MaryAnn Mihychuk
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MaryAnn Mihychuk (born February 27, 1955 in Vita, Manitoba) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. She was a cabinet minister in the government of New Democratic Premier Gary Doer from 1999 to 2004. Mihychuk resigned to run for Mayor of Winnipeg in 2004, but was defeated by Sam Katz.
Mihychuk has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Winnipeg in 1979, and a Master of Science degree from Brock University in 1984. She is certified as a Practicing Professional Geoscientist, one of the highest levels of certification in her field. Mihychuk worked as a geologist in Newfoundland from 1984 to 1986, and in Manitoba from 1986 to 1992.
Mihychuk was elected as a Winnipeg School Division Trustee in 1989, and was re-elected in 1992. She was elected to the Manitoba legislature in 1995, defeating Liberal leader Paul Edwards by 3109 votes to 2853 in the Winnipeg riding of St. James. This election was won by Gary Filmon's Progressive Conservatives, and Mihychuk joined 22 other New Democrats as the official opposition.
The NDP won the 1999 election, and Mihychuk was re-elected in the riding of Minto, defeating Progressive Conservative Harry Lehotsky by 4534 votes to 2035. When Gary Doer was sworn in as Premier, he chose Mihychuk as Minister of Industry Trade and Mines.
Mihychuk was re-elected in 2003 with almost 70% of the vote in her riding. On November 4, 2003, she was named Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade, with responsibility for International Relations Coordination.
She resigned from cabinet and the legislature on May 21, 2004, to run for Mayor of Winnipeg (replacing Glen Murray, who resigned to run for the Canadian House of Commons). Her primary issue for was finding ways to increase Winnipeg's population. Although a respected figure, she was only able to win 10% of the city's vote.
She now runs Mihychuk Consulting, offering professional advice in a variety of fields.
In 2005 Mihychuk relocated to Toronto, Ontario to work for the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) as Director of Regulatory Affairs. [1]
Mihychuk supported Lorne Nystrom's campaigns to lead the federal New Democratic Party in 1995 and 2003.
