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The Honourable  Gary Albert Doer  MLA
21st Premier of Manitoba
Incumbent
Assumed office  October 5, 1999
Lieutenant Governor	Peter M. Liba, John Harvard
Preceded by	Gary Filmon
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Concordia
Incumbent
Assumed office  March 18, 1986
Preceded by	Peter Fox
Born	March 31, 1948 (1948-03-31) (age 60) Winnipeg, Manitoba
Political party	New Democratic
Spouse	Ginny Devine
Religion	Roman Catholic

Gary Albert Doer, MLA (born March 31, 1948) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He has been the Premier of Manitoba since 1999, leading a New Democratic Party government. Doer is the longest-serving of Canada's current premiers.^[1]

Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Cabinet minister 3 NDP leader 4 Leader of the Opposition 5 Premier 6 Federal politics 7 Ideology 8 Electoral record 9 Footnotes 10 External links

[edit] Early life and career

Doer was born to a middle class family in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His background is German and Welsh. He studied political science and sociology at the University of Manitoba for one year, but left to become a corrections officer at the Vaughan Street Detention Centre. He later rose to become deputy superintendent of the Manitoba Youth Centre.^[2] Doer's work environment was not always safe: he once had to deal with a hostage taking situation, and was attacked with a baseball bat on another occasion.^[3]

Doer became president of the Manitoba Government Employees' Association in 1979, and served in this capacity until 1986.^[4] He also held prominent positions with the Manitoba Federation of Labour and the National Union of Provincial Government Employees, served as a director of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and became a governor of the University of Manitoba.^[5] In 1983, he negotiated an agreement with the provincial government of Howard Pawley in which civil servants agreed to delay a wage increase in return for a guarantee of no layoffs or wage rollbacks.^[6] The following year, he openly criticized Dennis McDermott's leadership of the Canadian Labour Congress.^[7]

Doer initially joined the New Democratic Party in the 1970s, and worked for the party in the 1973 provincial election.^[8] He discontinued his membership in 1975 to preserve his union's neutrality, and was subsequently courted by both the New Democrats and Progressive Conservatives to run as a candidate for office.^[9] He rejoined the NDP in 1986, and ran as a candidate in that year's provincial election.^[10][11]

[edit] Cabinet minister

Doer was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in the 1986 provincial election for the northeast Winnipeg division of Concordia. He joined the government of Premier Howard Pawley on April 17, 1986 as Minister of Urban Affairs, and was given additional responsibilities as Minister responsible for the Manitoba Telephone System on December 2 of the same year. Doer ordered a Royal Canadian Mounted Police probe of the MTS soon after his appointment, and worked to reform its practices following a failed investment in Saudi Arabia.^[12] He soon developed a reputation as a "fixer", working as a trouble-shooter in difficult fields.^[13]

Doer was given further responsibilities as Minister of Crown Investments on February 5, 1987,^[14] and was later named as Minister responsible for the Accountability of Crown Corporations (August 19, 1987) and Minister responsible for the Liquor Control Act (September 21, 1987). He was seen as a rising star in the party, and was sometimes mentioned as a future leader.^[15]

The Pawley government was sustained by a narrow legislative majority after the 1986 election, and was defeated on March 8, 1988 when disgruntled backbencher Jim Walding voted with the opposition on a motion of non-confidence. Pawley resigned as NDP leader the next day, and called a new general election for April 26.^[16]

[edit] NDP leader

Leadership election

Doer was the first declared candidate in the Manitoba New Democratic Party's 1988 leadership race. He was supported by cabinet ministers Vic Schroeder, Myrna Phillips, Muriel Smith, Leonard Evans, Jerry Storie and Wilson Parasiuk, and federal Members of Parliament Rod Murphy and David Orlikow,^[17] He also received an endorsement from the Manitoba Federation of Labour.^[18] Doer emphasized his experience in managing large organizations, and called for pay equity legislation to be introduced within a year of his election.^[19] He narrowly defeated rival candidate Len Harapiak on the third ballot of the party's leadership convention in Winnipeg.^[20] He was not sworn in as premier, as the legislature had already been dissolved.^[21]

Doer became leader of the Manitoba NDP when the party was at a low ebb of popularity. An internal poll before the election showed the party with only 6% support, and some NDP workers privately worried that they could lose all of their legislative seats.^[22] Many believed Doer was their best hope for a recovery.^[23] Support for the NDP increased to 19% in the leadership campaign, and to 23% after Doer was chosen as leader. The party nevertheless remained in third place, and faced an uphill struggle in the 1988 election.^[24]

1988 election

Doer promised a $58 million tax cut in the 1988 election, and opposed the federal government's free trade deal with the United States of America. He indicated that he was open to the possibility of amending the Meech Lake Accord, a federal proposal for constitutional reform.^[25] He also promised to build more community health centres, and supported home renovations for senior citizens and the disabled.^[26]

The NDP won 12 out of 57 seats, while the Progressive Conservatives under Gary Filmon won 25 seats and the Liberals under Sharon Carstairs jumped from one seat to twenty. Doer rejected the possibility of forming a coalition government with the Liberals, and the Progressive Conservatives were able to form a minority government with the NDP holding the balance of power.^[27] He was not personally blamed for his party's loss, and continued as party leader. The NDP chose not to defeat Filmon's government during confidence vote in late 1988 and early 1989, as Doer argued the public would not support another election so soon.^[28]

