Harold Gilleshammer
Encyclopedia
Harold Gilleshammer is a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a member of the Manitoba legislature from 1988 to 2003, and a Cabinet Minister
in the government of Progressive Conservative
Premier
Gary Filmon
from 1990 to 1999.
Gilleshammer was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History, Political Science and English from the University of Manitoba
and a Bachelor of Education from Brandon University
. He subsequently worked as a teacher.
Gilleshammer was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1988
, in the rural riding of Minnedosa in the province's southwest. The seat has normally been safe for the Conservatives, although a rise in Liberal Party support in 1988 meant that Liberal candidate Terry Drebit was able to pose a credible challenge. Gilleshammer won the election, however, by 1,173 voties. The Progressive Conservatives formed a minority government
after the election, although Gilleshammer was not initially appointed to cabinet.
Provincial support for the Liberal Party declined in 1990, and Gilleshammer defeated Drebit by over 2000 votes in that year's provincial election
, in a rematch between the two candidates. Shortly after the election, Gilleshammer was named Minister of Family Services
. On September 10, 1993, he was promoted to Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship, with responsibility for Multiculturalism, the Liquor Control Act and A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd.. Gilleshammer was easily re-elected in the 1995 general election
, finishing over 2400 votes ahead of his nearest opponent.
Following a cabinet shuffle on January 6, 1997, Gilleshammer was named Minister of Labour, with responsibility for the Civil Service Act, the Civil Service Superannuation Act, the Civil Service Supplementary Severance Benefit Act, the Public Servants Insurance Act, and the Workers Compensation Act. Shortly after Gilleshammer's appointment, the Manitoba Human Rights Commission
ruled that the province who be required to provide health, dental and vision benefits to the partners of gay
government workers.
Following a further cabinet shuffle on February 5, 1999, he was appointed to the high-ranking position of Minister of Finance, with responsibility for the Crown Corporations Public Review and Accountability Act. His pre-election budget offered increased spending in various fields, to be paid for by withdrawals on a government contingency fund (his critics referred to his as concealing a provincial deficit).
The Progressive Conservatives were defeated in the provincial election of 1999
, although Gilleshammer was personally re-elected in Minnedosa, defeating New Democratic Party
candidate Harvey Paterson by 903 votes. Following the election, he was named as the party's Deputy Leader. Gilleshammer retired from the legislature in 2003.
In 2007, Gilleshammer was appointed as a Citizenship Judge by the Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley
.
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 Manitoba legislature from 1988 to 2003, and a Cabinet Minister
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
in the government of 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:...
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"...
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:...
from 1990 to 1999.
Gilleshammer was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History, Political Science and English from the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
and a Bachelor of Education from Brandon University
Brandon University
Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
. He subsequently worked as a teacher.
Gilleshammer was first elected to the Manitoba legislature 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...
, in the rural riding of Minnedosa in the province's southwest. The seat has normally been safe for the Conservatives, although a rise in Liberal Party support in 1988 meant that Liberal candidate Terry Drebit was able to pose a credible challenge. Gilleshammer won the election, however, by 1,173 voties. 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...
after the election, although Gilleshammer was not initially appointed to cabinet.
Provincial support for the Liberal Party declined in 1990, and Gilleshammer defeated Drebit by over 2000 votes in that year's provincial election
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 a rematch between the two candidates. Shortly after the election, Gilleshammer was named Minister of Family Services
Minister of Family Services (Manitoba)
The Minister of Family Services is a former cabinet position in the government of Manitoba, Canada. The position was created in 1990, and was incorporated into the successor ministry of Family Services and Housing in 1999....
. On September 10, 1993, he was promoted to Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship, with responsibility for Multiculturalism, the Liquor Control Act and A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd.. Gilleshammer was easily re-elected in the 1995 general 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...
, finishing over 2400 votes ahead of his nearest opponent.
Following a cabinet shuffle on January 6, 1997, Gilleshammer was named Minister of Labour, with responsibility for the Civil Service Act, the Civil Service Superannuation Act, the Civil Service Supplementary Severance Benefit Act, the Public Servants Insurance Act, and the Workers Compensation Act. Shortly after Gilleshammer's appointment, the Manitoba Human Rights Commission
Manitoba Human Rights Commission
The Manitoba Human Rights Commission is a quasi-judicial arms-length agency of the Government of Manitoba that is responsible for enforcing The Human Rights Code ....
ruled that the province who be required to provide health, dental and vision benefits to the partners of gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
government workers.
Following a further cabinet shuffle on February 5, 1999, he was appointed to the high-ranking position of Minister of Finance, with responsibility for the Crown Corporations Public Review and Accountability Act. His pre-election budget offered increased spending in various fields, to be paid for by withdrawals on a government contingency fund (his critics referred to his as concealing a provincial deficit).
The Progressive Conservatives were defeated in the provincial election of 1999
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....
, although Gilleshammer was personally re-elected in Minnedosa, defeating 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...
candidate Harvey Paterson by 903 votes. Following the election, he was named as the party's Deputy Leader. Gilleshammer retired from the legislature in 2003.
In 2007, Gilleshammer was appointed as a Citizenship Judge by the Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley
Diane Finley
Diane Finley, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. She serves as Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development in the cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Of the 12 MPs in the Priorities and Planning Committee of cabinet , known as the inner cabinet, she is the only woman...
.