Minister of Infrastructure (Manitoba)

The Minister of Infrastructure is a cabinet position in the government of Manitoba charged with oversight of the department of Manitoba Infrastructure. The department

"is responsible for the development of transportation policy and legislation, and for the management of the province’s vast infrastructure network."

— "Government of Manitoba", ^[1]

On May 3, 2016, Blaine Pedersen was appointed to the portfolio by the Progressive Conservative government of Brian Pallister.^[2][3]

History

1871-1967 Minister of Public Works

The Minister of Public Works was created on January 13, 1871, carrying out the responsibilities of the Board of Public Works from the defunct Council of Assiniboia. The minister was responsible for overseeing the new government's involvement in the development and maintenance of roads, bridges, ferries and related services.

The first Public Works minister of Manitoba was Thomas Howard, who resigned from the position after only ten days to exchange portfolios with Provincial Secretary Alfred Boyd. Until Edward Hay's resignation in 1874, all ministers of Public Works in Manitoba were also ministers of Agriculture (J.H. Ellis, The Ministry of Agriculture in Manitoba, p. 54).

Manitoba's population increased significantly in the late nineteenth century, and the department of Public Works became increasingly important in providing services to new arrivals. During the premiership of Rodmond Roblin (1900-1915), the department became especially powerful as a tool of government patronage. Robert Rogers, who held the portfolio for eleven years, was sometimes regarded as the second most important figure in the Roblin government.

In later 1914, Public Works minister Walter Humphries Montague was forced to announce that expenditures for the province's new legislative buildings would be exceeded by fifty per cent. Roblin was forced to appoint a Royal Commission to study the controversy, and his government resigned from office the following year after the commission report identified instances government corruption and kickbacks. Montague was indicted on fraud charges, but died before legal proceedings could begin.

In later years, specific government works were taken away from the Public Works ministry and allocated to separate portfolios. The position gradually came to have less authority, though it remained responsible for road construction and related projects in mid-century.

Upon the establishment of an all-party coalition government in 1940, Progressive Conservative leader Errick French Willis was appointed as Public Works minister under a Liberal-Progressive premier. He held the position for ten years, until the Progressive Conservatives left the coalition.

1967-1999 Division into Two Ministries

In 1967, a new position was created, the Minister of Highways. Initially, it was held by Walter Weir, the Minister of Public Works at the time of its creation. Later that year, Stewart McLean was appointed to the Public Works portfolio while Weir continued in the Highways position. In 1968, the government of Walter Weir expanded the role of the former department of Public Works to provide common services needed by all departments, renaming it Government Services to signal the change in its operation.^[4] Thelma Forbes became the new Minister of Government Services.^[5] At the same time, Minister of Highways was renamed Minister of Transportation and McLean appointed to the portfolio.^[6][7]

The NDP administration of Edward Schreyer kept the name Minister of Transportation and appointed Joseph Borowski in 1969. At the same time Minister of Public Works became the Minister of Government Services with the appointment of Howard Pawley. Pawley was succeeded in the position later that year by Russell Paulley. In 1970, Joseph Borowski left the Transportation portfolio for the renamed Minister of Public Works. Peter Burtniak succeeded Borowski as Minister of Highways.Russell Doern succeeded Borowski in 1971.^[6][7]

The Conservative government led by Sterling Lyon changed Public Works back to Minister of Government Services with the appointment of Harry Enns in 1977. Enns held the Minister of Highways at the same time. In 1978, Sidney Spivak was appointed to the Government Services portfolio. Enns continued as the renamed Minister of Highways and Transport. Enns was succeeded by Donald Orchard in 1979, while Enns succeeded Spivak in the Government Services office. In 1981, Warner H. Jorgenson became Minister of Government Services.^[6][7]

In 1981, the NDP government led by Howard Pawley appointed Sam Uskiw as both Minister of Highways and Transportation and Minister of Government Services. In 1982, John Plohman was appointed Minister of Government Services. A year later Plohman was appointed Minister of Highways and Transportation and Aimé Adam succeeded him in Government Services. John Plohman assumed the Government services portfolio again in 1985, holding both positions until the appointment of Harry Harapiak to Government Services in early 1987. John Bucklaschuk was appointed to the renamed Minister of Highways later that same year.^[6][7]

In 1988, the Conservative government led by Gary Filmon appointed Albert Driedger as Minister of Government Services and Minister of Highways and Transportation. He was succeeded as Minister of Government Services by Gerald Ducharme in 1991. Driedger retained the Highways and Transportation portfolio until the appointment of Glen Findlay in 1993. Brian Pallister was appointed Minister of Government Services in 1995. Frank Pitura succeeded Pallister in 1997. Darren Praznik was appointed Minister of Highways and Transportation in early 1999.

1999 to Current

In 1999, the incoming government of Gary Doer combined the two ministries into a single portfolio, the Minister of Highways and Government Services . In 2001, it was renamed Minister of Transportation and Government Services. In 2006, the position name changed to Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation. In 2016, the name was shortened to the Minister of Infrastructure by the incoming government of Brian Pallister.

List of Ministers

Between 1871 and 1967, the Minister of Public Works held oversight over roads and government buildings.^[6]

Between 1967 and 1999, the portfolio was divided into two positions: Minister of Public Works and the Minister of Highways. These two positions remained distinct through a number of administrations and name changes. On occasion, both portfolios were held by the same individual at the same time.^[7][6]

• Doern was acting minister until April 13, 1972.

In 1999, the two ministries were once again united.

References