Fred Groves
Encyclopedia
Frederick Groves was a politician
in Manitoba, Canada
. He was a Progressive Conservative
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1958 to 1966.
Groves was educated at Daniel McIntyre College and the University of Manitoba
. He worked as a chartered accountant
before entering political life. He served as a member of the St. Vital council from 1951 to 1956, and became Chairman of Finance and Deputy Mayor in 1956. He was also provincial secretary of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba during this period.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1958 provincial election
, defeating his Liberal-Progressive
opponent by about 1,300 votes in the Winnipeg area riding of St. Vital. He was returned by comfortable margins in the general elections of 1959
and 1962
, and was a backbench supporter of Dufferin Roblin
's government throughout his time in the legislature.
On one occasion, Groves voted against the Roblin government on an initiative to grant use of public school facilities and services to separate schools. Although many in the PC caucus opposed this measure, Groves was the only PC MLA to actually vote against it. Some caucus members saw this as disloyalty, and called for him to be expelled; Roblin did not act on this request.
Groves's own community became involved in a school controversy in 1963-64, when six francophone families took their children out of school to protest bus fees for parochial (i.e. Catholic) school students. The matter was settled after three months. During the controversy, Groves declared his opposition to providing "any aid directly or indirectly to parochial schools", and said that he would "defend the rights of the majority". He complained of receiving "vicious, ignorant and crude, anonymous letters" from his opponents on the subject.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Manitoba, 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 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:...
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...
from 1958 to 1966.
Groves was educated at Daniel McIntyre College 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 chartered accountant
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
before entering political life. He served as a member of the St. Vital council from 1951 to 1956, and became Chairman of Finance and Deputy Mayor in 1956. He was also provincial secretary of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba during this period.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1958 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1958
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1958 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was the first to be held in Manitoba after a comprehensive electoral redistribution in 1956...
, defeating his Liberal-Progressive
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 :...
opponent by about 1,300 votes in the Winnipeg area riding of St. Vital. He was returned by comfortable margins in the general elections of 1959
Manitoba general election, 1959
Manitoba's general election of May 14, 1959 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a majority victory for the Progressive Conservative Party under the leadership of Dufferin Roblin...
and 1962
Manitoba general election, 1962
Manitoba's general election of December 16, 1962 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a second majority victory for the Progressive Conservative Party under the leadership of Dufferin Roblin...
, and was a backbench supporter of Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin "Duff" Roblin, PC, CC, OM was a Canadian businessman and politician. Known as "Duff," he served as the 14th Premier of Manitoba from 1958 to 1967. Roblin was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In the government of Brian Mulroney, he served as...
's government throughout his time in the legislature.
On one occasion, Groves voted against the Roblin government on an initiative to grant use of public school facilities and services to separate schools. Although many in the PC caucus opposed this measure, Groves was the only PC MLA to actually vote against it. Some caucus members saw this as disloyalty, and called for him to be expelled; Roblin did not act on this request.
Groves's own community became involved in a school controversy in 1963-64, when six francophone families took their children out of school to protest bus fees for parochial (i.e. Catholic) school students. The matter was settled after three months. During the controversy, Groves declared his opposition to providing "any aid directly or indirectly to parochial schools", and said that he would "defend the rights of the majority". He complained of receiving "vicious, ignorant and crude, anonymous letters" from his opponents on the subject.