Ron Lemieux
Encyclopedia
Ron Lemieux is a Canadian
politician, who has been an elected member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
since 1999. Previously, he was a professional ice hockey
player.
Ron was a Canadian ice hockey
defenceman
drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins
in the ninth round (#110). Ron started with the Dauphin Kings
of MJHL, helping the Kings to the Manitoba championship in 1971-72. He played for the Green Bay Bobcats in the United States Hockey League
for the 1974-75 season (scoring seven goals and eighteen assists), but was never called up to the NHL. He later coached girl's hockey in Lorette
, Manitoba and St. Adolphe.
After leaving hockey, Lemieux received Bachelor of Arts
and Bachelor of Education
degrees from the University of Winnipeg
, and completed post-baccalaureate work in education at the University of Manitoba
. He worked as a teacher for several years, coaching various high school teams and holding positions in the teacher's association.
In the provincial election of 1999
, Lemieux was elected to the Manitoba legislature for the rural riding of La Verendrye, defeating Progressive Conservative
incumbent Ben Sveinson
by 3533 votes to 3367. Lemieux's victory was something of an upset, as it occurred in a riding which had never before been won by the New Democratic Party or its social-democratic predecessors (despite having existed since 1879). In the 2003 election
, Lemieux was re-elected with 58% of the riding's vote.
On October 5, 1999, Lemieux was appointed Minister of Consumer of Corporate Affairs, with responsibility for the Gaming Control Act. He was relieved of the latter responsibility on July 4, 2000; after a cabinet shuffle on January 17, 2001, he was appointed Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism with responsibility for Sport.
Lemieux has since been "shuffled" two further times: he became Minister of Education and Youth on September 25, 2002, and Minister of Transportation and Government Services on November 4, 2003.
In September 2006 he was appointed Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation in Gary Doer
's new cabinet.
Lemieux has described his political views as being closer to Tony Blair
's "New Labour" than to traditional democratic socialism
. In 2003, he supported Bill Blaikie
's campaign to become leader of the federal New Democratic Party
. He was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election
.
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...
politician, who has been an elected 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...
since 1999. Previously, he was a professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player.
Ron was a Canadian ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
in the ninth round (#110). Ron started with the Dauphin Kings
Dauphin Kings
The Dauphin Kings are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team from Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada. They are members of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League , a part of the Canadian Junior A Hockey League and Hockey Canada...
of MJHL, helping the Kings to the Manitoba championship in 1971-72. He played for the Green Bay Bobcats in the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
for the 1974-75 season (scoring seven goals and eighteen assists), but was never called up to the NHL. He later coached girl's hockey in Lorette
Lorette, Manitoba
Lorette is a community in the Rural Municipality of Taché, in the province of Manitoba, Canada.- History :Lorette was founded as a French settlement along the Seine River. By 1878, Lorette was already appearing on Manitoba maps.- Transportation:...
, Manitoba and St. Adolphe.
After leaving hockey, Lemieux received 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 Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Education
A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...
degrees from the University of Winnipeg
University of Winnipeg
The University of Winnipeg is a public university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that offers undergraduate faculties of art, business and economics, education, science and theology as well as graduate programs. The U of W's founding colleges were Manitoba College and Wesley College, which merged...
, and completed post-baccalaureate work in education 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...
. He worked as a teacher for several years, coaching various high school teams and holding positions in the teacher's association.
In the provincial election of 1999
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....
, Lemieux was elected to the Manitoba legislature for the rural riding of La Verendrye, defeating 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:...
incumbent Ben Sveinson
Ben Sveinson
Ben Sveinson is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as a member of the Manitoba legislature from 1990 to 1999 as a Progressive Conservative....
by 3533 votes to 3367. Lemieux's victory was something of an upset, as it occurred in a riding which had never before been won by the New Democratic Party or its social-democratic predecessors (despite having existed since 1879). In the 2003 election
Manitoba general election, 2003
The Manitoba general election held on June 3, 2003 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which won 35 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party finished second with twenty seats...
, Lemieux was re-elected with 58% of the riding's vote.
On October 5, 1999, Lemieux was appointed Minister of Consumer of Corporate Affairs, with responsibility for the Gaming Control Act. He was relieved of the latter responsibility on July 4, 2000; after a cabinet shuffle on January 17, 2001, he was appointed Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism with responsibility for Sport.
Lemieux has since been "shuffled" two further times: he became Minister of Education and Youth on September 25, 2002, and Minister of Transportation and Government Services on November 4, 2003.
In September 2006 he was appointed Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation in 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...
's new cabinet.
Lemieux has described his political views as being closer to Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
's "New Labour" than to traditional democratic socialism
Democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
. In 2003, he 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...
. He was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 2007
The Manitoba general election held on May 22, 2007 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which won 36 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party finished second with nineteen seats. The Liberal...
.