Glen Cummings
Encyclopedia
James Glen Cummings is a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1986 to 2007, and was as a cabinet minister in the government of Gary Filmon
.
Cummings was born in Neepawa
, Manitoba, and was educated at Neepawa Area College. Before entering provincial politics, he was a school board chair and trustee in the Beautiful Plains School Division, and worked as a farmer. He also sat on the executive of the Beautiful Plains Agricultural Society for twelve years.
In the provincial election of 1986, Cummings was elected as a Progressive Conservative
in the rural riding of Ste. Rose, defeating New Democrat
Gary Anderson by 3735 votes to 3020. The NDP won the election, and Cummings became a member of the parliamentary opposition.
The Progressive Conservatives won the provincial election of 1988, and Cummings was re-elected in Ste. Rose by an increased margin (with the Liberals
overtaking the NDP for second place). When Gary Filmon
was sworn in as Manitoba's Premier
on May 9, 1988, Cummings became Deputy Premier and Minister of Municipal Affairs with responsibility for administration of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act and the Jobs Fund Act. On April 21, 1989, he was shifted out of Municipal Affairs and was made Minister of the Environment, while retaining his other positions.
Cummings was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 1990, in which the Progressive Conservatives won a majority of seats. He was removed as Deputy Premier on February 5, 1991, while retaining his other positions. In the provincial election of 1995
, he defeated NDP candidate John Morrisseau by 3762 votes to 2341.
Following a cabinet shuffle on January 6, 1997, Cummings was made Minister of Natural Resources, with responsibility for the Natural Resources Development Act. He retained this position until 1999, when Filmon's Tories were defeated by the NDP under Gary Doer
in a provincial election.
Cummings retained his own seat in the 1999 election
, defeating NDP candidate Louise Wilson
by 3871 votes to 3293. He returned to the opposition benches, and served as his party's family services critic. In 2002, he called for a financial bailout of the Manitoba Métis
fishing industry.
In the 2003 election
, he defeated NDP candidate John Harapiak by over 1400 votes, despite the poor showing of the Progressive Conservative party elsewhere in the province. In the buildup to this election, Cummings was a leading proponent of the PC party's plan to remove education taxes from residences and farmland. He remains a leading voice in the party's parliamentary caucus.
In 2004, Cummings endorsed Steven Fletcher
for election to the federal House of Commons
. He did not run for re-election in 2007.
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 1986 to 2007, and was as a cabinet minister in the government of 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:...
.
Cummings was born in Neepawa
Neepawa, Manitoba
Neepawa is a town in Manitoba, Canada located on the Yellowhead Highway at the intersection with Highway 5. its population was 3,298. Neepawa was incorporated as a town in 1883. It is located in the Rural Municipality of Langford and bordered to the north by the Rural Municipality of Rosedale....
, Manitoba, and was educated at Neepawa Area College. Before entering provincial politics, he was a school board chair and trustee in the Beautiful Plains School Division, and worked as a farmer. He also sat on the executive of the Beautiful Plains Agricultural Society for twelve years.
In the provincial election of 1986, Cummings was elected as a 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:...
in the rural riding of Ste. Rose, defeating New Democrat
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...
Gary Anderson by 3735 votes to 3020. The NDP won the election, and Cummings became a member of the parliamentary opposition.
The Progressive Conservatives won the provincial election of 1988, and Cummings was re-elected in Ste. Rose by an increased margin (with the Liberals
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 :...
overtaking the NDP for second place). When 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:...
was sworn in as Manitoba's Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
on May 9, 1988, Cummings became Deputy Premier and Minister of Municipal Affairs with responsibility for administration of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act and the Jobs Fund Act. On April 21, 1989, he was shifted out of Municipal Affairs and was made Minister of the Environment, while retaining his other positions.
Cummings was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 1990, in which the Progressive Conservatives won a majority of seats. He was removed as Deputy Premier on February 5, 1991, while retaining his other positions. In the provincial election of 1995
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...
, he defeated NDP candidate John Morrisseau by 3762 votes to 2341.
Following a cabinet shuffle on January 6, 1997, Cummings was made Minister of Natural Resources, with responsibility for the Natural Resources Development Act. He retained this position until 1999, when Filmon's Tories were defeated by the NDP under 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...
in a provincial election.
Cummings retained his own seat 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 NDP candidate Louise Wilson
Louise Wilson
Louise Wilson, OBE is a British professor. She is the course director of the MA degree Fashion Design program at Central Saint Martins College in London....
by 3871 votes to 3293. He returned to the opposition benches, and served as his party's family services critic. In 2002, he called for a financial bailout of the Manitoba Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
fishing industry.
In the 2003 election
Manitoba general election, 2003
The Manitoba general election held on June 3, 2003 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 35 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party finished second with twenty seats...
, he defeated NDP candidate John Harapiak by over 1400 votes, despite the poor showing of the Progressive Conservative party elsewhere in the province. In the buildup to this election, Cummings was a leading proponent of the PC party's plan to remove education taxes from residences and farmland. He remains a leading voice in the party's parliamentary caucus.
In 2004, Cummings endorsed Steven Fletcher
Steven Fletcher
Steven John Fletcher, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. He has served in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004, representing the riding of Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia as a member of the Conservative Party. He is the first quadriplegic to serve in the House of Commons, as well as in Cabinet...
for election to the federal House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
. He did not run for re-election in 2007.