Lillian Thomas
Encyclopedia
Lillian Thomas is a city councillor in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, Canada
. She has served on council continuously since 1989, initially for Elmwood and later for its successor ward of Elmwood-East Kildonan.
, which is now part of Thunder Bay
, Ontario
. She has a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Sociology
from Lakehead University
, and a Master of Arts
degree in Sociology from the University of Manitoba
. She is married to Len Dalman (1978) and they have a son David (1985).
Thomas is a long-time member of the New Democratic Party
.
Thomas was first elected to Winnipeg City Council
in the 1989 municipal election
, defeating veteran councillor Alf Skowron
in the Elmwood ward. She was a member of the centre-left Winnipeg into the '90s
(WIN) coalition that also included future mayor Glen Murray. In 1991, she served on a committee that recommended against the spraying malathion
to combat the city's mosquito
population.
Re-elected in 1992
, Thomas soon emerged as an opponent of new mayor Susan Thompson
, who succeeded five-term incumbent Bill Norrie
. Thomas was appointed to both the Planning and Community Services Committee and the Protection, Parks and Culture Committee in 1993, when the left and right wings of council formed a temporary alliance to overturn Thompson's planned appointments.
Thomas opposed plans to build a new arena for the Winnipeg Jets hockey
team in the mid-1990s. She also criticized municipal expenditures on the Charleswood Bridge, and called for the project's funding to be redirected toward infrastructure renewal. She supported Sunday shopping
with some restrictions, and endorsed a 1994 proposal to extend benefits to the same-sex partners of civic employees.
Thomas was re-elected in 1995
over a strong challenge from former councillor Ray Brunka
. Along with Glen Murray and Dan Vandal
, she was one of only three WIN members returned to the new council. After the election, she was appointed to the Winnipeg Art Gallery board of governors, the Zoological Society of Manitoba and the medical advisory committee. In 1996, she opposed Mayor Thompson's proposed roll-back of municipal wages. Thomas was almost relieved of her three board positions in late 1996, as the result of a controversial process that many believe was politically motivated. She retained her positions with the Art Gallery board and medical advisory committee following a lengthy debate, but was removed from the Zoological Society. In 1997, she opposed businessman Sam Katz
's proposal to construct a new baseball park in Winnipeg.
Thomas sought to become deputy speaker of the Winnipeg City Council in late 1997, but lost to John Prystanski
.
The WIN organization dissolved after the 1995 campaign. Thomas received an endorsement from the New Democratic Party in the 1998 election
, and was re-elected under its banner over another challenge from Ray Brunka. While seeking re-election, she highlighted her success in adding a social equity component to the City of Winnipeg Act, in order to add a social dimension to urban planning.
Murray administration
Thomas's ally Glen Murray was elected as Mayor of Winnipeg in 1998, and subsequently appointed Thomas to his Executive Policy Committee as Deputy Mayor. Over the next five years, she often represented the mayor at official events such as ribbon-cutting ceremonies and luncheons. She also served on the Fiscal Issues Committee.
Thomas called for the number of city councillors to be increased in this period, arguing that Winnipeg is too large to be governed by only fifteen representatives. She opposed term limits for councillors, and described anti-mosquito fogging as a "necessary evil". She also endorsed the principle of rent control
s, after school trustee Mario Santos
proposed their abolition.
In July 2001, Thomas announced a two million dollar investment in inner-city development with funding from the federal, provincial and municipal governments. Two months later, she was appointed to a provincial panel charged with charting the future of the Winnipeg region.
Thomas was re-elected in the 2002 municipal election
, and retained her status as Deputy Mayor and her position on the Fiscal Issues Committee. She was a prominent supporter of Glen Murray's "new deal" plan for Winnipeg, and endorsed a full smoking ban in the city's public indoor spaces. She relinquished her responsibilities as Deputy Mayor in a November 2003 cabinet shuffle, and was appointed to oversee relations with the provincial government
. Murray indicated that he made this appointment because Thomas was trusted by members of Gary Doer
's administration.
In 2004, Thomas encouraged Manitoba New Democratic Party members to maintain their policy of endorsing Winnipeg council and school board candidates. Delegates overwhelmingly approved the policy at the party's convention.