Meech Lake Accord

The dominant political issue in Manitoba between 1988 and 1990 was the Meech Lake Accord, which recognized Quebec as a "distinct society" in Canada and devolved some powers from the federal government to the provinces. The accord required approval from all ten provincial legislatures to become law. The provincial Liberals were initially opposed to the Accord, which meant that Doer's support was necessary for its passage.^[29] In November 1988, Doer indicated that his party would not support the accord unless certain amendments were introduced.^[30] He was later appointed to a provincial panel that held a series of public meetings, and recommended significant changes to the deal.^[31] The Filmon government also expressed skepticism about the accord, and announced that it too would seek amendments from the federal government.

All three Manitoba party leaders agreed to a federally-brokered compromise in June 1990, shortly before the accord's official deadline.^[32] The accord nonetheless failed to pass in the Manitoba legislature on time because of a procedural motion from Elijah Harper, a Cree member of the NDP caucus who argued that it did not give fair representation to Aboriginal Canadians. Doer described Harper's decision as "a fundamental issue of conscience", and blamed Prime Minister Brian Mulroney for delaying negotiations until the deadline had almost expired.^[33] One year later, he indicated that he felt "betrayed" by federal negotiators, and described the entire Meech Lake process as "dishonest from start to finish".^[34]

1990 election

The chief beneficiary of the Meech Lake Accord's defeat was Premier Filmon, whose campaign for changes to the accord was generally supported by Manitoba voters.^[35] In the aftermath of the accord's defeat, Filmon called a new provincial election for September 11, 1990. Doer promised a ten-year freeze on personal income taxes, and argued that the Progressive Conservatives would pursue a hidden right-wing agenda if they won a majority government.^[36] He also promised legislation that would make it more difficult for companies based in Manitoba to close down.^[37]

An early poll showed the NDP in third place with 18% support, well behind the governing Progressive Conservatives and also behind the Liberals.^[38] The Liberal campaign faltered, however, and the New Democrats were able to make strong gains in the election's final days, partly buoyed by Bob Rae's unexpected victory in the neighbouring province of Ontario.^[39] The Progressive Conservatives won a narrow majority with 30 seats, while the New Democrats won 20 and the Liberals seven. Doer succeeded Carstairs as Leader of the Opposition in the next sitting of the legislature.

[edit] Leader of the Opposition

First term, 1990-95

Doer criticized the Filmon government's cutbacks to health and education, and drew attention to the province's rising unemployment and child poverty rates in the early 1990s.^[40] In opposing Filmon's austerity measures, he argued it was inappropriate for the government to cut jobs at a time of high unemployment.^[41] In 1993, he opposed the government's decision to end funding for groups such as the Foster Family Association, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, the Manitoba Anti-Poverty Organization and the Manitoba Environmental Council.^[42]

Doer announced in late 1992 that his caucus would support the Charlottetown Accord, a comprehensive package on constitutional reform that was introduced by the federal government after the failure of Meech Lake.^[43] The Accord was defeated in a national referendum.

Doer released an election platform in November 1994, highlighted by a ten-point preventive health-care program for children and a six-point Manitoba Works plan to reduce unemployment.^[44]

1995 election

Doer focused on health issues in the 1995 provincial election. He announced that he would work to replace walk-in clinics with neighbourhood health organizations, to be staffed with salaried doctors, nurses, midwives and social workers.^[45] He pledged to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to reduce prescription drug costs, and to review some of the hundreds of drugs that had been delisted in recent years.^[46] He also promised to create a new group of health providers called nurse practitioners, to carry out some doctors' responsibilities.^[47] On economic issues, Doer promised a balanced budget with no personal or sales tax increases over four years and indicated that he would cut nearly $119 million from government programs to fund health, education, and job creation.^[48]

An early poll from the Angus Reid firm showed the Progressive Conservatives with 37% support, the Liberals with 35%, and the NDP with 21%.^[49] The Liberal campaign faltered once again, however, and a poll released only days before the election showed the NDP had again surpassed the Liberals for second place.^[50] The Progressive Conservatives were re-elected with 31 seats, the NDP increased their total to 23, and the Liberals fell to only three.

In the closing days of the election, Doer asked the province's chief electoral officer to investigate reports that three independent candidates from an unregistered party known as Independent Native Voice had received assistance from a Progressive Conservative campaign official. Some believed these candidates would split the progressive-left vote in their ridings, and give the Progressive Conservatives a greater chance of victory.^[51] Little was done at the time, but the story emerged as a prominent scandal following an exposé from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in June 1998. Doer called for an inquiry, which the Filmon government granted; the presiding officer determined that at least one of the candidates had been induced to run to by a local agents of the Progressive Conservative Party.^[52]

Second term, 1995-99

Despite an improving economy, the Filmon government's 1996 budget introduced further cuts to social assistance, health care, and post-secondary and public school education. Doer argued that the cuts were ideological in nature, and not based on financial necessity.^[53] The government also introduced legislation to permit unionized workers to stop their dues from being donated to a political party. The NDP and labour movement described this as a partisan decision, and Doer suggested that corporate shareholders should also be allowed to opt out of donations to parties.^[54]

