Robert Smellie
Encyclopedia
Robert Gordon Smellie was a politician
in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a Progressive Conservative
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1959 to 1966, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Dufferin Roblin
.
Smellie was born in Russell
, was educated at Brandon College and the Manitoba Law School, and worked as a barrister at law before entering politics. He was also a member of the Canadian Legion, and of the Manitoba Travel and Convention Association. He was originally a supporter of the Liberal-Progressives
, but was drafted by Dufferin Roblin to join the Progressive Conservatives in the mid-1950s.
He first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the 1958 provincial election
, but lost to Liberal-Progressive
incumbent Rodney Clement by 130 votes in the constituency of Birtle-Russell. He ran again in the 1959 election
, and defeated Clement by 224 votes as the Progressive Conservatives won their first majority government in forty-five years.
Smellie was re-elected by a greater margin in the 1962 election
, and was named Minister of Municipal Affairs on February 27, 1963. He remained in this position until July 22, 1966, when he was demoted to minister without portfolio
. He lost to Rod Clement by 145 votes in the 1966 provincial election
.
After his defeat, Smellie served chair of the Manitoba Local Boundaries Commission. This group produced a report on Winnipeg's internal boundaries in 1970, but its findings were superseded by the creation of a unicity the following year. Smellie died in 2005.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
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 was 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:...
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 1959 to 1966, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of 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...
.
Smellie was born in Russell
Russell, Manitoba
Russell is a town of 1,428 located in southwestern Manitoba, Canada, in the Rural Municipality of Russell. The town of Russell is located along Highway 16 and Highway 83, and is at the western terminus of Highway 45. Russell is approximately 15 km from the Saskatchewan border and 340 km...
, was educated at Brandon College and the Manitoba Law School, and worked as a barrister at law before entering politics. He was also a member of the Canadian Legion, and of the Manitoba Travel and Convention Association. He was originally a supporter of the Liberal-Progressives
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 :...
, but was drafted by Dufferin Roblin to join the Progressive Conservatives in the mid-1950s.
He first ran for the Manitoba legislature 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...
, but lost to 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 :...
incumbent Rodney Clement by 130 votes in the constituency of Birtle-Russell. He ran again 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 defeated Clement by 224 votes as the Progressive Conservatives won their first majority government in forty-five years.
Smellie was re-elected by a greater margin in the 1962 election
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...
, and was named Minister of Municipal Affairs on February 27, 1963. He remained in this position until July 22, 1966, when he was demoted to minister without portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
. He lost to Rod Clement by 145 votes in the 1966 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1966
The Manitoba general election held on June 23, 1966, was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a third consecutive majority win for the Progressive Conservative Party led by Dufferin Roblin...
.
After his defeat, Smellie served chair of the Manitoba Local Boundaries Commission. This group produced a report on Winnipeg's internal boundaries in 1970, but its findings were superseded by the creation of a unicity the following year. Smellie died in 2005.