Kevin Lamoureux
Encyclopedia
Kevin Lamoureux, MP
(born January 22, 1962) 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. Lamoureux had previously served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1988 to 1999 and from 2003 to 2010, and he twice sought the leadership of the Manitoba Liberal Party
. He serves in the House of Commons as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada
.
. He worked as a store manager and air traffic control assistant, also serving in the armed forces for three years.
in the 1986 election
in the north end Winnipeg division of Logan. The Liberal Party did not have a strong provincial organization in this campaign, and Lamoureux finished a distant third against New Democrat
Maureen Hemphill
.
The Manitoba Liberal Party saw its popularity increase between 1986 and 1988, as many centre-left voters abandoned the New Democratic Party (NDP) government of Howard Pawley
. In the 1988 election
, the Liberals jumped from one seat to twenty and became the dominant party in both north and south Winnipeg. Lamoureux scored a narrow victory over NDP incumbent Don Scott in the north end division of Inkster
and entered the legislature as a member of the Official Opposition.
The Liberal Party fell back to seven seats in the 1990 provincial election
, finished third place behind a resurgent New Democratic Party. Lamoureux, however, was re-elected in Inkster with an increased margin of victory.
Leadership campaigns
Lamoureux ran for the Manitoba Liberal Party's leadership in 1993 after the resignation of Sharon Carstairs
. He was seen as an "anti-establishment" candidate in this contest, representing north end Winnipeg communities against a party establishment dominated by south end Winnipeg interests. He lost to Paul Edwards
.
The Liberals were leading in the polls before the 1995 provincial election
, but their support base collapsed during the campaign and the party won only three seats. Lamoureux again increased his majority in Inkster, while Edwards was defeated in St. James.
Edwards announced his resignation in late 1995, and Lamoureux again stood for the party leadership. He was again regarded as an "anti-establishment" candidate, this time facing Ginny Hasselfield
who was supported by the party's leadership. This contest was very divisive, and its ending was controversial. All party members were able to cast a ballot, and the results were "weighted" by constituency. It is generally acknowledged that Lamoureux received a greater number of total party membership votes than Hasselfield. Because his support was concentrated in north Winnipeg, however, Hasselfield won the weighted vote by 21 points.
Defeat and return
The divisions in the Manitoba Liberal Party continued after the leadership contest. Following the 1997 Canadian federal election
, Lamoureux and Gary Kowalski
announced that they could no longer support Hasselfield's leadership and would sit as "Independent Liberals". This decision left Neil Gaudry
as the party's only official member of the legislature. Facing increased pressure, Hasselfield agreed to resign as party leader in early 1998. Jon Gerrard
was elected as her successor, and Lamoureux and Kowalski rejoined the party caucus.
The Liberal Party entered the 1999 provincial election
in a weakened state, damaged by the divisions of the previous years. The election itself became polarized between the governing Progressive Conservatives
and the opposition New Democratic Party, and the Liberal Party's support fell significantly. Although still personally popular, Lamoureux was narrowly defeated by New Democrat Becky Barrett
.
Lamoureux ran as a Liberal Party
candidate in Winnipeg Centre
in the 2000 Canadian federal election
. He finished second to New Democratic Party
(NDP) incumbent Pat Martin
.
Becky Barrett did not seek re-election in 2003, and Lamoureux was again elected to the legislature for Inkster. The only other Liberal to win election in this campaign was Jon Gerrard. Both Lamoureux and Gerrard were re-elected in the 2007 election
, but the party did not make any further gains.
in a by-election
that was held to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis
, who stepped down to run for mayor. He was elected over NDP candidate Kevin Chief
, and re-elected in the 2011 Federal Election a few months later.
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...
(born January 22, 1962) is a politician 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...
. On November 29, 2010, he was elected to 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...
for the constituency of Winnipeg North
Winnipeg North
For information on the historical provincial constituency, see Winnipeg North .Winnipeg North is a federal electoral district that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1917...
in a by-election. He was re-elected during the 2011 election by 44 votes. Lamoureux had previously 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...
from 1988 to 1999 and from 2003 to 2010, and he twice sought the leadership of the Manitoba Liberal Party
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 :...
. He serves in the House of Commons as a member 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...
.
Background
Lamoureux was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was educated at the University of WinnipegUniversity 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...
. He worked as a store manager and air traffic control assistant, also serving in the armed forces for three years.
Member of the Manitoba Legislature
Lamoureux first ran for the Legislative Assembly of ManitobaLegislative 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...
in the 1986 election
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...
in the north end Winnipeg division of Logan. The Liberal Party did not have a strong provincial organization in this campaign, and Lamoureux finished a distant third against New Democrat
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...
Maureen Hemphill
Maureen Hemphill
Maureen Hemphill was a Manitoba politician. She served in the cabinet of NDP Premier Howard Pawley, and was an unsuccessful candidate for the party's leadership in 1988....
.
The Manitoba Liberal Party saw its popularity increase between 1986 and 1988, as many centre-left voters abandoned the New Democratic Party (NDP) government of Howard Pawley
Howard Pawley
Howard Russell Pawley, PC, OC, OM is a Canadian politician and professor who was the 18th Premier of Manitoba from 1981 to 1988.-Personal life:...
. 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...
