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Winnipeg Centre (provincial electoral district)

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Winnipeg Centre was a provincial electoral division in Manitoba, Canada. It existed in three separate periods, each time using different electoral systems: 1888-1920 single-member and two-member district using First Past The Post; 1949 to 1953 four-member district using STV; 1959 to 1981 single-member district using First Past The Post.

It was initially created for the 1888 provincial election, and was abolished before the 1920 election when Winnipeg was made into a single ten-member constituency. It was then re-established for the elections of 1949 and 1953, as a four-member constituency. This constituency was eliminated in 1958 and divided into several single-member constituencies, one of which was also called Winnipeg Centre. This single-member constituency lasted until 1981, when it too was eliminated through redistribution.

Members of the Legislative Assembly

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Original constituency (1888–1920)

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Winnipeg Centre was created for the 1888 election, when the city of Winnipeg was granted a third seat. It had previously been represented in the legislature by Winnipeg North and Winnipeg South.

Winnipeg Centre, a single-member constituency, was turned into a two-member dual-ballot district prior to the 1914 election. Electors were allowed to cast two ballots, one for each of the two separate seats, which were called "Winnipeg Centre A" and "Winnipeg Centre B".

The constituency only returned four representatives in its history, all of whom were prominent figures.

Daniel Hunter McMillan was a cabinet minister in Thomas Greenway's government, and later served as the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba from 1911 to 1916.

Thomas Taylor, his successor, had served as Mayor of Winnipeg in the 1890s.

Thomas Herman Johnson was a prominent minister under Tobias Norris.

Fred Dixon was also elected in Winnipeg Centre in 1914. He was notable as the first Labour representative in the legislature. In the elections of 1914 and 1915, he was co-endorsed by the Liberal Party and the Labour Representation Committee. In 1920, running in the new city-wide district he won as a DLP candidate.

Winnipeg Centre

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  Name Party Took office Left office
  Daniel Hunter McMillan
Liberal 1888 1900
  Thomas Taylor
Conservative 1900 1914

Winnipeg Centre A

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  Name Party Took office Left office
  Thomas Herman Johnson
Liberal 1914 1922 (1920 district abolished)

Winnipeg Centre B

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  Name Party Took office Left office
  Fred Dixon
Independent 1914 1928 (1920 district abolished)

Four-member constituency

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The single Winnipeg constituency into three multiple-member districts for the 1949 election: Winnipeg North, Winnipeg Centre and Winnipeg South. All three constituencies elected four members to the legislature, with electors choosing representatives by a single transferable ballot.

The electorate of Winnipeg Centre included supporters of the socialist Cooperative Commonwealth Federation, the Liberal-Progressive and the Progressive Conservative Party. Independent candidate Stephen Juba also won election to the legislature in 1953.

Winnipeg Centre (1949–1958)

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  Name Party Took office Left office
  Charles Rhodes Smith
Liberal–Progressive 1949 1952
  Paul Bardal
Liberal–Progressive 1949 1953
  Jack St. John
Liberal–Progressive 1953 1958
  Donovan Swailes
CCF 1949 1958
  Gordon Fines
CCF 1949 1953
  Hank Scott
PC 1953 1958
  Stephen Juba
Independent 1953 1958

Single-member constituency

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The single-member electoral division of Winnipeg Centre was created with the 1958 election, after the four-member division of the same name was eliminated.

The constituency was represented by Progressive Conservative James Cowan from 1958 to 1969, and was considered safe for the PC Party. Joseph "Bud" Boyce of the New Democratic Party won it in 1969, and held it until its abolition in 1981. Boyce left the NDP to join the newly formed Progressive Party prior to the 1981 election.

Winnipeg Centre (1958–1981)

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  Name Party Took office Left office
  James Cowan
PC 1958 1969
  Bud Boyce
NDP 1969 1981
Progressive Bud Boyce 1981 1981

Election results

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1888

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1888 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Daniel Hunter McMillan 972 67.41
Conservative Thomas Gilroy 470 32.59
Total valid votes 1,442
Rejected N/A
Eligible voters / Turnout N/A
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1889 by-election

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Manitoba provincial by-election, 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Daniel Hunter McMillan Acclaimed
Total valid votes
Rejected N/A
Eligible voters / Turnout N/A
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1892

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1892 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Daniel Hunter McMillan 1,177 68.83
Conservative John Julius Winram 533 31.17
Total valid votes 1,710
Rejected N/A
Eligible voters / Turnout 2,627 65.09
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1896

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1896 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Daniel Hunter McMillan Acclaimed
Total valid votes
Rejected N/A
Eligible voters / Turnout 2,848
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1899

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1899 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Daniel Hunter McMillan 1,364 52.20
Conservative A.J. Andrews 1,249 47.80
Total valid votes 2,613
Rejected N/A
Eligible voters / Turnout 3,923 66.61
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1900 by-election

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Manitoba provincial by-election, 1900
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Government Thomas William Taylor 1,117 53.75
Opposition Robert Muir 961 46.25
Total valid votes 2,078
Rejected N/A
Eligible voters / Turnout N/A
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1903

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1903 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas William Taylor 1,276 45.23
Liberal Dr. John A. McArthur 1,123 39.81
Labour William Scott 422 14.96
Total valid votes 2,821
Rejected N/A
Eligible voters / Turnout 3,692 76.41
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1907