Doer opposed the Filmon government's decision to privatize the Manitoba Telephone System in 1996, arguing that it would cause Manitobans to lose control over a vital part of their economy.^[55] He called for a referendum, which Filmon rejected.^[56] Doer nonetheless accepted the finality of the sale, telling party delegates in 1999 that buying back the service would be too expensive and carry too many risks.^[57]

Doer also opposed the Filmon government's proposed changes to the single-desk marketing of the Canadian Wheat Board.^[58] Doer argued there could be no "middle-of-the-road" position on the Wheat Board, and that continued single-desk marketing would be "in the economic interests of producers and the economic interests of Winnipeg".^[59]

Some New Democrats expressed discontent with Doer's leadership in late 1997. Most notably, a group led by policy committee chairman Victor Olson issued a statement on party renewal that was generally interpreted as a challenge to his leadership.^[60] This came to nothing, but there was general agreement among party members that Doer would need to win the next election to continue as party leader.^[61]

1999 election

In the buildup to the 1999 provincial election, Doer unveiled a platform that called for balanced budgets, debt repayment and a freeze on taxes.^[62] He again emphasized health care as a priority,^[63] and said that the government should stop using public monies for politically-motivated polls and advertisements.^[64] He also expressed concern that the Progressive Conservatives could privatize Manitoba Hydro,^[65] and criticized a provincial workfare initiative as giving too much discretionary power to the government.^[66] The NDP nevertheless voted to support the Filmon government's 1999 budget, citing a decision to increase health spending with money from a provincial "rainy day fund".^[67] Doer argued, however, that his party would replace a budgeted income tax cut with a property tax cut.^[68]

The NDP entered the 1999 election in a much stronger position than in the three previous campaigns. A poll taken three years earlier had shown the NDP leading the Progressive Conservatives for the first time since the Pawley administration.^[69] The Tories regained their lead by 1998, but fallout from the vote-splitting scandal gave the NDP an 8% lead in a Probe/Free Press poll released in March 1999.^[70] In this period, many began to regard the NDP as a possible government-in-waiting.^[71] Later polls showed the gap between the parties narrowing to a virtual tie.^[72]

Doer pledged $13 million to shorten health-care waiting times in the 1999 campaign, and said that he would work to end "hallway medicine" in overcrowded hospitals. He also pledged an additional $2 million to hire more nurses and provide incentives for rural doctors.^[73] In education, he promised to cut college and university tuition fees by 10% and to invest $24 million to the province's three community colleges.^[74] On election reform, he promised to ban campaign donations from corporations and unions.^[75] Doer also criticized the Filmon government's handling of a contract with Urban Shared Services Corp., which tried to save money by reheating food for hospitals and seniors' homes at a centralized location. The project went well over-budget, and the food was often criticized as inedible.^[76]

A poll released a week before the election showed the NDP and Progressive Conservatives tied with 42% support, and the election was considered too close to call until the actual day of voting.^[77] The NDP ultimately won 32 seats, against 24 for the Progressive Conservatives and only one for the Liberals. A collapse of the Liberal vote worked to the NDP's advantage.^[78]

[edit] Premier

More than eleven years after declining the option, Doer was sworn in as Premier of Manitoba on October 5, 1999. He also took the position of Minister of Federal/Provincial Relations.^[79]

Re-election campaigns

After governing for just under four years, Doer called a new provincial election for June 2003. He brought forward a five point re-election plan highlighted by promises to reduce property and income taxes, hire more nurses and doctors and make reductions in medical waiting lists, take a cautious approach to managing the economy, and improve the province's education and law enforcement systems. Many journalists noted similarities to the NDP's 1999 campaign platform.^[80] The NDP held a massive lead in the polls throughout the campaign, and most observers agreed that the party's re-election was a foregone conclusion.^[81] Even the Winnipeg Free Press, not traditionally supportive of the NDP, urged voters to re-elect Doer's government.^[82] The NDP won an increased majority with 49.47% support and 35 of 57 seats, and made inroads into traditionally Progressive Conservative areas of south Winnipeg.

Four years later, Doer called another election for May 2007.^[83] The NDP campaign focused on Doer's personal popularity and his government's record in office.^[84] The party released a seven-point re-election plan, focused on health care, the environment, education, tax cuts, public safety, money for highways, and keeping Manitoba Hydro as a public institution.^[85] Doer promised to hire 700 nurses and nurse practitioners, 100 new police officers, 20 new crown prosecutors, and 20 new workplace safety inspectors. He also promised to improve Manitoba's record on vehicle emissions, provide tax credits for caregivers, and phase out the provincial small business tax over three years.^[86] The NDP was again re-elected with an increased majority, this time taking 36 of 57 seats.

Prominent cabinet members

Jean Friesen served as Doer's Deputy Premier in his first term. Friesen retired in 2003, and Doer chose Rosann Wowchuk as her replacement.^[87] She continues to hold this position as of 2007.

