Minnedosa (electoral district)
Encyclopedia : M : MI : MIN : Minnedosa (electoral district)
Minnedosa is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created in 1881 with the expansion of the province's western boundary, and has existed continuously since that time. From 1886 to 1888, it was divided into Minnedosa East and Minnedosa West.
Minnedosa is located in the southwestern region of Manitoba. It is bordered by Russell to the north, Ste. Rose to the east, Turtle Mountain to the east and south, and Arthur-Virden to the south and west. The constituency also surrounds the City of Brandon, which is divided into the ridings of Brandon East and Brandon West.
Minnedosa itself is the largest community in the constituency. Other communities in the include Souris, Rivers, Rapid City, Shilo, Basswood, Wawanesa and Erickson.
Minnedosa's population in 1996 was 18,694. As of 1999, the average family income was $46,627, and the unemployment rate was 3.50%. Agriculture accounts for 22% of the riding's industry, followed by government services at 12% and health and social services at 12%.
Six per cent of the population is of German background, and 15% are over 65 years of age.
Minnedosa has been held by the Progressive Conservative Party for several decades, but the New Democratic Party have made serious efforts to win the seat in recent years. In the provincial election of 2003, the Tories retained the seat by only 12 votes. The constituency is now considered to be marginal.
List of provincial representatives (Minnedosa, original constituency)
| Name | Party | Took Office | Left Office
|
|---|---|---|---|
| John Crerar | Lib | 1881 | 1883 |
| David H. Harrison | Lib-Cons | 1883 | 1886
|
List of provincial representatives (Minnedosa East)
| Name | Party | Took Office | Left Office
|
|---|---|---|---|
| James Gillies | Cons | 1886 | 1888
|
List of provincial representatives (Minnedosa West)
| Name | Party | Took Office | Left Office
|
|---|---|---|---|
| David H. Harrison | Lib-Cons | 1886 | 1888
|
List of provincial representatives (Minnedosa, re-established)
| Name | Party | Took Office | Left Office
|
|---|---|---|---|
| James Gillies | Lib-Cons | 1888 | 1892 |
| Robert Myers | Lib | 1892 | 1903 |
| William Waddell | Cons | 1903 | 1910 |
| John Thompson | Lib | 1910 | 1914 |
| George Grierson | Lib | 1914 | 1922 |
| Neil Cameron | Prog | 1922 | 1927 |
| Earl Rutledge | Cons | 1927 | 1948 |
| Henry Rungay | Lib-Prog | 1948 | 1953 |
| Gilbert Hutton | Social Credit | 1953 | 1958 |
| Charles Shuttleworth | Lib-Prog | 1958 | 1959 |
| Walter Weir | PC | 1959 | 1971 |
| Dave Blake | PC | 1971 | 1988 |
| Harold Gilleshammer | PC | 1988 | 2003 |
| Leanne Rowat | PC | 2003 | present
|