city's deputy mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
in 1968, and also chaired the urban renewal committee. He was also active in freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, and was a member of the Northwest Commercial Travellers Association.
Johnston 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 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 :...
Robert Chipman by 530 votes in the Winnipeg riding of Sturgeon Creek. This election was the first in Manitoba's history won by the social democratic 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...
, and Johnston sat in the opposition benches. In the 1973 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...
, he was re-elected with an increased majority.
Johnston was re-elected again in the 1977 election
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...
, in which the Progressive Conservatives won a majority government. From October 24, 1977 to October 20, 1978, he was 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 Housing and Renewal Corporation. On October 20, 1978, he was promoted to Minister of Economic Development; on November 15, 1981, this portfolio was changed to Economic Development and Tourism.
The Progressive Conservatives were defeated 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 Johnston was re-elected with a reduced majority. He was re-elected in the 1986 election
Manitoba general election, 1986
The Manitoba general election of March 18, 1986 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which took 30 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party won 26 seats and formed the official opposition...
, but ironically lost to 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 :...
Iva Yeo
Iva Yeo
Iva Yeo is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1988 to 1990, representing the Winnipeg riding of Sturgeon Creek for the Manitoba Liberal Party....
in the provincial election of 1988
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...
, just as the Progressive Conservatives formed a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
under 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:...
. He has not sought a return to political life since this time.
Johnston was an aggressively partisan MLA, and frequently referred to New Democrats as communists in legislative debates. In 1973, he injured Winnipeg mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Stephen Juba
Stephen Juba
Stephen Juba, OC was a Canadian politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1953 to 1959, and served as the 37th Mayor of Winnipeg from 1957 to 1977. He was the first Ukrainian Canadian to hold high political office in the city.Juba left school at age fifteen, when...
in what was supposed to have been a friendly ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
match between provincial and municipal politicians.