Prominent members of Doer's first cabinet included Greg Selinger in Finance, Gord Mackintosh in Justice, David Chomiak in Health and Rosann Wowchuk in Agriculture.^[88] Tim Sale replaced Chomiak at Health in October 2004, and was in turn succeeded by Theresa Oswald in 2006.^[89] Chomiak replaced Mackintosh at Justice in 2006.^[90] Selinger remains as Finance Minister in 2007, while Wowchuk remains in Agriculture.

Financial policy

The Doer government has brought forward an uninterrupted succession of balanced budgets since its first election in 1999. These budgets have generally been cautious, and have sought to balance tax concerns with spending increases. Doer's first budget, delivered in 2000, removed 15,000 low-income Manitobans from the tax rolls and introduced $150 million in tax breaks over three years while projecting a $10 million surplus.^[91] His 2003 budget, the last of his first term, reduced provincial taxes by $82.7 million and increased spending by about 5%, mostly in health and education.^[92]

Despite a series of economic setbacks, the government was able to post a balanced budget in 2004 through increased taxes and drug premiums as well as civil service reduction through attrition. Tobacco and liquor taxes were increased and the provincial sales tax expanded to cover more services,^[93] although Doer rejected a panel recommendation to increase the sales tax by 1%.^[94]

The government was able introduce a more expansive budget in 2005 after an infusion of federal revenues, reducing personal and property taxes, increasing spending by 3.5%, and putting $314 million into a "rainy day" fund.^[95] Doer's 2006 and 2007 budgets introduced further tax cuts, and the 2007 budget offered increased education spending and a new child benefit to assist low-income families.^[96]

Doer encouraged the Bank of Canada to lower its rates in late 2003, saying that the rising strength of the Canadian dollar in relation to the American dollar was causing increased unemployment.^[97] He later criticized Bank Governor David Dodge for doing nothing to save Canadian jobs and profits.^[98] In early 2008, he called for a national strategy to offset the disruptions caused by Canada's soaring dollar.^[99]

In 2004, provincial Auditor General Jon Singleton argued that Manitoba was actually running a deficit due to costs associated with crown corporations, utilities and arm's-length agencies that were not officially counted in the budget. He recommended that Manitoba adopt a system of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Greg Selinger, Doer's Finance Minister, noted that the existing rules were set in place by the Filmon government, and indicated that the NDP had included a summary financial statement to its budget including many of the costs Singleton identified.^[100] The Doer government nevertheless announced in 2005 that it would adopt GAAP.^[101]

For the first seven years of his administration, Doer was assisted on financial matters by Eugene Kostyra, a cabinet minister from the Pawley government. Kostyra resigned from his position as secretary of Manitoba's Community and Economic Development Committee in late 2006,^[102] and Angela Mathieson was appointed as his replacement.^[103]

Health

Doer has frequently argued in support of Canada's public health system.^[104] He criticized Alberta's plan to introduce more private health provisions in 2002, and defended the public system as efficient and less expensive.^[105] In the same year, he endorsed Roy Romanow's assessment that the federal government must play a stronger role in health care to prevent more encroachments by the private system.^[106] At a presentation before the Romanow Commission in 2002, Doer called for the federal government to double its health care commitment.^[107] Two years later, he played a significant role in negotiations that saw the federal government contribute $18 billion in new funding to the provinces over six years.^[108]

The Doer government's first budget included a $135 million increase in health spending, taking total provincial spending to $2.43 billion.^[109] In October 2002, the government announced a long-anticipated $100 million expansion to the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, with new operating rooms and emergency departments.^[110] The government was unable to end "hallway medicine" in the six-month period it had promised during the 1999 election, and faced the difficulty of nursing position vacancies in the early 2000s.^[111] Nevertheless, most observers agreed that the provincial situation improved significantly between 1999 and 2003.^[112] Health spending continued to increase during Doer's second term; a report in December 2004 indicated that Manitoba's per capita health spending was the highest in Canada for the seventh continuous year.^[113]

Doer emerged as a defender of Manitoba's burgeoning internet pharmaceutical industry after 2003. This industry was very popular among American clients, and provoked some opposition within both countries.^[114] In 2004, Doer accused federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh of capitulating to American interests in calling for increased restrictions on the industry.^[115] He later argued that the Canadian government could protect its national drug supply and maintain Manitoba's pharmaceutical sector by banning bulk exports.^[116]

Doer's government introduced a landmark anti-smoking bill in 2004, banning smoking in all indoor public places and workplaces across the province. Supported by all parties, the legislation was the first of its kind in Canada.^[117] It did not cover Manitobans working in federal government buildings or living on First Nations territory,^[118] although a provincial judge extended the policy to First Nations territory in 2006.^[119]

Doer welcomed Prime Minister Paul Martin's decision to name Winnipeg as the site of Canada's new public health agency in 2004.^[120]

Social policy

The Doer government passed a bill granting full adoption rights to gay and lesbian couples in 2002. The NDP and Liberals supported the bill, while the Progressive Conservatives voted against it.^[121]

In 2004, the federal government announced that it would introduce legislation to permit the legalization of same-sex marriage. Federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler initially indicated that civic officials would be allowed to opt out of performing same-sex marriages if the practice offended their beliefs. Doer criticized this, arguing that provincial employees should not be permitted to discriminate.^[122] He initially declined to make his personal views public, but announced in late 2004 that he supported same-sex marriage as a human right.^[123]

