Don Scott
Encyclopedia
Donald Arthur Scott was a politician
in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a New Democratic Party of Manitoba
(NDP) member of the Manitoba legislature from 1981 to 1988.
Scott was raised in Liverpool
, Nova Scotia
, and attended a number of higher-learning institutions, including St. Francis Xavier University
in Antigonish
, Nova Scotia, Carleton University
in Ottawa, Ontario
, the University of Winnipeg
and the University of Manitoba
. He worked as a financial-government analyst, and at one stage worked for the Auditor General of Canada
. Scott also held membership in a number of environmentally-oriented groups, including the Naturalists Society and the Solar Energy Society of Canada.
Scott was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the Manitoba general election of 1981
, in the riding of Inkster. This particular riding was notable for having been held by Sidney Green, a prominent cabinet minister in the government of NDP Premier
Edward Schreyer
, since 1966. Green had left the NDP in 1979, and was seeking re-election as a member of the Progressive Party of Manitoba.
At first, the NDP wanted Roland Penner
to challenge Green; Scott, a relative unknown, was drafted only after Penner declined. Nevertheless, he was elected in Inkster with a clear majority, receiving 6283 votes, as Green placed third with only 783. Following this election, the Progressive Party was no longer taken seriously as a political force.
Scott was re-elected without difficulty in the provincial election of 1986
, defeating his nearest competitor by almost 4000 votes. In the 1988 election
, however, he was upset by Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux
, who outpolled him by 4466 votes to 4098. The 1988 election was called after NDP backbencher Jim Walding
voted against his own party's budget, causing the government to fall two years before an election would normally have been called. Scott was one of several NDP members defeated in the following campaign; his loss in a seat previously regarded as safe for the party came as a particular surprise.
Scott later moved to Victoria, British Columbia
. Following the Manitoba election of 2003
, he wrote an op-ed piece for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
, acknowledging the centrist approach of Gary Doer
's government while also encouraging it to invest more in social programs.
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 New Democratic Party of Manitoba
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...
(NDP) member of the Manitoba legislature from 1981 to 1988.
Scott was raised in Liverpool
Liverpool, Nova Scotia
Liverpool is a Canadian community and former town located along the Atlantic Ocean of the Province of Nova Scotia's South Shore. It is situated within the Region of Queens Municipality which is the local governmental unit that comprises all of Queens County, Nova Scotia...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, and attended a number of higher-learning institutions, including St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University is a post-secondary institution located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The school was founded in 1853, but did not offer degrees until 1868. The university has approximately 5000 students.-History:...
in Antigonish
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Antigonish is a Canadian town in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia. The town is home to St. Francis Xavier University and the oldest continuous highland games in North America.-History:...
, Nova Scotia, Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
in Ottawa, 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....
, 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 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 financial-government analyst, and at one stage worked for the Auditor General of Canada
Auditor General of Canada
The role of the Auditor General of Canada is to aid accountability by conducting independent audits of federal government operations. The Auditor General reports to the House of Commons, not to the government...
. Scott also held membership in a number of environmentally-oriented groups, including the Naturalists Society and the Solar Energy Society of Canada.
Scott was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the Manitoba general election of 1981
Manitoba general election, 1981
The Manitoba general election of November 17, 1981 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the opposition New Democratic Party, which took 34 of 57 seats. The governing Progressive Conservative Party took the remaining 23, while the...
, in the riding of Inkster. This particular riding was notable for having been held by Sidney Green, a prominent cabinet minister in the government of NDP 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...
Edward Schreyer
Edward Schreyer
Edward Richard Schreyer , commonly known as Ed Schreyer, is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 22nd since Canadian Confederation....
, since 1966. Green had left the NDP in 1979, and was seeking re-election as a member of the Progressive Party of Manitoba.
At first, the NDP wanted Roland Penner
Roland Penner
Roland Penner was Dean of Law at the University of Manitoba and a is a former politician and Manitoba Cabinet minister.Penner was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the son of Winnipeg alderman Jacob Penner...
to challenge Green; Scott, a relative unknown, was drafted only after Penner declined. Nevertheless, he was elected in Inkster with a clear majority, receiving 6283 votes, as Green placed third with only 783. Following this election, the Progressive Party was no longer taken seriously as a political force.
Scott was re-elected without difficulty in the provincial election of 1986
Manitoba general election, 1986
The Manitoba general election of March 18, 1986 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which took 30 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party won 26 seats and formed the official opposition...
, defeating his nearest competitor by almost 4000 votes. In the 1988 election
Manitoba general election, 1988
The Manitoba general election of April 26, 1988 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a minority government...
, however, he was upset by 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 :...
Kevin Lamoureux
Kevin Lamoureux
Kevin Lamoureux, MP is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. On November 29, 2010, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the constituency of Winnipeg North in a by-election. He was re-elected during the 2011 election by 44 votes...
, who outpolled him by 4466 votes to 4098. The 1988 election was called after NDP backbencher Jim Walding
Jim Walding
Derek James "Jim" Walding was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1971 to 1988, and served as speaker of the assembly from 1982 to 1986. Walding was a member of the New Democratic Party...
voted against his own party's budget, causing the government to fall two years before an election would normally have been called. Scott was one of several NDP members defeated in the following campaign; his loss in a seat previously regarded as safe for the party came as a particular surprise.
Scott later moved to Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
. Following the Manitoba election of 2003
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...
, he wrote an op-ed piece for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, acknowledging the centrist approach of 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 government while also encouraging it to invest more in social programs.