Valentine Winkler
Encyclopedia
Valentine Winkler was a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
as a Liberal
from 1892 to 1900, and again from 1900 to 1920. Winkler was a cabinet minister in the government of Tobias C. Norris. His brother, Enoch Winkler, was also a member of the provincial legislature from 1888 to 1899.
Winkler was born in Neustadt
, Grey County
, Canada West (now Ontario
), and educated at public schools in the area. He moved to Manitoba in 1879 after the death of his father, and worked in his brother Enoch Winkler's lumberyard. In 1883, he began his own grain and lumber business in Morden
. He began farming in 1888. After the incorporation of the Municipality of Stanley
in 1890, Winkler was chosen as the community's first reeve. He served in this position until 1892. In the same year, the village of Winkler
was established in Manitoba, named after him. He ran a grain elevator and lumber business in the community. Winkler was also an active freemason.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1892 provincial election
, defeating Conservative
candidate N. Bowman by 186 votes to 74 in the constituency of Rhineland. The Liberals won a majority government in this election, and Winkler served as a backbench supporter of Thomas Greenway
's government. He was re-elected over Bowman by an increased margin in the 1896 campaign
.
The Liberals were defeated in the 1899 provincial election
, although Winkler retained his seat with a victory over Conservative candidate W.J. Potter. He resigned his seat in 1900 to run for the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1900 federal election
, as a candidate of the Liberal Party of Canada
in the riding of Lisgar
. He narrowly lost to independent candidate Robert Lorne Richardson
, 3,392 votes to 3,143. Winkler's son later wrote that his father was not keen on entering federal politics, but ran at the behest of Clifford Sifton
, a prominent cabinet minister from Manitoba.
Twelve days after the federal election, Winkler was narrowly re-elected in a by-election
to serve Rhineland again in the provincial legislature. He defeated Bowman again, 185 votes to 174.
Winkler was re-elected by an increased margin in the 1903 provincial election
, and again in the elections of 1907
, 1910
and 1914
. In 1914, he defeated future Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
William Johnston Tupper
by 132 votes. The Conservative administration of Rodmond P. Roblin governed the province throughout this period, and Winkler served as a member of the opposition.
In 1915, Roblin was forced to resign from office after the Lieutenant Governor found his ministry guilty of corruption in the tendering of contracts for new legislative buildings. Although the Liberals did not command a majority in the legislature, they were called upon to form a new administration. Tobias C. Norris became Premier of Manitoba
on May 15, 1915, and appointed Winkler as his Minister of Agriculture and Immigration.
A new election
was called in 1915, which the Liberals won with a landslide majority. Winkler defeated Tupper a second time, and was retained as Agriculture and Immigration minister in Norris's government.
Winkler was an activist Minister of Agriculture. He passed the Settlers Animal Purchase Act, which allowed new settlers in Interlake to purchase cattle on credit, and the Seed Grain Act, allowing municipalities to purchase seed on credit. He was also responsible for Manitoba's Farm Implements Act and Producer Dealers Act.
Winkler died of diabetes while campaigning for re-election in the provincial campaign of 1920
. It may be noted that insulin
was not discovered until two years later.
Winkler's son, Howard Waldemar Winkler
, was a federal Liberal Member of Parliament
from 1935 to 1953.
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 in 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...
as a 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 :...
from 1892 to 1900, and again from 1900 to 1920. Winkler was a cabinet minister in the government of Tobias C. Norris. His brother, Enoch Winkler, was also a member of the provincial legislature from 1888 to 1899.
Winkler was born in Neustadt
Neustadt, Ontario
Neustadt, Ontario is a community in the Municipality of West Grey in Grey County in southern Ontario, Canada. The village is located south of Hanover on Grey Road 10....
, Grey County
Grey County, Ontario
Grey County is a county and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is in Owen Sound. The population was 92,411 in 2006. It is located in the subregion of Southern Ontario named Southwestern Ontario...
, Canada West (now Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
), and educated at public schools in the area. He moved to Manitoba in 1879 after the death of his father, and worked in his brother Enoch Winkler's lumberyard. In 1883, he began his own grain and lumber business in Morden
Morden, Manitoba
Morden is a small town with a population of 6571 located in the Pembina Valley region of southern Manitoba, Canada. Morden is less than ten minutes west of neighbouring Winkler, and a relatively short distance to Pembina Valley Provincial Park...
. He began farming in 1888. After the incorporation of the Municipality of Stanley
Stanley, Manitoba
Stanley is a rural municipality in the province of Manitoba in Western Canada. It is located in the southern part of the province, along its border with the state of North Dakota in the United States. The municipality had a 2006 Census population of 6,367, a 24.3% increase from the 5,122 reported...
in 1890, Winkler was chosen as the community's first reeve. He served in this position until 1892. In the same year, the village of Winkler
Winkler, Manitoba
Winkler is a small city with a population of about 9,900 located in southern Manitoba, Canada in the Rural Municipality of Stanley...
was established in Manitoba, named after him. He ran a grain elevator and lumber business in the community. Winkler was also an active freemason.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1892 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1892
This was the eighth Manitoba general election and was held on July 23, 1892....
