Minnedosa (electoral district)

The 1998-2011 boundaries for Minnedosa highlighted in red

Minnedosa was a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created in 1881 with the expansion of the province's western boundary, and has existed continuously since that time. From 1886 to 1888, it was divided into two ridings, Minnedosa East and Minnedosa West.

Minnedosa was located in the southwestern region of Manitoba. It was bordered by Russell to the north, Ste. Rose to the east, Turtle Mountain to the east and south, and Arthur-Virden to the south and west. The constituency also surrounded the City of Brandon, which is divided into the ridings of Brandon East and Brandon West.

Minnedosa itself was the largest community in the constituency. Other communities in riding the included Souris, Rivers, Rapid City, Shilo, Basswood, Wawanesa, and Erickson.

Minnedosa's population in 1996 was 18,694. In 1999, the average family income was $46,627, and the unemployment rate was 3.50%. Agriculture accounted for 22% of the riding's industry, followed by government services at 12% and health and social services at 12%. Six per cent of the population was of German background, and 15% were over 65 years of age.

Minnedosa was held by the Progressive Conservative Party for several decades, but the New Democratic Party made efforts to win the seat in the riding's last years. In the provincial election of 2003, the Conservative Party retained the seat by only 12 votes, but in the 2007 Election the Progressive Conservative incumbent Leanne Rowat won with 52.83% and the NDP candidate won 38.53% of the vote.

As a result of the 2008 Electoral Redistibution, for the 2011 Election, the constituency was dissolved into the ridings of Spruce Woods, Riding Mountain, and Arthur-Virden

List of provincial representatives (Minnedosa, original constituency)

Name	Party	Took Office	Left Office
John Crerar	Lib	1881	1883
David H. Harrison	Lib-Cons	1883	1886

List of provincial representatives (Minnedosa East)

Name	Party	Took Office	Left Office
James Gillies	Cons	1886	1888

List of provincial representatives (Minnedosa West)

Name	Party	Took Office	Left Office
David H. Harrison	Lib-Cons	1886	1888

List of provincial representatives (Minnedosa, re-established)

Name	Party	Took Office	Left Office
James Gillies	Lib-Cons	1888	1892
Robert Myers	Lib	1892	1903
William B. Waddell	Cons	1903	1910
John Thompson	Lib	1910	1914
George Grierson	Lib	1914	1922
Neil Cameron	Prog	1922	1927
Earl Rutledge	Cons	1927	1948
Henry Rungay	Lib-Prog	1948	1953
Gilbert Hutton	Social Credit	1953	1958
Charles Shuttleworth	Lib-Prog	1958	1959
Walter Weir	PC	1959	1971
Dave Blake	PC	1971	1988
Harold Gilleshammer	PC	1988	2003
Leanne Rowat	PC	2003	2011

Election results

Manitoba general election, 2007
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%	Expenditures
	Progressive Conservative	Leanne Rowat	3,790	52.79	+5.42	$22,692.31
	New Democratic	Harvey Paterson	2,769	38.57	−8.62	$16,563.22
	Green	James Beddome	281	3.91	+3.91	$1,661.53
	Liberal	Christopher Baker	268	3.73	−0.17	$340.29
	Independent	Colin Atkins	72	1.00	−0.54	$1,218.45
Total valid votes			7,180	99.68
Rejected and declined votes			23
Turnout			7,203	58.92	+2.77
Electors on the lists			12,225

Manitoba general election, 2003
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%	Expenditures
	Progressive Conservative	Leanne Rowat	3,259	47.37		$18,639.72
	New Democratic	Harvey Paterson	3,247	47.19		$17,900.63
	Liberal	Gordon L. Powell	268	3.90	–	$2,590.10
	Independent	Colin Atkins	106	1.54		$824.57
Total valid votes			6,880	100.00
Rejected and declined votes			23
Turnout			6,903	56.15
Electors on the lists			12,293

^[1]

Manitoba general election, 1999
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%	Expenditures
	Progressive Conservative	Harold Gilleshammer	3,744	49.71		$20,513.01
	New Democratic	Harvey Paterson	2,841	37.72		$3,103.00
	Liberal	Gordon L. Powell	578	7.67	–	$4,886.09
	Manitoba Party	Brion Pollon	369	4.90		$1,062.32
Total valid votes			7,532	100.00
Rejected and declined votes			37
Turnout			7,569	62.90
Electors on the lists			12,034

References

1. http://www.elections.mb.ca/en/Results/38_division_results/38_minnedosa_summary_results.html

Coordinates: 49°50′38″N 100°16′48″W / 49.844°N 100.280°W