Muriel Smith
Encyclopedia
Muriel Smith, OC
(born May 9, 1930) is a Manitoba
politician. She ran for the leadership of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba
in 1979, and subsequently served in the cabinet of NDP Premier
Howard Pawley
.
Smith was born as Muriel Lipsey at Britannia Beach, British Columbia
, and was educated at the University of Manitoba
and the Oxford Institute of Education, in Oxford, England. In 1952, she married Murray Smith, son of former Manitoba Liberal
politician Charles Rhodes Smith
.
She worked as a counsellor, served on the Human Rights Commission of Manitoba from 1974-78 and the Manitoba Action Centre on the Status of Women from 1975-76. She was also President of the Manitoba NDP from 1975-77.
She first ran for the provincial legislature in the 1973 provincial election
, in the upscale Winnipeg riding of River Heights. She placed third, with Progressive Conservative
leader Sidney Spivak
winning the riding and future Liberal
leader Charles Huband
finishing second. Smith ran in Crescentwood in the 1977 election
, losing to Progressive Conservative
Warren Steen
by 72 votes.
Smith was a representative of the NDP's left wing in the 1979 leadership race. Her supporters included supporters of "the Waffle
" (a left-leaning group within the NDP) and many leading members of Manitoba's feminist community. Smith's campaign suffered a serious setback when she failed to receive the NDP nomination for a by-election
in the riding of Fort Rouge. Notwithstanding, she finished a credible second place at the convention, losing to Howard Pawley
.
She was elected to the Manitoba legislature for the first time in the 1981 election
, representing the riding of Osborne. She joined cabinet on November 30, 1981, serving as Deputy Premier and Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Muriel Smith was the first woman in Canada to serve as a deputy premier. On August 20, 1982, she was also entrusted with administration of the Development Corporation Act and A.E. McKenzie Company, Limited.
On November 4, 1983, Smith moved to the ministry of Community Services. On January 30, 1985, she was also appointed Minister responsible for the Status of Women
, holding this position until April 17, 1986. She was again moved on September 21, 1987, serving as Minister of Labour and Housing while again receiving cabinet responsibilities for the Status of Women (replacing Judy Wasylycia-Leis
, who had held the portfolio in the interim). Smith remained in cabinet until the Pawley government was defeated in 1988.
She was easily re-elected in the 1986 election
, but lost to future federal cabinet minister Reg Alcock
in 1988. She has not returned to active political life since this time. Smith later became Vice President of the United Nations Association in Canada
, and has taught part-time in affirmative action social work. She was a member of the Advisory Council of the Order of Manitoba
. In 2003, she supported Bill Blaikie
's campaign to become leader of the federal New Democratic Party
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born May 9, 1930) is a 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...
politician. She ran for the leadership of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba
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...
in 1979, and subsequently served in the cabinet of NDP 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:...
.
Smith was born as Muriel Lipsey at Britannia Beach, British Columbia
Britannia Beach, British Columbia
Britannia Beach is a small unincorporated community in the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District located approximately 30 kilometers north of Vancouver, British Columbia on the Sea-to-Sky Highway on Howe Sound. It has a population of about 300....
, and 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 Oxford Institute of Education, in Oxford, England. In 1952, she married Murray Smith, son of former Manitoba Liberal
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 :...
politician Charles Rhodes Smith
Charles Rhodes Smith
Charles Rhodes Smith was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1941 to 1952 as a Liberal-Progressive, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of Stuart Garson and Douglas Campbell.-Education and early career:Born in Portage la Prairie,...
.
She worked as a counsellor, served on the Human Rights Commission of Manitoba from 1974-78 and the Manitoba Action Centre on the Status of Women from 1975-76. She was also President of the Manitoba NDP from 1975-77.
She first ran for the provincial legislature in the 1973 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1973
The Manitoba General Election of June 28, 1973 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the social-democratic New Democratic Party, which took 31 of 57 seats...