In April 2005, Doer signed a $176 million deal with the federal government of Paul Martin to expand the provincial day-care sector.^[124] The project was canceled in 2006 by the new Conservative government of Stephen Harper, over Doer's objections.^[125]

Unlike some within the NDP, Doer is personally opposed to the decriminalization of marijuana, which he has said could result in economic difficulties with the United States of America.^[126]

Education

Doer's government cut university tuition by 10% during its first term, and later provided universities with a property tax exemption.^[127] It also amalgamated several school divisions prior to the 2002 municipal elections,^[128] and began to phase out education property taxes in the same period.^[129]

In 2006, the Doer government introduced a proposal for Manitoba university graduates to receive a tuition rebate of up to 60% if they chose to stay and work in the province after graduation.^[130]

Agriculture

Shortly after being sworn in as premier, Doer led an all-party delegation to Ottawa to seek a $1.3 billion financial bailout for western farmers, to help mitigate an economic downturn in the sector. He was joined by Saskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow, Progressive Conservative MLA Larry Maguire, and Manitoba Liberal leader Jon Gerrard.^[131] The federal government introduced $170 million in funding shortly thereafter, a figure that Doer and Romanow described as "heartless".^[132] In February 2000, Romanow and Doer stood with Chrétien to announce their support for a compromise bailout of $400 million.^[133]

Shortly after his re-election in 2003, Doer criticized the federal government for failing to respond to an agriculture crisis caused by the discovery of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in a Canadian cow and by the subsequent closure of the American border to beef products produced in Canada.^[134] The federal and provincial governments subsequently agreed on a $50 million bailout to the industry.^[135] The border was reopened to live cattle in December 2004.^[136]

Doer strongly supports the Canadian Wheat Board's policy of single-desk marketing, and has opposed efforts by some on the political right to weaken its status.^[137] In late 2006, Doer accused federal Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl of interfering in the Wheat Board's elections.^[138]

The Doer government has rejected a return to single-desk hog marketing, which was eliminated during the years of the Filmon government.^[139] During its second term, the government favoured plans to establish an OlyWest hog processing plant in northeast Winnipeg. This measure was extremely controversial among party members, and area NDP MLAs Daryl Reid and Bidhu Jha indicated their opposition. In response to the criticism, Doer withdrew his support for OlyWest in 2007.^[140]

Doer is a vocal opponent of the American Country of Origin Labelling initiative, which would require American producers to separate meat from hogs slaughtered in Canada and increase packing and labelling cost. In January 2008, Doer promised to lobby against the initiative.^[141]

Law enforcement

Doer called for the federal government to strengthen its laws against child pornography in 2002, after the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled that John Robin Sharpe's fictional writings involving children met the legal definition of "artistic merit".^[142] Doer was quoted as saying, "We believe that the rights of children should be superior rights in our country to the rights of perverts".^[143] The following year, the Manitoba government unveiled a website that included photographs and profiles of high-risk sex offenders.^[144]

Also in 2002, Doer argued that persons who kill police officers should spend the rest of their natural lives in jail, without access to Canada's so-called "Faint Hope Clause" for early release.^[145] Three years later, he argued that the provisions of the federal Youth Criminal Justice Act were too lenient.^[146] In 2007, Doer led an all-party task force to Ottawa to seek greater federal penalties for gang-related crime, youth offenses and car theft.^[147]

In 2004, the Doer government increased funding for the hiring of police officers and Crown prosecutors.^[148] Following increased urban violence in 2005, the province announced funding for 54 more officers.^[149]

Doer announced the creation of an all-party task force on security following the attacks of September 11, 2001.^[150] The following month, he announced that he would work with the Governors of Minnesota and North Dakota for a co-ordinated security strategy.^[151]

Environment

Doer has been a strong and consistent supporter of the Kyoto Accord on climate change.^[152] In February 2004, his government signed an agreement with the Chicago Climate Exchange pledging Manitoba to create a trust fund to pay for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.^[153] In late 2005, the American magazine Business Week listed Doer as one of the top twenty international leaders fighting climate change.^[154][155] In 2007, he announced that Manitoba would pursue a plan with other provinces and states to push greenhouse gas emissions to 15% below 2005 levels by 2020. Provincial officials indicated that Manitoba would also strive to meet its Kyoto commitments on its own.^[156] Later in the same year, Manitoba signed on to a European-designed carbon credit training plan.^[157]

Doer announced that Manitoba would increase ethanol production in 2002, and held consultations on a plan requiring Manitoba drivers to use ethanol-blended gasoline.^[158] In October 2002, the government instructed its provincial fleet drivers to switch to ethanol fuels.^[159] These plans stalled due to limited production, but picked up again when a new facility was constructed in late 2005.^[160]

In March 2004, the government introduced enabling legislation on water protection, allowing for the introduction of specific regulations on water protection zones, water quality standards, and related matters.^[161]

Doer signed the Midwestern Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord with seven American governors in November 2007.^[162] The following month, he announced that Manitoba would introduce vehicle emission standards similar to those in California.^[163] In late January 2008, Doer agreed to a blueprint proposal for a market-based trading system to cut greenhouse gas emissions with the premiers of British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.^[164]

