George Steel

George Steel (1858-?) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1899 to 1915.

Steel was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, and was educated at public schools in Lorne and Dallegles. He worked as a farmer, and resided in Glenboro, Manitoba. In religion, Steel was a Presbyterian.

He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1899 provincial election, defeating Liberal incumbent Alfred Doig by 98 votes in the constituency of Cypress. [cite web | url = http://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/pdf/2003_statvotes_history.pdf | format = PDF | title = Province of Manitoba Tenth General Election Held December 7, 1899 Summary of Results | accessdate = 2006-07-25 Page 216.] He identified himself as a "Liberal-Conservative", and sat as a backbench supporter the Conservative administrations led by Hugh John Macdonald and Rodmond P. Roblin.

Steel was re-elected in the 1903 election as a Liberal-Conservative, ["Ibid.", page 218.] and in the elections of 1907, ["Ibid.", page 220.] 1910 ["Ibid.", page 222.] and 1914 ["Ibid.", page 224.] as a Conservative. He continued to serve as a backbench supporter of Roblin's administration throughout this period.

In 1915, the Roblin government was forced to resign amid a serious corruption scandal. A new election was called, which the Liberals won in a landslide. Steel lost his constituency seat to Liberal Andrew Myles by sixty-two votes. ["Ibid.", page 226.]

References