Merv Tweed
Encyclopedia
Mervin C. Tweed, MP
(born August 6, 1955 in Medora, Manitoba) is a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He currently sits as the Member of Parliament
for Brandon—Souris
. Prior to that he was a member of the Manitoba Legislature from 1995 to 2004, representing the constituency of Turtle Mountain
.
Tweed was born in Medora, Manitoba, and was educated at Brandon University
. He operated a used car dealership for seventeen years, and was for a time an executive member of the Killarney
and Area Recreation Committee.
Tweed began his political career in municipal politics, serving as a councillor
in the rural municipality of Brenda
for five years, and as deputy reeve for three. In 1995, he was elected to the Manitoba legislature as a Progressive Conservative
in Turtle Mountain
, a safe seat for the party. He served as a parliamentary assistant to a variety of ministers in the government of Premier
Gary Filmon
before being appointed Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism with responsibility for the Development Corporation Act on February 5, 1999.
Tweed was easily re-elected in the 1999 provincial election
, although the Progressive Conservatives were defeated at the provincial level by the New Democratic Party
under Gary Doer
. Tweed resigned his cabinet portfolio with the rest of the Filmon ministry.
Despite the NDP's landmark election win of 2003, Tweed was again re-elected in Turtle Mountain without difficulty, receiving 3956 votes against 1893 for New Democrat Lonnie Patterson.
When federal Conservative
MP
Rick Borotsik
(Brandon-Souris), announced his retirement in 2004, Tweed resigned his provincial seat and won the Conservative nomination for the riding. He received 18,209 votes in the general election, against 8522 for Liberal
Murray Downing.
Following the election, Tweed was named opposition critic for Western Economic Diversification
by Conservative leader Stephen Harper
. He easily retained his seat in the 2006 election
and 2008 election
.
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,...
(born August 6, 1955 in Medora, Manitoba) is a politician 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 currently sits as the Member of Parliament
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...
for Brandon—Souris
Brandon—Souris
Brandon—Souris is a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1953.-Demographics:-Geography:The district is in the southwestern corner of the Province of Manitoba...
. Prior to that he was a member of the Manitoba Legislature from 1995 to 2004, representing the constituency of Turtle Mountain
Turtle Mountain (electoral district)
Turtle Mountain is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created with the westward expansion of the province's borders in 1881, eliminated by redistribution in 1968, and re-established in 1979, formally returned to the electoral map with the provincial...
.
Tweed was born in Medora, Manitoba, and was educated at 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 operated a used car dealership for seventeen years, and was for a time an executive member of the Killarney
Killarney, Manitoba
Killarney is a town in Southwestern Manitoba, Canada, at the corner of Manitoba Provincial Trunk Highways 3 & 18. , its population was approximately 2300. The incorporated town is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Turtle Mountain. It is well known for its lake, situated within the town proper...
and Area Recreation Committee.
Tweed began his political career in municipal politics, serving as a councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
in the rural municipality of Brenda
Brenda, Manitoba
Brenda is a rural municipality in the province of Manitoba in Western Canada. It is located in the southwestern part of the province, along the border with the state of North Dakota in the United States. It had a 2006 Census population of 549 persons, a decline from the 2001 Census figure of 616...
for five years, and as deputy reeve for three. In 1995, he was elected to the Manitoba legislature 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:...
in Turtle Mountain
Turtle Mountain (electoral district)
Turtle Mountain is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created with the westward expansion of the province's borders in 1881, eliminated by redistribution in 1968, and re-established in 1979, formally returned to the electoral map with the provincial...
, a safe seat for the party. He served as a parliamentary assistant to a variety of ministers 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:...
before being appointed Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism with responsibility for the Development Corporation Act on February 5, 1999.
Tweed was easily re-elected in the 1999 provincial election
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 the Progressive Conservatives were defeated at the provincial level 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...
under 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...
. Tweed resigned his cabinet portfolio with the rest of the Filmon ministry.
Despite the NDP's landmark election win of 2003, Tweed was again re-elected in Turtle Mountain without difficulty, receiving 3956 votes against 1893 for New Democrat Lonnie Patterson.
When federal Conservative
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...
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,...
Rick Borotsik
Rick Borotsik
Rick Borotsik is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as Mayor of Brandon from 1989 to 1997, was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2004, and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in 2007...
(Brandon-Souris), announced his retirement in 2004, Tweed resigned his provincial seat and won the Conservative nomination for the riding. He received 18,209 votes in the general election, against 8522 for Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
Murray Downing.
Following the election, Tweed was named opposition critic for Western Economic Diversification
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Western Economic Diversification Canada is a Canadian federal department that works towards building strong, competitive and innovative businesses and communities in Western Canada...
by Conservative leader Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
. He easily retained his seat in the 2006 election
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
and 2008 election
Canadian federal election, 2008
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...
.