Harvey Smith (politician)

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Harvey Smith (born November 6, 1936) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was born in British Columbia and first became involved in politics at age twelve, joining that province's Social Credit Party when it was still a fringe organization.

He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and History, and worked as a teacher in Birtle, Manitoba before running for public office. Smith moved to Manitoba in 1970s, and soon became involved with the New Democratic Party (NDP). He was elected to the Winnipeg City Council in 1980 for the division of Sargeant Park, and retained the seat until 1986.

In the provincial election of 1986, Smith was elected in the Winnipeg riding of Ellice, defeating Progressive Conservative Seech Gajadharsingh] by over 2,000 votes. He was not appointed to the cabinet of Howard Pawley, and lost to Liberal Avis Gray by 724 votes in the 1988 election.

In 1998, Smith came out of political retirement to run for the Winnipeg City Council again. He currently represents the central-Winnipeg division of Daniel McIntyre on council, and still receives support from the New Democratic Party in his campaigns.

Smith has been a prominent defender of public safety programs, calling for safer roads and more police foot patrols. He is also known as a supporter of the arts. In 2002, he was re-elected over Maureen Pendergast by almost 3000 votes. He filled out the NDP nomination forms for a provincial by-election in the riding of Minto in 2004, but soon withdrew from the race.