, the Liberals jumped from one seat to twenty and became the dominant party in both north and south Winnipeg. Lamoureux scored a narrow victory over NDP incumbent Don Scott in the north end division of Inkster
Inkster riding, Manitoba
Inkster is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is located in the northwestern corner of the city of Winnipeg. Officially created by redistribution in 1957, it has formally existed since the provincial election of 1958....
and entered the legislature as a member of the Official Opposition.
The Liberal Party fell back to seven seats in the 1990 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1990
The Manitoba general election of September 11, 1990 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which took 30 out of 57 seats...
, finished third place behind a resurgent New Democratic Party. Lamoureux, however, was re-elected in Inkster with an increased margin of victory.
Leadership campaigns
Lamoureux ran for the Manitoba Liberal Party's leadership in 1993 after the resignation of Sharon Carstairs
Sharon Carstairs
Sharon Carstairs, PC is a Canadian politician and former Senator.-Early life:Carstairs was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the daughter of former Nova Scotia Premier Harold Connolly and his wife Vivian...
. He was seen as an "anti-establishment" candidate in this contest, representing north end Winnipeg communities against a party establishment dominated by south end Winnipeg interests. He lost to Paul Edwards
Paul Edwards (politician)
Paul Edwards is a Manitoba politician and lawyer. He served as leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party between 1993 and 1996....
.
The Liberals were leading in the polls before the 1995 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1995
The Manitoba general election of April 25,1995 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which won 31 seats out of 57...
, but their support base collapsed during the campaign and the party won only three seats. Lamoureux again increased his majority in Inkster, while Edwards was defeated in St. James.
Edwards announced his resignation in late 1995, and Lamoureux again stood for the party leadership. He was again regarded as an "anti-establishment" candidate, this time facing Ginny Hasselfield
Ginny Hasselfield
Ginny Hasselfield is a Canadian politician, and was the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party between 1996 and 1998. A former Manitoba teacher and principal, she was also president and co-founder of Cross Cultural Communications International Inc. a company that provided diversity training and...
who was supported by the party's leadership. This contest was very divisive, and its ending was controversial. All party members were able to cast a ballot, and the results were "weighted" by constituency. It is generally acknowledged that Lamoureux received a greater number of total party membership votes than Hasselfield. Because his support was concentrated in north Winnipeg, however, Hasselfield won the weighted vote by 21 points.
Defeat and return
The divisions in the Manitoba Liberal Party continued after the leadership contest. Following the 1997 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 1997
The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
, Lamoureux and Gary Kowalski
Gary Kowalski
Gary Kowalski is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Manitoba legislature from 1993 to 1999, sitting for most of that time as a Liberal....
announced that they could no longer support Hasselfield's leadership and would sit as "Independent Liberals". This decision left Neil Gaudry
Neil Gaudry
Neil Gaudry was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1988 until his death, sitting as a Liberal....
as the party's only official member of the legislature. Facing increased pressure, Hasselfield agreed to resign as party leader in early 1998. Jon Gerrard
Jon Gerrard
Jon Gerrard, PC, MLA is a politician and medical doctor in Manitoba, Canada. He was a Member of Parliament from 1993 to 1997, and was a secretary of state in the government of Jean Chrétien...
was elected as her successor, and Lamoureux and Kowalski rejoined the party caucus.
The Liberal Party entered the 1999 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1999
The Manitoba general election of September 21, 1999 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada....
in a weakened state, damaged by the divisions of the previous years. The election itself became polarized between the governing Progressive Conservatives
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:...
and the opposition New Democratic Party, and the Liberal Party's support fell significantly. Although still personally popular, Lamoureux was narrowly defeated by New Democrat Becky Barrett
Becky Barrett
Becky Barrett is a retired politician in Manitoba, Canada. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1990 to 2003, and was a cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party government of Gary Doer from 1999 to 2003....
.
Lamoureux ran as a Liberal Party
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...
candidate in Winnipeg Centre
Winnipeg Centre
Winnipeg Centre is a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1925 and since 1997...
in the 2000 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
. He finished second to New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
(NDP) incumbent Pat Martin
Pat Martin
Patrick "Pat" Martin is a Canadian politician. He has been a member of the Canadian House of Commons since 1997, representing the riding of Winnipeg Centre for the New Democratic Party.-Career:...
.
Becky Barrett did not seek re-election in 2003, and Lamoureux was again elected to the legislature for Inkster. The only other Liberal to win election in this campaign was Jon Gerrard. Both Lamoureux and Gerrard were re-elected in the 2007 election
Manitoba general election, 2007
The Manitoba general election held on May 22, 2007 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 36 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party finished second with nineteen seats. The Liberal...
, but the party did not make any further gains.
Member of the Canadian House of Commons
Lamoureux resigned his provincial seat in 2010 to seek election to the Canadian House of CommonsCanadian 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 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....
that was held to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis
Judy Wasylycia-Leis
Klazina Judith "Judy" Wasylycia-Leis is a Canadian politician. She was a Manitoba cabinet minister in the government of Howard Pawley from 1986 to 1988, and was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from September 22, 1997 to April 30, 2010...
, who stepped down to run for mayor. He was elected over NDP candidate Kevin Chief
Kevin Chief
Kevin Chief is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in the 2011 election. He represents the electoral district of Point Douglas as a member of the Manitoba New Democratic Party caucus.-Political career:...
, and re-elected in the 2011 Federal Election a few months later.