Gary Doer
Gary Albert Doer ( born March 31, 1948 in Winnipeg, Manitoba ) is a Canadian politician and diplomat. From 5 October 1999 to 19 October 2009, he was Prime Minister of the Province of Manitoba. Doer was from 1986, Minister in the cabinet of Howard Pawley. 1988, the former trade union official was elected chairman of the Social Democratic New Democratic Party of Manitoba and took over after eleven years in opposition the government. Since his resignation as prime minister, he is Canadian ambassador in Washington DC
Professional life and entry into politics
Doers ancestors came from Germany and Wales. He studied political science and sociology at the University of Manitoba, but interrupted his studies after one year. Instead, he worked in the prison system and rose to become deputy director of the youth prison in Winnipeg. 1979 Doer was elected chairman of the union of state employees of Manitoba ( Manitoba Government Employees ' Association) elected and held that post until 1986. He had management positions in the Trade Union Confederation of the Province of Manitoba ( Manitoba Federation of Labour ) and the National Association of province employees ( National Union of Provincial Government Employees ). In addition, he was on the Executive Board of the Football Association Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Doer was joined in 1972 the New Democratic Party of Manitoba (NDP ). But in 1975 he resigned from the party in order to preserve the political neutrality of his union. In early 1986, he announced his entry into politics. In March this year he was a candidate in elections to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and was in the constituency Concordia, which lies in the northeast of Winnipeg, was elected. On April 17, Prime Minister Howard Pawley appointed him Minister of Urban Development. Pawleys government had only a small majority and failed on March 8, 1988 to a vote of no confidence, as a renegade NDP deputy had supported the opposition.
In opposition,
After Pawleys resignation as party chairman Doer was elected on 30 March 1988 at the Congress of the NDP in Winnipeg as his successor, he said not until the third ballot prevailed by a narrow margin itself. He was not sworn in as Prime Minister, as Parliament had been dissolved. In the parliamentary elections in late April 1988 Doer could not turn for some time now looming defeat of the NDP. He could keep his seat, but the party lost more than a third of its voters and was only the third strongest party.
Although there was the possibility of forming a coalition government with the Manitoba Liberal Party, but Doer chose instead to support the informal led by Gary Filmon minority government of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba. The dominant political issue was the Meech Lake Accord, which had the addition of the Canadian Constitution to the destination. The chairmen of the three leading parties of Manitoba agreed in June 1990 it to agree to a compromise proposed by the federal government. However, contrast, defended the NDP MP Elijah Harper, a chief of the Cree, who criticized the insufficient regard for the interests of the natives. Since by law from unanimity did not materialize, the Meech Lake Accord could not be implemented.
In the elections of September 1990, the NDP was able to set, but won the Progressive Conservatives, the absolute majority of seats. As chairman of the second largest party Doer became the official opposition leader. Incessantly he criticized the austerity measures of the government in health and education. His party supported the Charlottetown Accord, which provided similar to the failed Meech Lake Accord several constitutional amendments. However, this agreement was rejected in 1992 in a statewide referendum; the province of Manitoba recorded the second highest rejection.
In April 1995, the NDP could easily turn down in the elections, but remained the Progressive Conservatives continue in power. FilmOn's government took further cuts in health and education. Doer criticized, these are merely ideologically motivated and unnecessary from a financial perspective. He also fought unsuccessfully privatization of the telecommunications company Manitoba Telephone System.
Prime minister
In the elections in September 1999 succeeded the NDP to oust the Progressive Conservatives and win the majority of seats. The decisive factor was the promise to improve health care and not to privatize the electricity company Manitoba Hydro. Doer pursued a course that is similar to the "third way " of British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Lieutenant Governor Peter Liba Doer appointed on 5 October 1999 as the new Prime Minister of Manitoba. At the same time took the line Doer of the Ministry of External Relations.
Doers government is considered to be cautious and pragmatic, sometimes as slightly conservative. She took on various positions of the previous government in their own program and stayed - in contrast to previous NDP governments - at the announcement and implementation of new reforms rather reserved. Despite higher spending on public health, the state budget could be designed consistently balanced, the good economic situation allowed moderate tax cuts. In the elections of June 2003, the NDP was able to extend their lead.
2004, the provincial government issued a groundbreaking Non smoking protection law by which smoking is banned in public buildings and businesses. The bill was supported by all parties and is the first of its kind in Canada. Other provinces have followed suit. Doer supported from the outset the Kyoto Protocol. The government created a fund to finance projects that contribute to the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases. The American business magazine BusinessWeek designated Doer end of 2005 as one of the twenty most important people who are committed to climate protection. In elections in May 2007 Doers government was approved for the second time. Despite a slight decline in the proportion of voters resulted in a seat profit.
On August 27, 2009 Doer announced a surprise that he would not take on the elections in 2011 and soon resign; but the exact date he did not name. The following day he was named the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to succeed Michael Wilson as the new ambassador in Washington DC The Assembly of Delegates of Doers Party Finance Minister Greg Selinger certain on 17 October as his successor as party leader and prime minister. Doer stepped up his new post in two days later.