Jack Reimer

Jack Reimer is a Progressive Conservative politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1990 to 2007, and served in the government of Gary Filmon.

Reimer grew up in East Kildonan where his father owned a service station and he graduated from Miles MacDonell Collegiate. Reimer has a Degree in Sociology from the University of North Dakota. Before entering politics, he was a Marketing and Management Instructor for Imperial Oil, and worked in the automobile and tourism industries in Manitoba. He also owned a restaurant and service station. Reimer has received a Mayor's Award for Leadership and Service to the Winnipeg Community, as well as a Certificate of Merit from the government of Canada.

Reimer was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1990 general election, defeating Liberal candidate Linda Asper in the southeastern Winnipeg riding of Niakwa, 4950 votes to 4301. He was re-elected by a wider margin in the 1995 election, in a period when provincial Liberal fortunes were on the decline (the New Democratic Party does not have a strong historical presence in this section of Winnipeg).

On May 9, 1995, Reimer was appointed Minister of Urban Affairs and Minister of Housing in Gary Filmon's government. He retained these portfolios until the Progressive Conservative government was defeated in 1999. Reimer himself was easily re-elected in the 1999 election, defeating his NDP opponent by over 2500 votes in the renamed Southdale riding.

The NDP made some historic breakthroughs in southern Winnipeg in the 2003 election, and Reimer was re-elected by just 1000 votes over his 26-year old NDP opponent, Carolyn Frost, in this historically conservative riding. While a member of the opposition, he held a number of critic portfolios in the legislature.

Reimer opposed efforts by the Manitoba government to provide safe injection paraphernalia to drug addicts, arguing instead for a zero-tolerance policy in such matters. He has also criticized the expansion of a casino economy in the province.

He was defeated in the 2007 provincial election, losing to New Democratic Party challenger Erin Selby.