Aboriginal issues

In November 1999, Doer appointed a two-person panel to advise his government on implementing the findings of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, which had been published eight years earlier.^[165] In April 2000, Manitoba took steps to provide indigenous Manitobans with their own child and family-service agencies.^[166]

Following consultations with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs in 1999, Doer's government established a selection committee to oversee proposals to set up casinos in Manitoba first nations.^[167] The process subsequently became stalled, and only one of the casinos was up and running by 2003. Doer's government appointed a two-person panel to review the situation and recommend a change in strategy;^[168] the panel argued that the province should consider creating one large casino, instead of several small on-reserve casinos.^[169] A second casino was opened in 2005, while the larger issue remains unresolved as of 2007.^[170]

Doer convened a provincial summit on aboriginal commerce in November 2004.^[171] He indicated that the summit was intended to showcase successful businesses, and to forge greater links between the aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities.^[172]

Doer is a strong supporter of the Kelowna Accord signed in late 2005 by the federal government of Paul Martin, provincial premiers and aboriginal leaders.^[173] The Martin government was defeated in the 2006 federal election, and was replaced by the government of Stephen Harper. Doer subsequently criticized the Harper government's failure to implement the accord.^[174]

Energy

Doer has often referred to hydroelectric power as playing a major role in Manitoba's long-term economic strategy.^[175] Among other things, he has advocated a national east-west power grid to export Manitoba's plentiful hydroelectric power to Ontario and other provinces in Western Canada.^[176]

Doer announced Manitoba's first wind farm project in November 2004, near the community of St. Leon. This was a private-public partnership arranged between Manitoba Hydro and AirSource Power Fund.^[177] It officially started in April 2005.^[178]

In September 2007, Manitoba Hydro indicated that it would construct a new transmission line connecting north and south Manitoba on the west side of Lake Winnipeg. Hydro's initial plan had been to construct the line on the east side, but Doer's government rejected this approach, saying that it would damage pristine boreal forest territories. Some local aboriginal leaders also opposed construction on the east side. The Progressive Conservative Party has strongly criticized Doer's decision.^[179]

Labour issues

The Doer government introduced a number of labour reforms early in its first mandate, making it easier for unions to obtain certification and giving employees increased powers to move disputes to binding arbitration. Business leaders opposed the changes, though Doer argued that the bill was far less contentious than opponents made it out to be.^[180] In 2004, Doer rejected a call by party members to introduce legislation that would ban replacement workers in labour disputes.^[181]

Doer's government increased Manitoba's minimum wage from $6.00 to $6.25 in November 2000, and brought in subsequent increases of 25 cents on an annual basis.^[182] By April 2005, the minimum wage had been increased to $7.25. Some argued that this was still short of a living wage.^[183] The minimum wage was increased to $8.50 in 2008.^[184] In 2005, the Doer government introduced a bill to expand provincial workers' compensation coverage.^[185]

In late 2007, the Doer government announced that temporary foreign workers and modeling agencies would be covered under the Employment Standards Act, to prevent worker exploitation.^[186]

Science and infrastructure

In October 2002, Doer's government introduced a biotechnology training strategy to address a skilled-worker shortage in the industry.^[187]

In early 2003, Doer signed a $160 million deal with the federal government for expansion work on the Red River Floodway. The floodway expansion was described as the largest infrastructure project in Manitoba history,^[188] and was started in late 2005.^[189]

Doer indicated in late 2007 that he would like to see negotiations begin on a new football stadium for Winnipeg, as proposed by Winnipeg media mogul David Asper.^[190]

Crocus Investment Fund

In early 2005, the labour-managed Crocus Investment Fund stopped trading and entered into financial protection. The Doer government was subsequently accused of having ignored signs of trouble at the fund, and of failing to protect the interests of investors.^[191] The opposition Progressive Conservatives argued that the government had deliberately ignored warnings of financial impropriety, partly because of ideological links between the New Democratic Party and the labour movement. Doer rejected this charge, and observed that the fund had been established by the Filmon government in conjunction with labour leaders.^[192] He also rejected calls from the opposition for a formal inquiry,^[193] and insisted that the province did nothing wrong in the matter.^[194]

Federal-provincial relations

Doer supported the Chrétien government's Clarity Act legislation, which mandated that any negotiations on provincial secession be preceded by a referendum with a clearly-defined question. The act was opposed by Quebec nationalists, who regarded it as an infringement on national sovereignty. In 2004, Doer criticized new Prime Minister Paul Martin for seeming to undermine the principles of the bill.^[195] He also criticized Martin's promise to remove the "Notwithstanding Clause" from the Constitution of Canada in the 2006 federal election.^[196] Doer later criticized Martin's successor, Stephen Harper, for recognizing the Québécois as a nation within Canada in late 2006. He was quoted as saying, "[t]o me, Canada is one nation, one country. I understand Quebec is unique in terms of language, culture and law, but Canada is one country."^[197]

According to journalist Chantal Hébert, Doer played a vital role in convincing other provincial leaders to support Quebec Premier Jean Charest's proposal for a Council of the Federation in 2003.^[198] In 2005, Doer and New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord opposed what they described as the federal government's unilateral funding deals with individual provinces, and called for a "pan-Canadian approach" in its place.^[199]

