Jim Melenchuk
Encyclopedia
Jim Melenchuk is a Canadian
politician. He represented the electoral district
of Saskatoon Northwest
in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
from 1999 to 2003.
Chosen as the leader of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party
in 1996 following the resignation of Lynda Haverstock
, Melenchuk was elected to the Legislature in the 1999 election
. With the governing New Democrats in a minority government
situation, the party entered a coalition
agreement and all three Liberal MLAs — Melenchuk, Ron Osika
and Jack Hillson
— were appointed to the provincial cabinet
. The coalition was controversial among party members, however, and Hillson subsequently left to sit as an independent.
Melenchuk stepped down as Liberal leader in 2001, and was succeeded by David Karwacki
.
Karwacki ordered Melenchuk and Osika to leave the coalition — however, both refused and officially left the Liberal caucus. They sat as independent MLAs until 2003, when they both ran for re-election as NDP candidates in the 2003 election. Both were, however, defeated by members of the Saskatchewan Party
.
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...
politician. He represented the electoral district
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Saskatoon Northwest
Saskatoon Northwest
Saskatoon Northwest is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. It covers the neighborhoods of Lawson Heights, Silverwood Heights and the surrounding area...
in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
The 25th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan was in power from 2003 until November 20, 2007. It was controlled by the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party under premier Lorne Calvert.-Members:-By-elections:...
from 1999 to 2003.
Chosen as the leader of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party
Saskatchewan Liberal Party
The Saskatchewan Liberal Party is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.-Early history :The party dominated Saskatchewan politics for the province's first forty years providing six of the first seven Premiers, and being in power for all but five of the years between the...
in 1996 following the resignation of Lynda Haverstock
Lynda Haverstock
- External links :***...
, Melenchuk was elected to the Legislature in the 1999 election
Saskatchewan general election, 1999
The Saskatchewan general election of 1999 was the twenty-fourth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on September 16, 1999 to elect members of the 24th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
. With the governing New Democrats in a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
situation, the party entered a coalition
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
agreement and all three Liberal MLAs — Melenchuk, Ron Osika
Ron Osika
Ronald Osika is a Saskatchewan politician.He was born in Hafford, Saskatchewan and educated in The Battlefords. A former officer in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Osika's first foray into politics was an unsuccessful bid for a Reform Party nomination in 1992.He was first elected from Melville...
and Jack Hillson
Jack Hillson
Jack Hillson was a Canadian provincial politician. He was the Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for the constituency of North Battleford from 1996 to 2003.-Footnotes:...
— were appointed to the provincial cabinet
Executive Council of Saskatchewan
The Executive Council of Saskatchewan is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
. The coalition was controversial among party members, however, and Hillson subsequently left to sit as an independent.
Melenchuk stepped down as Liberal leader in 2001, and was succeeded by David Karwacki
David Karwacki
David Karwacki , Canadian politician, was Leader of the Saskatchewan Liberals between October 2001 and December 2007....
.
Karwacki ordered Melenchuk and Osika to leave the coalition — however, both refused and officially left the Liberal caucus. They sat as independent MLAs until 2003, when they both ran for re-election as NDP candidates in the 2003 election. Both were, however, defeated by members of the Saskatchewan Party
Saskatchewan Party
The Saskatchewan Party is a conservative liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The party was established in 1997 by a coalition of former provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal party members and supporters who sought to remove the Saskatchewan New Democratic...
.