Peter M. Liba

Peter Michael Liba, CM, OM (May 10, 1940 - June 21,2007) was a Manitoba journalist and office holder. From March 2, 1999, to June 30, 2004, he served as the lieutenant-governor of Manitoba.

Liba was born in Winnipeg, and began his journalistic career working for the "Portage La Prairie Daily Telegraph" and the "Neepawa Press". He joined the "Winnipeg Tribune" in 1960, and became its city editor in 1967.

Liba was an executive assistant to the leadership of the Manitoba Liberal Party between 1968 and 1973, working under Gildas Molgat, Robert Bend and Israel Asper. In 1974 he joined Asper's CanWest group of companies, eventually becoming president and CEO of CKND-TV in Manitoba and SaskWest TV in Saskatchewan. He became executive vice-president of CanWest Global Communications Corp. in 1993, and was promoted to executive director of corporate affairs in 1997.

Liba has also served two terms as chairman of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, and was also president of the Western Association of Broadcasters and the Broadcasters Association of Manitoba. He has been president of his own company, Peli Ventures Inc., since 1975. He has also been involved in several social and philanthropic groups in the Winnipeg area.

Liba was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 1984. In 1998, he was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Liba's appointment as Manitoba's lieutenant-governor may have been, in part, a reflection of Canadian prime minister Jean Chrétien's friendship with Israel Asper. The position is largely ceremonial, and Liba had very little influence over the governments of Gary Filmon and Gary Doer.

Liba was made the first member of the Order of Manitoba in 1999, and received the Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2004. He stepped down as lieutenant-governor just before the federal election of 2004, and was replaced by outgoing Liberal MP John Harvard.

Liba died on June 21, 2007 at his cottage at Lake of the Woods.

External links

* [http://www.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=1012 Order of Canada Citation]
* [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2007/06/21/liba-obit.html Obituary] from "CBC Manitoba"