In early 2007, Doer said that Manitoba would not enter a free trade deal signed between Alberta and British Columbia. He instead called for a national trade accord.^[200] He refused to sign the federal government's Building Canada Fund in late 2007, arguing that its provisions for floodway expansion were unfair.^[201]

Doer opposed the Chrétien government's decision to implement a federal gun registry. In 2000, his government joined with other provinces to raise a constitutional challenge against the law.^[202]

International relations

Since his first election in 1999, Doer has been a leading opponent of a water diversion in Devils Lake, North Dakota that many regard as posing a serious environmental threat to Manitoba.^[203] In 2005, the Canadian and American governments reached a non-binding compromise deal on the project that committed both sides to design an advanced filter to prevent environmental disruption.^[204] Doer initially described this agreement as a significant improvement over prior arrangements,^[205] but later criticized the North Dakota government for starting the water diversion before the deal was finalized.^[206] Doer raised the matter with American officials during an official visit in January 2008.^[207]

Doer has led several international trade delegations from Manitoba, including visits to Russia, Germany, Israel, India and The Philippines.^[208] He also made an historic visit to Iceland in August 2001; Manitoba has a large Icelandic population, and Doer was the first Manitoba Premier to make an official visit to the country.^[209] Halldor Asgrimsson, the Prime Minister of Iceland, made a follow-up visit to Manitoba in July 2005.^[210]

Doer signed an agreement with the American state of Georgia in 2004, for increased co-operation between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and the National Virology Lab in Winnipeg.^[211] In the same year, he signed a memorandum of understanding with Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty to create a "biomedical corridor" for the promotion of research, capital investment and technology development.^[212] In early 2005, Doer and New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord traveled on a trade mission to Texas in what was described as an effort to improve relations between Canada and the United States.^[213] Later in the year, Doer and Jean Charest traveled on a trade mission to Mexico.^[214] In 2006, he appeared at a prominent climate change event with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.^[215]

Doer has supported Canada's military mission in Afghanistan, despite growing skepticism about the purpose of the mission from the federal NDP.^[216] He called for Canada to ban donations to Hezbollah's charity wing in 2002,^[217] and endorsed Jean Chrétien government's decision to remain out of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.^[218]

In 2005, Doer spoke against the American government's plans to require passports at Canadian border crossings. He argued that the expense of travel would create a "financial Berlin Wall" for some families. He instead proposed a security protocol centred around drivers' licenses.^[219] In 2007, North Dakota Governor John Hoeven announced that he was working with Doer to find an alternative approach.^[220]

Legislative reform

Doer's government changed the rules of the legislature in 1999, to allow the Speaker of the Assembly to be elected by a secret ballot vote of all members. Speakers had previously been appointed by the premier.^[221]

The government announced election spending reforms in June 2000, which were highlighted by a ban on political donations by private corporations and organized labour.^[222] This measure was opposed by the opposition Progressive Conservatives, and by the right-wing Canadian Taxpayers Federation.^[223] The reforms came into effect in 2001,^[224] and were extended to party leadership contests in June 2002.^[225] Further restrictions were added in 2006.^[226]

In April 2006, the Doer government introduced legislation to prevent MLAs from crossing the floor from one party to another. Under the terms of this legislation, MLAs who choose to leave their political party are required to sit as independents until the next election, or resign and seek re-election for another party.^[227]

Popularity

Doer's government enjoyed an extended honeymoon with voters after the 1999 election. The NDP consistently led all other parties in public opinion polls from 1999 until 2005, often by wide margins.^[228] The party's popularity dipped in late 2005, damaged somewhat by questions resulting from the failure of the Crocus Investment Fund. Polls taken in December 2005 and March 2006 showed the NDP and Progressive Conservatives tied for support.^[229] In July 2006, the PCs pulled ahead of the NDP for the first time in seven years.^[230] Nevertheless, the NDP recovered to win a convincing majority in the 2007 election.

Doer was rated as Canada's most popular premier in polls taken in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, scoring a 77% rating in March 2006.^[231] His approval rating was listed at 71% in polls taken in January and April 2007.^[232]

[edit] Federal politics

Doer supported a bid to draft former Manitoba Premier Edward Schreyer as a candidate in the federal New Democratic Party's 1989 leadership convention.^[233] When Schreyer declined to run, Doer unsuccessfully tried to convince Stephen Lewis and then Bob Rae to enter the contest.^[234] He eventually supported Audrey McLaughlin, who was elected as leader on the fourth ballot.^[235]

There was speculation that Doer would seek the federal NDP leadership in 1995, after McLaughlin announced her resignation.^[236] He declined, and instead gave his support to longtime friend Alexa McDonough, whom he nominated at the leadership convention.^[237] McDonough was chosen as party leader following the first ballot.

Doer opposed the New Politics Initiative in 2001.^[238] In 2002, he supported the leadership campaign of Bill Blaikie, whose federal Winnipeg—Transcona riding overlapped with his own provincial division.^[239] Blaikie finished second against Jack Layton.

