Rosemary Vodrey

Rosemary Vodrey is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. She was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1990 to 1999, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Premier Gary Filmon for most of that time.

Vodrey first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1988, in the central-Winnipeg constituency of Osborne. She finished third, behind Liberal Reg Alcock (later a federal cabinet minister in the government of Paul Martin) and incumbent New Democrat Muriel Smith.

She ran for the legislature a second time in the 1990 provincial election, this time defeating incumbent Liberal Laurie Evans by 1,113 votes in the Fort Garry constituency. At the time of the election, she was a psychologist and law student. Her campaign highlighted the issue of affordable funding for universities.

On January 14, 1992, Vodrey was appointed Minister of Education and Training. She was promoted to Minister of Justice on September 10, 1993, also holding ministerial responsibility for Constitutional Affairs and the Status of Women.

She was re-elected in the provincial election of 1995, defeating Liberal Jim Woodman by 1,525 votes. As Justice Minister, Vodrey articulated her government's opposition to some aspects of Bill C-68, a federal gun control bill. In 1995, she attended the Fourth World Conference for Women in Beijing, China.

Vodrey was criticized for her handling of the Headingley Jail Riot in 1996, and was transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship on January 6, 1997. She was also given responsibility for the Status of Women, Multiculturalism and the Liquor Control Act at this time. In 1998, Vodrey introduced a bill on information access that some journalists believed would have hindered fair reporting practices. Following public opposition, the bill was withdrawn and a compromise policy reached.

Vodrey did not seek re-election in the 1999 general election, which the Tories lost. She nonetheless served in the cabinet until the resignation of the Filmon ministry on October 5, 1999.

Electoral record