Jim Ernst
Encyclopedia
Jim Ernst directs here. For the painter, see Jimmy Ernst
.
James Arthur Ernst (born November 19, 1942) is a politician
in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a municipal councillor in Winnipeg from 1973 to 1986 and a member of the Manitoba legislature from 1986 to 1997. From 1988 to 1997, Ernst was a cabinet minister in the government of Premier
Gary Filmon
.
Ernst was born in Winnipeg, and was educated at St. Paul's College
(affiliated with the University of Manitoba
). He worked as a real estate and insurance broker before entering public life. Ernst was elected as a councillor in the amalgamated City of Winnipeg in 1973, and served as the city's Deputy Mayor
from 1981 to 1986. During his time in municipal politics, Ernst was associated with the Independent Citizens' Election Committee, an unofficial alliance of right-wing business interests in the city.
Ernst left municipal politics to run for the provincial legislature in Manitoba's 1986 provincial election
. He was elected in the west-end Winnipeg riding of Charleswood as a Progressive Conservative
, defeating his closest opponent by almost 4000 votes. The election was narrowly won by the New Democratic Party
, and Ernst joined 25 other Conservatives in opposition.
In 1988, the NDP government was brought down by a disgruntled backbencher named Jim Walding
. The resulting election took place at a time when the provincial Liberal Party was making inroads into both PC and NDP areas of support; Ernst was only narrowly re-elected, defeating Liberal candidate Shari Nelson by fewer than 1000 votes.
The Conservatives under Gary Filmon formed a minority government following this election. On May 9, 1988, Ernst was appointed Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, with responsibility for Development Corporation, Sport, the Fitness and Amateur Sport Act and the Boxing and Wrestling Commission Act and Manitoba Forestry.
The provincial Liberals had slipped in popularity by the provincial election of 1990
, and Ernst was returned in Charleswood without any difficulty. After a cabinet shuffle on February 5, 1991, he was named Minister of Urban Affairs and Minister of Housing. After a further shift on September 10, 1993, he was named Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs and Government House Leader
, once again receiving responsibility for Sport, the Fitness and Amateur Sport Act, the Boxing and Wrestling Commission and (until May 9, 1995) the Manitoba Lotteries Foundation Act.
Ernst was convincingly re-elected in the 1995 provincial election
. He was removed from cabinet following a shuffle on January 6, 1997, and resigned from the legislature on October 28 of the same year.
After leaving politics, Ernst was appointed Vice-President of Optx 2000, a research and development firm. He has also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Team Canada Volleyball Centre, and presided over the elimination of that organization's debt in 2002.
Jimmy Ernst
Jimmy Ernst was an American painter born in Germany.-Early life:Jimmy Ernst was born in 1920 in Cologne, Germany, the son of surrealist painter Max Ernst and Luise Straus, a well-known art historian and journalist. His parents divorced in 1922 and Ernst staying with his mother in Cologne...
.
James Arthur Ernst (born November 19, 1942) is a politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Manitoba
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 municipal councillor in Winnipeg from 1973 to 1986 and a member of the Manitoba legislature from 1986 to 1997. From 1988 to 1997, Ernst was a cabinet minister in the government of 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:...
.
Ernst was born in Winnipeg, and was educated at St. Paul's College
St. Paul's College (Manitoba)
St. Paul's College is a Roman Catholic College on the Fort Garry campus of the University of Manitoba.St. Paul's College is a college within the University of Manitoba, and in order to become a part of it, you have to select that you want to be a part of it when applying to the University of...
(affiliated with 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...
). He worked as a real estate and insurance broker before entering public life. Ernst was elected as a councillor in the amalgamated City of Winnipeg in 1973, and served as the city's Deputy Mayor
Deputy Mayor
Deputy mayor is an elective or appointive office of the second-ranking official in many local governments. Many elected deputy mayors are members of the city council who are given the title and serve as acting mayor in the mayor's absence...
from 1981 to 1986. During his time in municipal politics, Ernst was associated with the Independent Citizens' Election Committee, an unofficial alliance of right-wing business interests in the city.
Ernst left municipal politics to run for the provincial legislature in Manitoba's 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...
. He was elected in the west-end Winnipeg riding of Charleswood 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:...
, defeating his closest opponent by almost 4000 votes. The election was narrowly won by 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...
, and Ernst joined 25 other Conservatives in opposition.
In 1988, the NDP government was brought down by a disgruntled backbencher named Jim Walding
Jim Walding
Derek James "Jim" Walding was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1971 to 1988, and served as speaker of the assembly from 1982 to 1986. Walding was a member of the New Democratic Party...
. The resulting election took place at a time when the provincial Liberal Party was making inroads into both PC and NDP areas of support; Ernst was only narrowly re-elected, defeating Liberal candidate Shari Nelson by fewer than 1000 votes.
The Conservatives under Gary Filmon formed a minority government following this election. On May 9, 1988, Ernst was appointed Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, with responsibility for Development Corporation, Sport, the Fitness and Amateur Sport Act and the Boxing and Wrestling Commission Act and Manitoba Forestry.
The provincial Liberals had slipped in popularity by 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...
, and Ernst was returned in Charleswood without any difficulty. After a cabinet shuffle on February 5, 1991, he was named Minister of Urban Affairs and Minister of Housing. After a further shift on September 10, 1993, he was named Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs and Government House Leader
House Leader
In Canada, each political party with representation in the House of Commons has a House Leader who is a front bench Member of Parliament and an expert in parliamentary procedure...
, once again receiving responsibility for Sport, the Fitness and Amateur Sport Act, the Boxing and Wrestling Commission and (until May 9, 1995) the Manitoba Lotteries Foundation Act.
Ernst was convincingly re-elected 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...
. He was removed from cabinet following a shuffle on January 6, 1997, and resigned from the legislature on October 28 of the same year.
After leaving politics, Ernst was appointed Vice-President of Optx 2000, a research and development firm. He has also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Team Canada Volleyball Centre, and presided over the elimination of that organization's debt in 2002.