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1907 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas William Taylor 2,314 53.06 7.83
Liberal John Adolphus MacArthur 2,047 46.94 7.13
Total valid votes 4,361
Rejected N/A
Eligible voters / Turnout 5,247 83.11 6.71
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1910

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1910 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas William Taylor 2,017 49.80 -3.26
Labour Fred Dixon 1,934 47.75
Socialist William S. Cummings 99 2.44
Total valid votes 4,050
Rejected N/A
Eligible voters / Turnout 5,302 76.39 -6.73
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1914

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Winnipeg Centre A

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1914 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Thomas Herman Johnson 7,998 50.31
Conservative A.J. Andrews 6,948 43.70
Labour William H. "Bill" Hoop 953 5.99
Total valid votes 15,899
Rejected N/A
Eligible voters / Turnout 18,501 85.94
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

Winnipeg Centre B

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1914 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Fred Dixon 8,205 51.85
Conservative Frederick Joseph Gustin McArthur 6,692 42.29
Labour George Armstrong 928 5.86
Total valid votes 15,825
Rejected N/A
Eligible voters / Turnout 18,501 85.54
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1915

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Winnipeg Centre A

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1915 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Herman Johnson 6,623 74.20 23.89
Conservative Andrew James Norquay 2,303 25.80 -17.90
Total valid votes 8,926
Rejected N/A
Eligible voters / Turnout 13,373 66.75 -19.19
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

Winnipeg Centre B

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1915 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Fred Dixon 6,443 69.32 17.47
Conservative Hannes Marino Hannesson 2,048 22.03 -20.25
Labour George Armstrong 804 8.65 2.79
Total valid votes 9,295
Rejected N/A
Eligible voters / Turnout 13,373 69.51 -16.03
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1949

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1949 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal–Progressive Charles Rhodes Smith 5,140 19.37
Co-operative Commonwealth Donovan Swailes 5,025 18.94
Co-operative Commonwealth Gordon Fines 4,321 16.29
Liberal–Progressive Paul Bardal 3,538 13.34
Progressive Conservative Hank Scott 3,373 12.71
Co-operative Commonwealth Mrs. Ina Thompson 1,741 6.56
Labor–Progressive John McNeil 1,392 5.25
Independent Liberal Stephen Juba 1,155 4.35
Total valid votes 25,685
Rejected 220
Eligible voters / Turnout 50,339 51.46
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1953

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1953 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal–Progressive Jack St. John 5,119 19.43 -13.28
Co-operative Commonwealth Donovan Swailes 4,204 15.96 -25.83
Independent Stephen Juba 4,172 15.84 11.49
Progressive Conservative Hank Scott 3,108 11.80 -0.91
Independent Lewis Stubbs 2,556 9.70
Liberal–Progressive Anne Ethel "Nan" Murphy 1,991 7.56 -25.15
Co-operative Commonwealth Gordon Fines 1,339 5.08 -36.71
Social Credit Percival W. Brown 1,132 4.30
Total valid votes 23,621
Rejected 406
Eligible voters / Turnout 47,122 50.99 -0.47
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1958

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1958 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative James Cowan 3,462 55.61 43.81
Liberal–Progressive Paul W. Goodman 1,623 26.07 -0.92
Co-operative Commonwealth David Adrian Mulligan 1,141 18.33 -2.72
Total valid votes 6,226
Rejected 58
Eligible voters / Turnout 13,730 45.77 -5.22
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1959

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1959 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative James Cowan 3,712 55.84 0.23
Co-operative Commonwealth Fred Paulley 1,474 22.17 3.85
Liberal–Progressive John Gurzon Harvey 1,462 21.99 -4.08
Total valid votes 6,648
Rejected 63
Eligible voters / Turnout 13,424 49.99 4.22
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1962

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1962 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative James Cowan 2,779 50.72 -5.12
Liberal Francis Bastin "Frank" Lamont 1,684 30.74
New Democratic Donovan Swailes 1,016 18.54
Total valid votes 5,479
Rejected 110
Eligible voters / Turnout 11,282 49.54 -0.45
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1966

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1966 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative James Cowan 2,982 47.09 -3.63
Liberal Ross White 1,917 30.27 -0.47
New Democratic Donald Malinowski 1,434 22.64 4.10
Total valid votes 6,333
Rejected 28
Eligible voters / Turnout 12,366 51.44 1.90
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1969

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1969 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Bud Boyce 2,398 51.34 28.69
Progressive Conservative James Cowan 1,451 31.06 -16.02
Liberal Joseph Wapemoose 822 17.60 -12.67
Total valid votes 4,671
Rejected 66
Eligible voters / Turnout 9,418 50.30 -1.14
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1973

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1973 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Bud Boyce 3,010 53.12 1.79
Progressive Conservative Robert Wilson 1,520 26.83 -4.24
Liberal Ken Arenson 1,092 19.27 1.67
Social Credit Ed Storozuk 44 0.78
Total valid votes 5,666
Rejected 55
Eligible voters / Turnout 8,343 68.57 18.28
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

1977

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1977 Manitoba general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Bud Boyce 2,217 48.93 -4.19
Progressive Conservative Philip S. Lee 1,587 35.03 8.20
Liberal Ken Wong 727 16.05 -3.23
Total valid votes 4,531
Rejected 6
Eligible voters / Turnout 7,843 57.85 -10.72
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

References

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