Doug Martindale

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Doug Martindale (May 25, 1947-) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He is currently a member of the Manitoba legislature.

Martindale was born in Brockville, Ontario. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brock University in 1973, and a Master of Divinity degree from Victoria University in 1976. He was ordained as a United Church minister upon receiving the latter degree, and subsequently worked in Saskatchewan (1976-80) and north-end Winnipeg (1980-90). An activist during his student years, he was later of member of the Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties.

Martindale's political career began in an inauspicious manner. In the provincial election of 1988, he defeated incumbent MLA Conrad Santos for the New Democratic Party nomination in the north Winnipeg riding of Burrows, but was defeated in the general election by Liberal William Chornopyski. The seat had previously been regarded as safe for the NDP, but resurgent Liberal support and local NDP divisions resulted in Martindale's defeat.

NDP support had recovered by the 1990 election, and Martindale defeated Chornopyski by 4206 votes to 2056 to win the Burrows riding. He was re-elected in the 1995, 1999 and 2003 elections, winning almost 70% of the popular vote on the latter occasion. In 1995, he supported Lorne Nystrom's bid to become leader of the federal New Democratic Party.

During his time as a United Church minister, Martindale was involved in several outreach programs among Winnipeg's poor and aboriginal communities. He helped to convert St. John's United Church into a co-op apartment complex, and was a founding member of Inner City Voice newspaper. In parliament, he has served as Chair of the Justice, Social and Economic Development Committees, though he has not been appointed to cabinet.

In 2003, Martindale supported Bill Blaikie's campaign to become leader of the federal NDP.

In 2004, Martindale brought forward a parliamentary motion urging the provincial government to declare the last Saturday of November as Day of the Ukrainian Famine/Genocide, commemorating the victims of the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33.