, in the upscale Winnipeg riding of River Heights. She placed third, with 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:...
leader Sidney Spivak
Sidney Spivak
Sidney Spivak was a Manitoba politician. He was a Cabinet Minister in the governments of Dufferin Roblin, Walter Weir and Sterling Lyon, and was himself leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1971 to 1975.Spivak was born to a Jewish family in Winnipeg, and was educated at...
winning the riding and future Liberal
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 :...
leader Charles Huband
Charles Huband
Charles Huband was a Manitoba politician, who subsequently became a judge. He was the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party between 1975 and 1978....
finishing second. Smith ran in Crescentwood in the 1977 election
Manitoba general election, 1977
The Manitoba general election of October 11, 1977 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 33 seats out of 57...
, losing to 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:...
Warren Steen
Warren Steen
Warren Steen is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1975 to 1986, as a Progressive Conservative.- Biography :...
by 72 votes.
Smith was a representative of the NDP's left wing in the 1979 leadership race. Her supporters included supporters of "the Waffle
The Waffle
The Waffle was a radical wing of Canada's New Democratic Party in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It later transformed into an independent political party, with little electoral success before it permanently disbanded in the mid-1970s...
" (a left-leaning group within the NDP) and many leading members of Manitoba's feminist community. Smith's campaign suffered a serious setback when she failed to receive the NDP nomination for a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in the riding of Fort Rouge. Notwithstanding, she finished a credible second place at the convention, losing to 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:...
.
She was elected to the Manitoba legislature for the first time in the 1981 election
Manitoba general election, 1981
The Manitoba general election of November 17, 1981 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the opposition New Democratic Party, which took 34 of 57 seats. The governing Progressive Conservative Party took the remaining 23, while the...
, representing the riding of Osborne. She joined cabinet on November 30, 1981, serving as Deputy Premier and Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Muriel Smith was the first woman in Canada to serve as a deputy premier. On August 20, 1982, she was also entrusted with administration of the Development Corporation Act and A.E. McKenzie Company, Limited.
On November 4, 1983, Smith moved to the ministry of Community Services. On January 30, 1985, she was also appointed Minister responsible for the Status of Women
Minister responsible for the Status of Women (Manitoba)
Since 1982, the Executive Council of Manitoba has included a minister responsible for the Status of Women. The position is not a full cabinet portfolio, and has always been held by a minister with other cabinet responsibilities....
, holding this position until April 17, 1986. She was again moved on September 21, 1987, serving as Minister of Labour and Housing while again receiving cabinet responsibilities for the Status of Women (replacing Judy Wasylycia-Leis
Judy Wasylycia-Leis
Klazina Judith "Judy" Wasylycia-Leis is a Canadian politician. She was a Manitoba cabinet minister in the government of Howard Pawley from 1986 to 1988, and was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from September 22, 1997 to April 30, 2010...
, who had held the portfolio in the interim). Smith remained in cabinet until the Pawley government was defeated in 1988.
She was easily re-elected in the 1986 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...
, but lost to future federal cabinet minister Reg Alcock
Reg Alcock
Reginald B. Alcock, PC was a Canadian politician. He represented the riding of Winnipeg South in the Canadian House of Commons from 1993 to 2006 and was a cabinet minister in the government of Prime Minister Paul Martin. Alcock was a member of the Liberal Party of Canada.-Early life and...
in 1988. She has not returned to active political life since this time. Smith later became Vice President of the United Nations Association in Canada
United Nations Association in Canada
The United Nations Association in Canada engages the Canadian public in the work of the United Nations and the critical international issues which face us all. Canada has been an integral part of the UNA and continues to do so in the future....
, and has taught part-time in affirmative action social work. She was a member of the Advisory Council of the Order of Manitoba
Order of Manitoba
The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M...
. In 2003, she supported Bill Blaikie
Bill 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 campaign to become leader of 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...
.