Katz administration
Glen Murray resigned as mayor in mid-2004 to run for the Canadian House of Commons
. Thomas supported Dan Vandal
's bid to become his successor in the by-election
that followed. The winning candidate was Sam Katz
, whose platform Thomas had criticized. After the election, she opposed Katz's decision to shelve the implementation of a rapid transit
plan for Winnipeg. She nevertheless retained her position in Katz's executive committee, and in October 2004 was shuffled to the position of Secretary for Urban Aboriginal Opportunities.
Thomas opposed Katz's plan to privatize municipal garbage collection in 2005, arguing that it would encourage private monopolies and drive prices upward in the long run. She also spoke against the mayor's plan to build condominiums in Assiniboine Park. She was dropped from the city's executive in October 2005.
Thomas subsequently charged that Katz was stalling the creation of urban aboriginal reserves, and took the unusual step of releasing her report on the subject before it was submitted to committee. She later opposed the establishment of an Olywest pork production plant in Winnipeg's east end, and pressured the city to remove its financial incentives for the project. The project was canceled in 2007.
Re-elected without difficulty in 2006
, she soon emerged as one of Mayor Katz's most prominent critics on the new council. In early 2007, she spoke against Katz's plans to close the Kelvin Community Centre in her ward. She later voted against a private-public partnership for Winnipeg's Disraeli Bridge and Freeway, and endorsed Jim Maloway
's proposal to expand the bridge from four to six lanes.
Thomas opposed plans for Winnipeg to spend $7 million to subsidize a Canada Inns private water park, expressing concern that low-income residents would not be able to afford access to the site. In March 2009, she supported an unsuccessful motion by councillor Dan Vandal
that would have banned corporate and union donations in municipal elections.
's bid for the federal New Democratic Party
leadership in 2002. When Blaikie announced his retirement in 2007, she announced that she would consider seeking the party nomination for Elmwood—Transcona
in the 2008 federal election
. She eventually decided to stay in municipal politics.
newspaper.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, 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...
. She has served on council continuously since 1989, initially for Elmwood and later for its successor ward of Elmwood-East Kildonan.
Early life
Thomas was born in Port ArthurPort Arthur, Ontario
Port Arthur was a city in Northern Ontario which amalgamated with Fort William and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Port Arthur was the district seat of Thunder Bay District.- History :...
, which is now part of Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. She has a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
from Lakehead University
Lakehead University
Lakehead University is a public research university in Thunder Bay, and Orillia, Ontario, Canada.Lakehead University, shortened to 'Lakehead U', or 'LU', is non-denominational and provincially supported. It has undergraduate and graduate programs and a medical school.The school has more than 45,000...
, and a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in Sociology 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...
. She is married to Len Dalman (1978) and they have a son David (1985).
Thomas is a long-time member of 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...
.
City Councillor
Norrie and Thompson administrations (1989–1998)Thomas was first elected to Winnipeg City Council
Winnipeg City Council
The Winnipeg City Council is the governing body of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors.-2006-2010:Council elected in the 2006 election:-2010-2014:...
in the 1989 municipal election
Winnipeg municipal election, 1989
The 1989 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 25, 1989 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Bill Norrie was re-elected to a fifth term as mayor without serious opposition.-Councillors:...
, defeating veteran councillor Alf Skowron
Alf Skowron
Alf Skowron is a retired politician in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Winnipeg City Council from 1971 to 1989, originally a member of the New Democratic Party and later as an independent.-Councillor:...
in the Elmwood ward. She was a member of the centre-left Winnipeg into the '90s
Winnipeg into the '90s
Winnipeg into the '90s was an alliance of progressive and left-leaning municipal politicians in the Canadian city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It endorsed several candidates in the city's municipal elections of 1989, 1992 and 1995, including future mayor Glen Murray and future provincial Premier Greg...
(WIN) coalition that also included future mayor Glen Murray. In 1991, she served on a committee that recommended against the spraying malathion
Malathion
Malathion is an organophosphate parasympathomimetic which binds irreversibly to cholinesterase. Malathion is an insecticide of relatively low human toxicity, however one recent study has shown that children with higher levels of organophosphate pesticide metabolites in their urine are more likely...
to combat the city's mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
population.
Re-elected in 1992
Winnipeg municipal election, 1992
The 1992 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 28, 1992 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Susan Thompson defeated Greg Selinger in the mayoral contest.-Councillors:...
, Thomas soon emerged as an opponent of new mayor Susan Thompson
Susan Thompson
Susan Ann Thompson was the 40th mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was the first female to serve as mayor of Winnipeg and served two terms as mayor and held this post from 1992 to 1998.Thompson graduated with a BA from the University of Winnipeg in 1971...
