James Erwin Downey
Encyclopedia
James Erwin Downey is a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1977 to 1999, and served as a cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative
governments of Sterling Lyon
and Gary Filmon
.
. He served as an Air Cadet
, and received an Agriculture Diploma from the University of Manitoba
. Before entering political life, he worked as a farmer and auctioneer.
, scoring a fairly easy victory in the southwestern rural riding of Arthur (generally regarded as a safe seat for the party). Lyon's Progressive Conservatives defeated the New Democratic Party
under Edward Schreyer
in this election, and Downey was appointed as Minister of Agriculture on October 24, 1977. He held this position until November 30, 1981, when the NDP returned to power. Downey himself was easily re-elected in the 1981 election
, defeating his NDP opponent by over 3500 votes.
Despite a credible challenge from the new Confederation of Regions Party
, Downey was again re-elected without too much difficulty in the 1986 provincial election
. Two years later, he faced a stronger challenge from Liberal
Douglas Mosset, but still retained his seat by over 2000 votes.
The Progressive Conservatives under Gary Filmon formed a minority government after this election, and Downey returned to cabinet on May 9, 1988 as Minister of Northern Affairs with responsibility for Native Affairs, the Manitoba Natural Resources Development Act, A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd., the Manitoba Oil and Gas Corporation Act and the Communities Economic Development Fund Act. On April 21, 1989 he was also named minister responsible for Seniors.
Downey was again re-elected in the general election of 1990
, defeating Liberal Glen McKinnon
(later a federal MP
) by 2688 votes. He was named Deputy Premier on September 27, 1990, and on February 5, 1991 was named as Minister of Rural Development. After a cabinet shuffle on January 14, 1992, Downey was named Minister of Northern and Native Affairs and Minister of Energy and Mines. He was transferred again on September 10, 1993, this time to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism
with responsibility for the Communities Development Corporation Act.
Downey was again re-elected without difficulty in the 1995 provincial election
, and continued to serve as Deputy Premier and Industry Minister until February 5, 1999. He did not seek re-election later in the year, but instead served as campaign manager for the Progressive Conservatives in their loss to Gary Doer
's New Democrats. (He had played the same role for the party in their successful campaign of 1995.)
In 2000, Downey endorsed Tom Long's bid to lead the newly formed Canadian Alliance
party (National Post, 10 May 2000). In 2004, he endorsed Belinda Stronach
for leader of the new Conservative Party of Canada
.
Downey ran for a directorship on the Canadian Wheat Board
in 2002, campaigning against the board's monopoly status. He lost to incumbent Bill Nicholson
, who supports the current system.
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 1977 to 1999, 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:...
governments 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...
and 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:...
.
Early life
Downey was born in Melita, ManitobaMelita, Manitoba
Melita is a town located in the southwestern corner of the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Arthur and occupies a bend of the Souris River. The population, as of the 2006 census, is 1,051. It sits at the junction of Highways 3 and 83, approx....
. He served as an Air Cadet
Royal Canadian Air Cadets
Royal Canadian Air Cadets is a Canadian national youth program for persons aged 12 to 18. It is administered by the Canadian Forces and funded through the Department of National Defence with additional support from the civilian Air Cadet League of Canada...
, and received an Agriculture Diploma 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...
. Before entering political life, he worked as a farmer and auctioneer.
Manitoba politics
Downey was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1977Manitoba 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...
, scoring a fairly easy victory in the southwestern rural riding of Arthur (generally regarded as a safe seat for the party). Lyon's Progressive Conservatives defeated 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...
under Edward Schreyer
Edward Schreyer
Edward Richard Schreyer , commonly known as Ed Schreyer, is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 22nd since Canadian Confederation....
in this election, and Downey was appointed as Minister of Agriculture on October 24, 1977. He held this position until November 30, 1981, when the NDP returned to power. Downey himself was easily re-elected 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...
, defeating his NDP opponent by over 3500 votes.
Despite a credible challenge from the new Confederation of Regions Party
Manitoba Confederation of Regions Party
The Manitoba Confederation of Regions Party was a political party in Manitoba, Canada. It was the provincial branch of the Confederation of Regions Party of Canada, a right-wing organization which sought greater autonomy for Western Canada. Unlike the Western Canada Concept and the Western...
, Downey was again re-elected without too much difficulty in the 1986 provincial 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...
. Two years later, he faced a stronger challenge from 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 :...
Douglas Mosset, but still retained his seat by over 2000 votes.
The Progressive Conservatives under Gary Filmon formed a minority government after this election, and Downey returned to cabinet on May 9, 1988 as Minister of Northern Affairs with responsibility for Native Affairs, the Manitoba Natural Resources Development Act, A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd., the Manitoba Oil and Gas Corporation Act and the Communities Economic Development Fund Act. On April 21, 1989 he was also named minister responsible for Seniors.
Downey was again re-elected in the general 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...
, defeating Liberal Glen McKinnon
Glen McKinnon
Glen McKinnon is a Canadian educator and politician from Manitoba. He represented the federal electoral district of Brandon—Souris in the Canadian House of Commons from 1993-1997 as a member of the Liberal Party...
(later a federal MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
) by 2688 votes. He was named Deputy Premier on September 27, 1990, and on February 5, 1991 was named as Minister of Rural Development. After a cabinet shuffle on January 14, 1992, Downey was named Minister of Northern and Native Affairs and Minister of Energy and Mines. He was transferred again on September 10, 1993, this time to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism
Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism (Manitoba)
The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism is a former government department in the province of Manitoba, Canada. It was created in 1988 by the Progressive Conservative government of Gary Filmon, through a merger of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Technology and the Ministry of Business...
with responsibility for the Communities Development Corporation Act.
Downey was again re-elected without difficulty in the 1995 provincial 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...
, and continued to serve as Deputy Premier and Industry Minister until February 5, 1999. He did not seek re-election later in the year, but instead served as campaign manager for the Progressive Conservatives in their loss to 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 Democrats. (He had played the same role for the party in their successful campaign of 1995.)
In 2000, Downey endorsed Tom Long's bid to lead the newly formed Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
party (National Post, 10 May 2000). In 2004, he endorsed Belinda Stronach
Belinda Stronach
Belinda Caroline Stronach, PC is a Canadian businessperson, philanthropist and former politician. She was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 2004 to 2008. Originally elected as a Conservative, she later crossed the floor to join the Liberals...
for leader of the new Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
.
Downey ran for a directorship on the Canadian Wheat Board
Canadian Wheat Board
The Canadian Wheat Board was established by the Parliament of Canada on 5 July 1935 as a mandatory producer marketing system for wheat and barley in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and a small part of British Columbia...
in 2002, campaigning against the board's monopoly status. He lost to incumbent Bill Nicholson
Bill Nicholson (Canadian administrator)
Bill Nicholson is a Canadian farmer and administrator, and is one of ten elected directors on the Canadian Wheat Board. Nicholson supports the CWB's single-desk marketing approach as the best option for farmers, and has opposed efforts to introduce open market competition to wheat and barley...
, who supports the current system.