Manitoba Confederation of Regions Party
Encyclopedia
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 Independence Party
, the CoR did not advocate full independence for the western provinces. The national party leader was Elmer Knutson
; its original provincial leader was Douglas Edmondson
.
The Manitoba CoR was founded in 1984, as a result of public controversy over NDP
Premier
Howard Pawley
's attempts to entrench francophone services in the province. The CoR opposed any expansion of French language rights.
The national CoR Party polled surprisingly well in the 1984 federal election in Manitoba, placing second to the Progressive Conservatives
in three rural anglophone ridings. The party, as such, was hopeful of electing candidates to the Manitoba legislature in the general election of 1986.
This did not occur. The party ran fifteen candidates in 1986, and managed to place second in four rural ridings (Arthur, Gladstone, Pembina and Rhineland). None of the CoR's candidates came close to an actual victory; Dennis Heeney
, who had replaced Edmondson as leader, could do no better than a third place finish in Minnedosa.
The CoR ran fourteen candidates in 1988. Despite a high-profile endorsement of the party from former Premier
Douglas Campbell
, no candidate managed to place higher than a distant third place. Dennis Heeney appears to have stepped down as party leader following the election.
In 1990, only five candidates ran under the CoR banner. Irene Armishaw
was the party's President, and may have been its political leader as well. Armishaw received 486 votes in the rural riding of Lakeside; no other candidate even reached this level.
In April 1991, the Manitoba CoR changed its name to the Manitoba Reform Party. This followed a mail-in referendum among party members conducted in March and April, in which 67% of the respondents were said to have favoured the change. (It may be noted that the Manitoba CoR only had about 65-70 members by this time.)
The new name brought about a lawsuit from the Reform Party of Canada
, which had no formal connection to the Manitoba group. National CoR leader Elmer Knutson
was also opposed to the change. Nevertheless, the Court of Appeals in Manitoba determined in 1991 that party's use of the word "Reform" at the provincial level was legal.
(See Manitoba Reform Party
for further details of the party's history.)
See also: Canadian political parties
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...
. It was the provincial branch of the Confederation of Regions Party of Canada
Confederation of Regions Party of Canada
The Confederation of Regions Party was a right-wing Canadian political party founded in 1984 by Elmer Knutson. It was founded as a successor to the Western Canada Federation , a non-partisan organization, to fight the Liberal Party of Canada...
, a right-wing organization which sought greater autonomy for Western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
. Unlike the Western Canada Concept
Western Canada Concept
The Western Canada Concept was a Western Canadian political party founded in 1980 to promote the separation of the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia and the Yukon and Northwest Territories from Canada in order to create a new nation.The party argued that Western...
and the Western Independence Party
Western Independence Party
The Western Independence Party was a Canadian political party that advocated the separation from Canada of the western Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well as the Yukon and Northwest Territories to form a new country.The WIP ran 11 candidates in the...
, the CoR did not advocate full independence for the western provinces. The national party leader was Elmer Knutson
Elmer Knutson
Elmer S. Knutson was a Canadian fringe politician. He was born on the family farm in Torquay, Saskatchewan. He worked on road gangs, in lumber camps and mines until he won a baseball scholarship to a Lutheran college in North Dakota, USA. After serving in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War...
; its original provincial leader was Douglas Edmondson
Douglas Edmondson
Douglas Edmondson was a political figure in Manitoba, Canada during the 1980s. He was the first leader of that province's Confederation of Regions Party, although he never actually ran in a provincial election....
.
The Manitoba CoR was founded in 1984, as a result of public controversy over NDP
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...
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"...
Howard Pawley
Howard Pawley
Howard Russell Pawley, PC, OC, OM is a Canadian politician and professor who was the 18th Premier of Manitoba from 1981 to 1988.-Personal life:...
's attempts to entrench francophone services in the province. The CoR opposed any expansion of French language rights.
The national CoR Party polled surprisingly well in the 1984 federal election in Manitoba, placing second to the Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
in three rural anglophone ridings. The party, as such, was hopeful of electing candidates to the Manitoba legislature in the general election of 1986.
This did not occur. The party ran fifteen candidates in 1986, and managed to place second in four rural ridings (Arthur, Gladstone, Pembina and Rhineland). None of the CoR's candidates came close to an actual victory; Dennis Heeney
Dennis Heeney
Dennis Heeney is a Manitoba politician. In the provincial elections of 1986 and 1988, he was the leader of the province's Confederation of Regions Party, a group that opposed the extension of French-language rights and sought greater autonomy for western Canada Dennis Heeney is a Manitoba...
, who had replaced Edmondson as leader, could do no better than a third place finish in Minnedosa.
The CoR ran fourteen candidates in 1988. Despite a high-profile endorsement of the party from former Premier
Premier (Canada)
In Canada, a premier is the head of government of a province or territory. There are currently ten provincial premiers and three territorial premiers in Canada....
Douglas Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell, OC was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as the 13th Premier of Manitoba from 1948 to 1958...
, no candidate managed to place higher than a distant third place. Dennis Heeney appears to have stepped down as party leader following the election.
In 1990, only five candidates ran under the CoR banner. Irene Armishaw
Irene Armishaw
Irene Armishaw is a Manitoba politician. Born Irene Edmondson in the farming town of Oakville, Manitoba, she is the daughter of Mark Edmondson, a farmer and one-time political candidate...
was the party's President, and may have been its political leader as well. Armishaw received 486 votes in the rural riding of Lakeside; no other candidate even reached this level.
In April 1991, the Manitoba CoR changed its name to the Manitoba Reform Party. This followed a mail-in referendum among party members conducted in March and April, in which 67% of the respondents were said to have favoured the change. (It may be noted that the Manitoba CoR only had about 65-70 members by this time.)
The new name brought about a lawsuit from the Reform Party of Canada
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
, which had no formal connection to the Manitoba group. National CoR leader Elmer Knutson
Elmer Knutson
Elmer S. Knutson was a Canadian fringe politician. He was born on the family farm in Torquay, Saskatchewan. He worked on road gangs, in lumber camps and mines until he won a baseball scholarship to a Lutheran college in North Dakota, USA. After serving in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War...
was also opposed to the change. Nevertheless, the Court of Appeals in Manitoba determined in 1991 that party's use of the word "Reform" at the provincial level was legal.
(See Manitoba Reform Party
Manitoba Reform Party
The Manitoba Reform Party was a right-wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It was previously known as the Confederation of Regions Party of Manitoba and had competed under that name in the provincial elections of 1986, 1988 and 1990....
for further details of the party's history.)
See also: Canadian political parties