Michael Hryhorczuk
Encyclopedia
Michael Nicholas Hryhorczuk (November 28, 1905 in Gilbert Plains
, Manitoba
– July 11, 1978) was a politician
in Manitoba, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1949 to 1966, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Douglas Campbell
. Hryhorczuk was originally a Liberal-Progressive
, and later became a Liberal after the party changed its name. His father, Nicholas Hryhorczuk
, was also a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1920 to 1945.
Hryhorczuk was educated at the University of Manitoba
and the University of Saskatchewan
, receiving Bachelor of Arts
and law degrees. He worked as a barrister before entering political life, and served as chairman of the Ethelbert
School Board and president of the Ethelbert Chamber of Commerce. He also served as reeve of Ethelbert for a time.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1949 provincial election
, defeating CCF candidate Fred Zaplitny
by over 700 votes in his father's old riding of Ethelbert. He served as a backbench supporter of Campbell's government in the parliament which followed, and was re-elected without difficulty in the 1953 election
.
On January 25, 1955, Hryhorczuk was named as the province's Attorney General. He retained this position until the 1958 provincial election
, in which Campbell's Liberal-Progressive lost power to Dufferin Roblin
's Progressive Conservatives
. He formally resigned his position on June 30, 1958.
Hryhorczuk himself was re-elected in the 1958 provincial election
, defeating future MLA Peter Burtniak
of the CCF by almost 1,000 votes in the redistributed riding of Ethelbert Plains. He defeated Burtniak by a narrower margin in the 1959 election
, and was returned again in the 1962 campaign
. He did not run in 1966.
Former CCF leader Lloyd Stinson
once described Hryhorczuk as "[a]n extremely likable and friendly fellow ... surprisingly conservative, almost reactionary in his political philosophy, which made him an idea candidate for promotion to the Campbell cabinet." (Stinson, Political Warriors, p. 129). He opposed humanitarian prison reforms during his time as Attorney General, and had little enthusiasm for the idea of rehabilitation.
Hryhorczuk died in 1978, one year before his father.
Gilbert Plains, Manitoba
Gilbert Plains is a town in Manitoba, Canada. The town lies on Highway 5 and the CN railway line, between Dauphin and Grandview, or about 250 miles NW of Winnipeg. The current mayor of Gilbert Plains is Lyle Smith. Gilbert Plains railway station receives Via Rail service.-History:Incorporated 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...
– July 11, 1978) was 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, 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 served as 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 1949 to 1966, and was a cabinet minister in the government of 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...
. Hryhorczuk was originally a Liberal-Progressive
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 :...
, and later became a Liberal after the party changed its name. His father, Nicholas Hryhorczuk
Nicholas Hryhorczuk
Nicholas Apoluner Hryhorczuk was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1920 to 1936, and again from 1941 to 1945....
, was also a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1920 to 1945.
Hryhorczuk was educated at 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...
and the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
, receiving 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...
and law degrees. He worked as a barrister before entering political life, and served as chairman of the Ethelbert
Ethelbert, Manitoba
Ethelbert is a village that is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Ethelbert in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is 370 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg and 60 kilometres north of Dauphin, Manitoba. The village is located not far from Duck Mountain Provincial Park on PTH 10...
School Board and president of the Ethelbert Chamber of Commerce. He also served as reeve of Ethelbert for a time.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1949 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1949
Manitoba's general election of November 10, 1949 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election pitted the province's coalition government, made up of the Liberal-Progressive Party and the Progressive Conservative Party, against a variety of...
, defeating CCF candidate Fred Zaplitny
Fred Zaplitny
Frederick Samuel Zaplitny was a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Dauphin in the Canadian House of Commons from 1945 to 1949, and from 1953 to 1958...
by over 700 votes in his father's old riding of Ethelbert. He served as a backbench supporter of Campbell's government in the parliament which followed, and was re-elected without difficulty in the 1953 election
Manitoba general election, 1953
Manitoba's general election of June 8, 1953 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. This was the first election held in Manitoba after the breakup of a ten-year coalition government led by the Liberal-Progressives and Progressive Conservatives...
.
On January 25, 1955, Hryhorczuk was named as the province's Attorney General. He retained this position until the 1958 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1958
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1958 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was the first to be held in Manitoba after a comprehensive electoral redistribution in 1956...
, in which Campbell's Liberal-Progressive lost power to Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin "Duff" Roblin, PC, CC, OM was a Canadian businessman and politician. Known as "Duff," he served as the 14th Premier of Manitoba from 1958 to 1967. Roblin was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In the government of Brian Mulroney, he served as...
's Progressive Conservatives
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:...
. He formally resigned his position on June 30, 1958.
Hryhorczuk himself was re-elected in the 1958 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1958
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1958 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was the first to be held in Manitoba after a comprehensive electoral redistribution in 1956...
, defeating future MLA Peter Burtniak
Peter Burtniak
Peter Burtniak was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1969 to 1977, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Edward Schreyer.Burtniak was educated in the Manitoba school system, and worked as a farm implement...
of the CCF by almost 1,000 votes in the redistributed riding of Ethelbert Plains. He defeated Burtniak by a narrower margin in the 1959 election
Manitoba general election, 1959
Manitoba's general election of May 14, 1959 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a majority victory for the Progressive Conservative Party under the leadership of Dufferin Roblin...
, and was returned again in the 1962 campaign
Manitoba general election, 1962
Manitoba's general election of December 16, 1962 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a second majority victory for the Progressive Conservative Party under the leadership of Dufferin Roblin...
. He did not run in 1966.
Former CCF leader Lloyd Stinson
Lloyd Stinson
Lloyd Stinson was a politician in Manitoba, Canada, and the leader of that province's Co-operative Commonwealth Federation from 1953 to 1959. Although widely regarded as a capable leader, he was unable to achieve a major electoral breakthrough for his party.Stinson was born in Treherne,...
once described Hryhorczuk as "[a]n extremely likable and friendly fellow ... surprisingly conservative, almost reactionary in his political philosophy, which made him an idea candidate for promotion to the Campbell cabinet." (Stinson, Political Warriors, p. 129). He opposed humanitarian prison reforms during his time as Attorney General, and had little enthusiasm for the idea of rehabilitation.
Hryhorczuk died in 1978, one year before his father.