Harry Graham (Manitoba)

Harry Edward Graham (born December 26, 1921 in Foxwarren, Manitoba) is a retired politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1969 to 1986.

Graham was educated at the University of Manitoba, and worked as a farmer after his graduation. He served as Vice-Chairman of the Russell District Hospital, and was also the President of the Progressive Conservative Association in the federal riding of Marquette.

He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in a by-election on February 20, 1969, defeating Liberal Ed Shust in the riding of Birtle-Russell. The riding had previously been held by the Liberals, and Graham's victory provided an impetus for Progressive Conservative Premier Walter Weir to call a general election later in the year.

The Tories were defeated by the New Democratic Party in this election, and Graham nearly lost his own seat to NDP candidate Don Kostesky. He was re-elected again by a slightly greater margin in the 1973 election, which the NDP also won.

The Progressive Conservatives returned to power in the 1977 election until Sterling Lyon, as Graham again narrowly increased his margin of victory in Birtle-Russell. He was not appointed to cabinet, but rather served as the Speaker of the legislature from November 24, 1977 until 1981.

In 1980, Graham presided over the temporary expulsion from the legislature of Robert Wilson, who had been convicted of a criminal offence. Wilson was permanently expelled in 1981.

Graham won the easiest re-election victory of his career in the election of 1981, running in the redistributed riding of Virden. Ironically, this occurred as the Progressive Conservatives lost government to the NDP. Graham served as an opposition member for the next five years, and did not seek re-election in 1986.