, who succeeded five-term incumbent Bill Norrie
Bill Norrie
William Norrie, CM, OM, QC was the 39th Mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba and is the former Chancellor of the University of Manitoba....
. Thomas was appointed to both the Planning and Community Services Committee and the Protection, Parks and Culture Committee in 1993, when the left and right wings of council formed a temporary alliance to overturn Thompson's planned appointments.
Thomas opposed plans to build a new arena for the Winnipeg Jets 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...
team in the mid-1990s. She also criticized municipal expenditures on the Charleswood Bridge, and called for the project's funding to be redirected toward infrastructure renewal. She supported Sunday shopping
Sunday shopping
Sunday shopping refers to the ability of retailers to operate stores on Sunday, a day that Christian tradition typically recognizes as the Sabbath, a "day of rest". Rules governing shopping hours, such as Sunday shopping, vary around the world but some European nations continue to ban Sunday shopping...
with some restrictions, and endorsed a 1994 proposal to extend benefits to the same-sex partners of civic employees.
Thomas was re-elected in 1995
Winnipeg municipal election, 1995
The 1995 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 25, 1995 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Susan Thompson defeated Peter Kaufmann and Terry Duguid in the mayoral contest.-Councillors:...
over a strong challenge from former councillor Ray Brunka
Ray Brunka
Raymond Brunka is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Winnipeg City Council from 1974 to 1977, and has since become a perennial candidate for office at several levels....
. Along with Glen Murray and Dan Vandal
Dan Vandal
Daniel 'Dan' Vandal is a politician in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He has represented St. Boniface on the Winnipeg City Council for all but two years since 1995, and ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Winnipeg in 2004...
, she was one of only three WIN members returned to the new council. After the election, she was appointed to the Winnipeg Art Gallery board of governors, the Zoological Society of Manitoba and the medical advisory committee. In 1996, she opposed Mayor Thompson's proposed roll-back of municipal wages. Thomas was almost relieved of her three board positions in late 1996, as the result of a controversial process that many believe was politically motivated. She retained her positions with the Art Gallery board and medical advisory committee following a lengthy debate, but was removed from the Zoological Society. In 1997, she opposed businessman Sam Katz
Sam Katz
Samuel Michael Katz, OM is the 42nd mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is also a businessperson and a member of the Order of Manitoba.- Life before mayorship :...
's proposal to construct a new baseball park in Winnipeg.
Thomas sought to become deputy speaker of the Winnipeg City Council in late 1997, but lost to John Prystanski
John Prystanski
John Prystanski is a former city councillor in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He represented the north-end ward of Point Douglas from 1989 to 2002.-1989-1995:...
.
The WIN organization dissolved after the 1995 campaign. Thomas received an endorsement from the New Democratic Party in the 1998 election
Winnipeg municipal election, 1998
The 1998 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 28, 1998 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Centre-left candidate Glen Murray defeated populist right-winger Peter Kaufmann in the mayoral contest.-Councillors:...
, and was re-elected under its banner over another challenge from Ray Brunka. While seeking re-election, she highlighted her success in adding a social equity component to the City of Winnipeg Act, in order to add a social dimension to urban planning.
Murray administration
Thomas's ally Glen Murray was elected as Mayor of Winnipeg in 1998, and subsequently appointed Thomas to his Executive Policy Committee as Deputy Mayor. Over the next five years, she often represented the mayor at official events such as ribbon-cutting ceremonies and luncheons. She also served on the Fiscal Issues Committee.
Thomas called for the number of city councillors to be increased in this period, arguing that Winnipeg is too large to be governed by only fifteen representatives. She opposed term limits for councillors, and described anti-mosquito fogging as a "necessary evil". She also endorsed the principle of rent control
Rent control
Rent control refers to laws or ordinances that set price controls on the renting of residential housing. It functions as a price ceiling.Rent control exists in approximately 40 countries around the world...
s, after school trustee Mario Santos
Mario Santos
Mario Jorge Santos is a former public official in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He was a prominent member of the Winnipeg School Board from 1982 to 2002, and has sought election to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba on two occasions....
proposed their abolition.
In July 2001, Thomas announced a two million dollar investment in inner-city development with funding from the federal, provincial and municipal governments. Two months later, she was appointed to a provincial panel charged with charting the future of the Winnipeg region.
Thomas was re-elected in the 2002 municipal election
Winnipeg municipal election, 2002
The 2002 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 23, 2002 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Glen Murray, the city's centre-left mayor, was re-elected to a second term over challenger Al Golden.-Councillors:...
, and retained her status as Deputy Mayor and her position on the Fiscal Issues Committee. She was a prominent supporter of Glen Murray's "new deal" plan for Winnipeg, and endorsed a full smoking ban in the city's public indoor spaces. She relinquished her responsibilities as Deputy Mayor in a November 2003 cabinet shuffle, and was appointed to oversee relations with the provincial government
Executive Council of Manitoba
The Executive Council of Manitoba is the cabinet of that Canadian province.Almost always made up of members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, the Cabinet is similar in structure and role to the Cabinet of Canada while being smaller in size...
. Murray indicated that he made this appointment because Thomas was trusted by members of 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 administration.
In 2004, Thomas encouraged Manitoba New Democratic Party members to maintain their policy of endorsing Winnipeg council and school board candidates. Delegates overwhelmingly approved the policy at the party's convention.
Katz administration
Glen Murray resigned as mayor in mid-2004 to run for the Canadian 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...
. Thomas supported Dan Vandal
Dan Vandal
Daniel 'Dan' Vandal is a politician in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He has represented St. Boniface on the Winnipeg City Council for all but two years since 1995, and ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Winnipeg in 2004...
's bid to become his successor in the by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
that followed. The winning candidate was Sam Katz
Sam Katz
Samuel Michael Katz, OM is the 42nd mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is also a businessperson and a member of the Order of Manitoba.- Life before mayorship :...
, whose platform Thomas had criticized. After the election, she opposed Katz's decision to shelve the implementation of a rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
plan for Winnipeg. She nevertheless retained her position in Katz's executive committee, and in October 2004 was shuffled to the position of Secretary for Urban Aboriginal Opportunities.
Thomas opposed Katz's plan to privatize municipal garbage collection in 2005, arguing that it would encourage private monopolies and drive prices upward in the long run. She also spoke against the mayor's plan to build condominiums in Assiniboine Park. She was dropped from the city's executive in October 2005.
Thomas subsequently charged that Katz was stalling the creation of urban aboriginal reserves, and took the unusual step of releasing her report on the subject before it was submitted to committee. She later opposed the establishment of an Olywest pork production plant in Winnipeg's east end, and pressured the city to remove its financial incentives for the project. The project was canceled in 2007.
Re-elected without difficulty in 2006
Winnipeg municipal election, 2006
The 2006 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 25, 2006 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.Sam Katz was re-elected Mayor of Winnipeg over left-leaning challenger Marianne Cerilli.-Council:...
, she soon emerged as one of Mayor Katz's most prominent critics on the new council. In early 2007, she spoke against Katz's plans to close the Kelvin Community Centre in her ward. She later voted against a private-public partnership for Winnipeg's Disraeli Bridge and Freeway, and endorsed Jim Maloway
Jim Maloway
Peter James "Jim" Maloway is a Canadian politician. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the Winnipeg division of Elmwood—Transcona in the 2008 federal election as a member of the New Democratic Party. He previously served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1986 to 2008,...
's proposal to expand the bridge from four to six lanes.
Thomas opposed plans for Winnipeg to spend $7 million to subsidize a Canada Inns private water park, expressing concern that low-income residents would not be able to afford access to the site. In March 2009, she supported an unsuccessful motion by councillor Dan Vandal
Dan Vandal
Daniel 'Dan' Vandal is a politician in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He has represented St. Boniface on the Winnipeg City Council for all but two years since 1995, and ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Winnipeg in 2004...
that would have banned corporate and union donations in municipal elections.
Federal politics
Thomas endorsed Bill BlaikieBill Blaikie
William Alexander "Bill" Blaikie, PC is a Canadian politician. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba since April 2009, representing the Winnipeg division of Elmwood as a member of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba, and Minister of Conservation and Government House Leader...
's bid for the federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
leadership in 2002. When Blaikie announced his retirement in 2007, she announced that she would consider seeking the party nomination for Elmwood—Transcona
Elmwood—Transcona
Elmwood—Transcona is a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1988. Its population in 2006 was 78,700....
in the 2008 federal election
40th Canadian federal election
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
. She eventually decided to stay in municipal politics.
Electoral Record
All electoral results from 1995 onward are provided by the City of Winnipeg. Results from 1989 and 1992 are taken from the Winnipeg Free PressWinnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
newspaper.