MaryAnn Mihychuk

The Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk PC MP
Minister of Employment, Workforce, and Labour
Incumbent
Assumed office November 4, 2015
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Kellie Leitch
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Kildonan-St. Paul
Incumbent
Assumed office October 19, 2015
Preceded by	Joy Smith
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
In office September 21, 1999 – May 21, 2004
Preceded by	Riding Created
Succeeded by	Andrew Swan
Constituency	Minto
In office April 25, 1995 – September 21, 1999
Preceded by	Paul Edwards
Succeeded by	Bonnie Korzeniowski
Constituency	St. James
Personal details
Born	February 27, 1955 Vita, Manitoba
Political party	NDP (1989-2014) Liberal (2014-present)
Spouse(s)	Kenneth Marshall (m. 1992)
Children	Sarah Hannah John
Residence	Winnipeg, Manitoba
Profession	Geologist

MaryAnn Mihychuk PC MP (born February 27, 1955)^[1] is a Canadian politician from Manitoba. She was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 2015, representing the riding of Kildonan-St. Paul for the Liberal Party of Canada, and now serves as Minister of Employment, Workforce and Labour in the federal Cabinet, headed by Justin Trudeau. She was previously a cabinet minister in the government of Manitoba New Democratic Premier Gary Doer from 1999 to 2004.^[1] Mihychuk resigned to run for Mayor of Winnipeg in 2004, but was defeated by Sam Katz.

Life and career

Mihychuk was born in Vita, Manitoba,^[2] the daughter of Katherine Salamandyk and Métro Mihychuk. She received the degrees of Bachelor of Arts from the University of Winnipeg in 1979, and Master of Science from Brock University in 1984. She is certified as a Practicing Professional Geoscientist. Mihychuk worked as a geologist in Newfoundland and Labrador from 1984 to 1986 and in Manitoba from 1986 to 1992. In 1992, she married Kenneth Marshall. She has two daughters, Sarah Mihychuk and Hannah Mihychuk, and a son, John.^[2]

Mihychuk was first elected as a Winnipeg School Division Trustee first in 1989 and was re-elected in 1992.

Provincial politics

She was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in 1995, defeating Liberal leader Paul Edwards^[3] by 3109 votes to 2853 in the Winnipeg constituency of St. James. The 1995 election was won by Gary Filmon's Progressive Conservatives. Mihychuk and 22 other New Democrats formed the Official Opposition.

The NDP won the following general election in 1999. This time Mihychuk was elected in the constituency of Minto, defeating Progressive Conservative Harry Lehotsky^[3] by 4534 votes to 2035. Gary Doer was sworn in as Premier and named Mihychuk Minister of Industry, Trade and Mines.^[4]

Mihychuk was re-elected to the provincial legislature in 2003, winning almost 70% of the votes cast in her constituency.^[3] On November 4, 2003, she was named Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade,^[5] with responsibility for International Relations Coordination.

Post-provincial politics

Mihychuk resigned from cabinet and the legislature on May 21, 2004, to seek election as Mayor of Winnipeg.^[6] The 2004 election was held to determine the successor to former mayor Glen Murray. Murray had resigned to seek election to the Canadian House of Commons. Mihychuk's campaign platform focussed on increasing Winnipeg's population. Although a respected community figure, Mihychuk was only able to win ten percent of the city's vote.

She then ran Mihychuk Consulting, offering professional advice in a variety of fields.

In 2005 Mihychuk relocated to Toronto, Ontario to work for the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) as Director of Regulatory Affairs.^[7]

Mihychuk supported Lorne Nystrom's campaigns to lead the federal New Democratic Party in 1995 and 2003.

Federal politics

In 2014, Mihychuk was chosen as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Kildonan—St. Paul for the 2015 federal election, defeating the previous Liberal candidate, Victor Andres. Mihychuk said that her views on the economy and social views were closer to those of the federal Liberals.^[8] She was subsequently elected to the seat.^[9][10] On November 4, 2015, she was named Minister of Employment, Workforce, and Labour.^[11]

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2015: Kildonan-St. Paul
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%	Expenditures
	Liberal	MaryAnn Mihychuk	18,717	42.66	+34.78	–
	Conservative	Jim Bell	17,478	39.84	-18.63	–
	New Democratic	Suzanne Hrynyk	6,270	14.29	-15.76	–
	Green	Steven Stairs	783	1.78	-0.86	–
	Christian Heritage	David Reimer	485	1.11	–	–
	Independent	Eduard Walter Hiebert	142	0.32	–	–
Total valid votes/Expense limit			43,875	100.00		$196,356.40
Total rejected ballots			161	0.37	–
Turnout			44,036	71.48	–
Eligible voters			61,604
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing		+26.70
Source: Elections Canada[12][13]

References

1. "MLA Biographies - Living". Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
2. O'Handley, Kathryn. Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1998-1999. ISBN 0-7876-3558-8.
3. "Minto". Manitoba Votes 2003 (CBC News).
4. Smith, Doug (2004). Stickin' to the union Local 2224 vs. John Buhler. Halifax, N.S.: Fernwood Pub. p. 74. ISBN 978-1-55266-141-3.
5. "Analysis: Food and Drug Administration seeks to stop the selling of Canadian drugs to US consumers (Transcript)". National Public Radio. 29 September 2003. Retrieved 22 January 2011. MaryAnn Mihychuk is Manitoba's trade minister.
6. Kives,, Bartley (28 October 2010). "Katz re-elected in Winnipeg". National Post. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
7. "MaryAnn Mihychuk is the PDAC’s new Director, Regulatory Affairs" (PDF). Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. November 4, 2005.
8. "MaryAnn Mihychuk, Ex-Manitoba NDP Cabinet Minister, To Run For Federal Liberals". Huffington Post. July 9, 2014.
9. "MaryAnn Mihychuk takes Kildonan-St. Paul for Liberals". CBC News. October 19, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
10. "Liberal MaryAnn Mihychuk takes Kildonan-St. Paul". Winnipeg Free Press. October 19, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
11. "Winnipeg MPs Mihychuk and Carr named to Justin Trudeau's cabinet". CBC News. November 4, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
12. Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Kildonan—St. Paul, 30 September 2015
13. Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates

External links

• Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada