- Eric Stefanson
Eric Stefanson is a politician in
Manitoba ,Canada . He served in the cabinet of Progressive ConservativePremier Gary Filmon from1991 to1999 , and was a member of theManitoba legislature from1990 to2000 . His father, also named Eric Stefanson, was a Progressive Conservative member of theCanadian House of Commons from1958 to1968 .Stefanson was born in Gimli, Manitoba, and was educated at the
University of Manitoba . He later practiced as achartered accountant . Stefanson was a member of the Winnipeg city council from1982 to1989 for the St. Charles riding, serving as Chair of the Finance Committee from1984 to1986 andDeputy Mayor from1986 to1988 .In the 1990 provincial election, Stefanson was elected to the provincial legislature in the upscale west Winnipeg riding of Kirkfield Park, defeating Liberal
Jason McKee by over 2000 votes. OnFebruary 5 ,1991 , he was appointed Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism with responsibility for the Development Corporation Act, Sport, administration of the Boxing and Wrestling Commission Act and administration of the Fitness and Amateur Sport Act. OnSeptember 10 ,1993 , Stefanson was promoted to Minister of Finance and Chair of the Treasury Board.Stefanson was easily re-elected in the 1995 provincial election, defeating Liberal
Vic Wieler by over 3000 votes. OnMay 9 ,1995 , he was relieved of the Treasury Board portfolio and given responsibility for the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act (remaining Minister of Finance). OnJanuary 6 ,1997 , he was again given responsibility for the Boxing and Wrestling Commission Act and the Fitness and Amateur Sport Act.In a cabinet shuffle on
February 5 ,1999 , Stefanson was appointed Minister of Health andDeputy Premier , also retaining responsibilities of the Boxing/Wrestling Commission and Fitness/Amateur Sport Acts. He scored another easy victory in the 1999 provincial election (defeating New DemocratDennis Kshyk by over 3000 votes), but the Progressive Conservative party was defeated by the NDP at the provincial level and Stefanson moved into opposition. Although touted by many as a possible party leader after the resignation ofGary Filmon , he decided not to run for the position. OnSeptember 7 ,2000 , Stefanson resigned from the legislature to provide a seat for the party's incoming leader,Stuart Murray .During his time in government, Stefanson was one of the most powerful ministers in Gary Filmon's cabinet. He presided over a series of balanced budgets, achieved at the cost of considerable cuts in public funding for various programs. In
1998 , Stefanson was accused by some of exercising undue ministerial influence in the appointment of his brother, Tom, as CEO ofManitoba Telecom Services ; no formal charges of impropriety were made, however. In2000 , he supported Tom Long for the leadership of theCanadian Alliance party ("National Post", 10 May 2000).On
September 10 ,2004 , Stefanson joinedBDO Dunwoody as a regional managing partner.In January 2007, he was appointed by federal transport minister
Lawrence Cannon to the board of directors ofVia Rail Canada . [ [http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/nat/2007/07-h006e.htm Transport Canada - Media Release - No. H 006/07 January 26, 2007 - Appointments to VIA Rail Canada Inc.] ]References
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