Taras Sokolyk
Encyclopedia
Taras Sokolyk is a former political organizer and currently the Chief Executive Officer of CanadInns in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He played a prominent role in the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba's 1995 election campaign, in which the party won a majority government.
Once a political organizer in Manitoba
, Canada
, he served as chief of staff to Progressive Conservative
premier
Gary Filmon
in the 1990s, and was later implicated in a vote-splitting scandal relating to the 1995 provincial election
.
In 1998, premier Filmon called a commission of inquiry into allegations that local PC organizers Cubby Barrett and Allen Aitken had funded three Independent Native Voice
candidates, with the intention of splitting the left-of-centre vote with the New Democratic Party
. Sokolyk testified at this inquiry, and was personally implicated when it was discovered he had transferred funds to Aitken during the campaign.
The scandal damaged his reputation, but did not force him to withdraw from political activity. In 2002, new Progressive Conservative leader Stuart Murray
secretly contracted Sokolyk to work for the party again. The story was soon leaked to the media by a PC insider, and Sokolyk's contract was terminated with a $25,000 payout.
Once a political organizer 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 served as chief of staff 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:...
premier
Premier of Manitoba
The Premier of Manitoba is the first minister for the Canadian province of Manitoba. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. Until the early 1970s, the title "Prime Minister of Manitoba" was used frequently. Afterwards, the word Premier, derived from the French...
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:...
in the 1990s, and was later implicated in a vote-splitting scandal relating to the 1995 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1995
The Manitoba general election of April 25,1995 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which won 31 seats out of 57...
.
In 1998, premier Filmon called a commission of inquiry into allegations that local PC organizers Cubby Barrett and Allen Aitken had funded three Independent Native Voice
Independent Native Voice
Independent Native Voice, also known as Native Voice, was a short-lived political party in Manitoba, Canada. It was created in 1995 to address aboriginal issues, and ran three candidates in the 1995 provincial election. Native Voice was not registered with Elections Manitoba, and its candidates...
candidates, with the intention of splitting the left-of-centre vote with 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...
. Sokolyk testified at this inquiry, and was personally implicated when it was discovered he had transferred funds to Aitken during the campaign.
The scandal damaged his reputation, but did not force him to withdraw from political activity. In 2002, new Progressive Conservative leader Stuart Murray
Stuart Murray
Stuart Murray is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba and leader of the opposition in the Manitoba legislature from 2000 to 2006.-Early life and career:...
secretly contracted Sokolyk to work for the party again. The story was soon leaked to the media by a PC insider, and Sokolyk's contract was terminated with a $25,000 payout.