Doer has disagreed with the federal NDP on some issues. He defended CanWest Global's takeover of a part of Conrad Black's newspaper empire in 2000, even though the arrangement had been criticized by the federal NDP.^[240] He later called for Svend Robinson to be demoted as Foreign Affairs Critic in 2002, after Robinson announced his support for the Palestinians in their conflict with Israel (official NDP policy was that both sides should seek a peace agreement). Doer was quoted as saying, "Either he represents the party as a foreign affairs critic or he's removed as foreign affairs critic. And I believe he should be removed".^[241] He later expressed disappointment that Robinson was allowed to keep his critic's role, albeit with a ban against speaking on Middle East issues.^[242]

Doer published a ten-point proposal for the future of the federal NDP in June 2002, calling for a focus on health and education as well as fiscal balance, community safety and election finance reform.^[243]

[edit] Ideology

Doer is on the centrist wing of the New Democratic Party.^[244] He once described his political ideology as follows:

I don't believe in nationalizing everything in our society, as in socialist theory. Anybody who calls himself a socialist has to believe in nationalizing almost everything. I see myself as a social democrat - mixed economy, strong role of the public sector.^[245]

Doer endorsed Tony Blair's leadership of the British Labour Party in 1997,^[246] and his own 1999 election platform was frequently compared with Blair's "Third Way" of social democracy.^[247] Doer has also been compared with former Premier of Saskatchewan Roy Romanow, who also governed from the centrist wing of the party. Former NDP MLA Cy Gonick released a critical essay about Doer in 2007, describing him as a "small-l liberal" without "a socialist bone in his body".^[248]

[edit] Electoral record

2007 Manitoba provincial election : Concordia edit
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	+/-	Expenditures
	New Democratic Party	(x)Gary Doer	3,862	69.05	-7.62	$14,144.95
	Progressive Conservative	Ken Waddell	1,209	21.62	+5.51	$15,745.09
	Liberal	Leslie Worthington	336	6.01	-1.21	$340.30
	Green	Andrew Basham	186	3.33		$216.88
Total valid votes			5,593	100.00
Rejected and declined votes			28
Turnout			5,621	47.42	+0.92
Electors on the lists			11,853

2003 Manitoba provincial election : Concordia edit
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	+/-	Expenditures
	New Democratic Party	(x)Gary Doer	4,450	76.67	+6.58	$20,354.04
	Progressive Conservative	Conor Lloyd	935	16.11	-7.26	$0.00
	Liberal	Tanya Parks	419	7.22	+1.75	$1,033.77
Total valid votes			5,804	100.00
Rejected and declined votes			38
Turnout			5,842	46.50	-17.76
Electors on the lists			12,564

1999 Manitoba provincial election : Concordia edit
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	+/-	Expenditures
	New Democratic Party	(x)Gary Doer	5,691	70.09		$13,477.00
	Progressive Conservative	Paul Murphy	1,898	23.37		$21,285.31
	Liberal	Chris Hlady	444	5.47		$193.61
	Green	C. David Nickarz	87	1.07		$25.00
Total valid votes			8,120	100.00
Rejected and declined votes			48
Turnout			8,168	64.26
Electors on the lists			12,711

1995 Manitoba provincial election : Concordia edit
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	+/-	Expenditures
	New Democratic Party	(x)Gary Doer	4,827	63.58	+5.41	$17,879.00
	Progressive Conservative	Paul Murphy	1,845	24.30	-0.26	$13,105.33
	Liberal	Bret Dobbin	816	10.75	-2.68	$11,467.33
	Libertarian	Guy Beaudry	104	1.37	-0.34	$477.96
Total valid votes			7,592	100.00
Rejected and declined votes			30
Turnout			7,622	66.82	-1.56
Electors on the lists			11,406

1990 Manitoba provincial election : Concordia edit
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	+/-
	New Democratic Party	(x)Gary Doer	4,588	58.17
	Progressive Conservative	Vic Rubiletz	1,937	24.56
	Liberal	Gunter Grosskamper	1,059	13.43
	Western Independence	Fred Cameron	168	2.13
	Libertarian	Guy Beaudry	135	1.71
Total valid votes			7,887	100.00
Rejected votes			12
Turnout			7,899	68.38
Electors on the lists			11,551

1988 Manitoba provincial election : Concordia edit
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	+/-
	New Democratic Party	(x)Gary Doer	3,702	37.71	-16.66
	Liberal	Barbara Blomeley	2,948	30.03	+19.11
	Progressive Conservative	Vic Rubiletz	2,634	26.83	-5.42
	Independent	Bill Seman	358	3.65
	Western Independence	Fred Cameron	114	1.16	-1.29
	Progressive	Charles Henry	61	0.62
Total valid votes			9,817	100.00
Rejected votes			10
Turnout			9,827	76.43	-10.21
Electors on the lists			12,857

1986 Manitoba provincial election : Concordia edit
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	+/-
	New Democratic Party	Gary Doer	4,525	54.37	-6.54
	Progressive Conservative	Brent Aubertin	2,684	32.25	+2.71
	Liberal	Gail Stapon	909	10.92	+7.39
	Western Canada Concept	Fred Cameron	204	2.45
Total valid votes			8,322	100.00
Rejected votes			13
Turnout			8,335	66.22	-3.44
Electors on the lists			12,587

All electoral information is taken from Elections Manitoba. Expenditures refer to candidate election expenses.

[edit] Footnotes