, defeating 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:...
candidate N. Bowman by 186 votes to 74 in the constituency of Rhineland. The Liberals won a majority government in this election, and Winkler served as a backbench supporter of Thomas Greenway
Thomas Greenway
For the American character actor , see Tom Greenway.Thomas Greenway was a politician, merchant and farmer. He served as the seventh Premier of Manitoba, Canada, from 1888 to 1900...
's government. He was re-elected over Bowman by an increased margin in the 1896 campaign
Manitoba general election, 1896
This was the ninth Manitoba general election and was held on January 15, 1896....
.
The Liberals were defeated in the 1899 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1899
This was the tenth Manitoba general election and was held on December 7, 1899....
, although Winkler retained his seat with a victory over Conservative candidate W.J. Potter. He resigned his seat in 1900 to run for the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 1900 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1900
The Canadian federal election of 1900 was held on November 7 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 9th Parliament of Canada. As a result of the election, the Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier, was re-elected to a second majority government, defeating the...
, as a candidate of the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
in the riding of Lisgar
Lisgar (electoral district)
Lisgarwas a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1871 to 1988. This riding was created following the admission of Manitoba into the Canadian Confederation in 1870....
. He narrowly lost to independent candidate Robert Lorne Richardson
Robert Lorne Richardson
Robert Lorne Richardson was a Canadian journalist, editor, newspaper owner, author, and politician.Born in Balderson, Lanark County, Upper Canada, the son of Joseph Richardson and Harriet Thompson, Richardson was educated at the Balderson Public School and in 1879 became a journalist working for...
, 3,392 votes to 3,143. Winkler's son later wrote that his father was not keen on entering federal politics, but ran at the behest of Clifford Sifton
Clifford Sifton
Sir Clifford Sifton, PC, KCMG was a Canadian politician best known for being Minister of the Interior under Sir Wilfrid Laurier...
, a prominent cabinet minister from Manitoba.
Twelve days after the federal election, Winkler was narrowly re-elected in 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....
to serve Rhineland again in the provincial legislature. He defeated Bowman again, 185 votes to 174.
Winkler was re-elected by an increased margin in the 1903 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1903
Manitoba's general election of July 20, 1903 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The result was a second consecutive majority government for the Conservative Party of Manitoba, now led by Premier Rodmond Palen Roblin...
, and again in the elections of 1907
Manitoba general election, 1907
Manitoba's general election of March 7, 1907 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The result was a third consecutive majority government for the Conservative Party of Manitoba, led by premier Rodmond Palen Roblin...
, 1910
Manitoba general election, 1910
Manitoba's general election of July 11, 1910 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The result was a fourth consecutive majority government for the Conservative Party of Manitoba, led by premier Rodmond Palen Roblin. Roblin's electoral machine won...
and 1914
Manitoba general election, 1914
Manitoba's general election of July 10, 1914 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The result was a fifth consecutive majority government for the Conservative Party, led by premier Rodmond P. Roblin...
. In 1914, he defeated future Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
The Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba is the viceregal representative in Manitoba of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
William Johnston Tupper
William Johnston Tupper
William Johnston Tupper, was a politician and office holder in Manitoba, Canada. He served as the province's 12th Lieutenant Governor from 1934 to 1940....
by 132 votes. The Conservative administration of Rodmond P. Roblin governed the province throughout this period, and Winkler served as a member of the opposition.
In 1915, Roblin was forced to resign from office after the Lieutenant Governor found his ministry guilty of corruption in the tendering of contracts for new legislative buildings. Although the Liberals did not command a majority in the legislature, they were called upon to form a new administration. Tobias C. Norris became Premier of Manitoba
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...
on May 15, 1915, and appointed Winkler as his Minister of Agriculture and Immigration.
A new election
Manitoba general election, 1915
Manitoba's general election of August 6, 1915 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held only one year after the previous general election of 1914. In that election, the governing Conservatives of premier Rodmond P. Roblin were...
was called in 1915, which the Liberals won with a landslide majority. Winkler defeated Tupper a second time, and was retained as Agriculture and Immigration minister in Norris's government.
Winkler was an activist Minister of Agriculture. He passed the Settlers Animal Purchase Act, which allowed new settlers in Interlake to purchase cattle on credit, and the Seed Grain Act, allowing municipalities to purchase seed on credit. He was also responsible for Manitoba's Farm Implements Act and Producer Dealers Act.
Winkler died of diabetes while campaigning for re-election in the provincial campaign of 1920
Manitoba general election, 1920
Manitoba's general election of 29 June 1920 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.-Background:...
. It may be noted that insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
was not discovered until two years later.
Winkler's son, Howard Waldemar Winkler
Howard Waldemar Winkler
Howard Waldemar Winkler was a Liberal party member of the Canadian House of Commons. He was born in Morden, Manitoba and became a farmer by career....
, was a federal Liberal Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
from 1935 to 1953.