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Kelvin Goertzen

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Kelvin Goertzen
MLA
Goertzen in 2014
23rd Premier of Manitoba
In office
September 1, 2021 – November 2, 2021
MonarchElizabeth II
Lieutenant GovernorJanice Filmon
DeputyRochelle Squires
Preceded byBrian Pallister
Succeeded byHeather Stefanson
Interim Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
In office
September 1, 2021 – October 30, 2021
PresidentTom Wiebe
Preceded byBrian Pallister
Succeeded byHeather Stefanson
8th Deputy Premier of Manitoba
In office
November 3, 2021 – January 18, 2022
PremierHeather Stefanson
Preceded byRochelle Squires
Succeeded byCliff Cullen
In office
January 5, 2021 – September 1, 2021
PremierBrian Pallister
Preceded byHeather Stefanson
Succeeded byRochelle Squires
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Internal Relations
In office
September 1, 2021 – November 2, 2021
PremierKelvin Goertzen
Himself
Preceded byBrian Pallister
Succeeded byHeather Stefanson
Manitoba Minister of Justice and Attorney General
In office
January 18, 2022 – October 18, 2023
PremierHeather Stefanson
Preceded byCliff Cullen
Succeeded byMatt Wiebe
Minister of Education
In office
October 23, 2019 – January 5, 2021
PremierBrian Pallister
Preceded byPortfolio renamed
Succeeded byCliff Cullen
Minister of Education and Training
In office
August 1, 2018 – October 23, 2019
PremierBrian Pallister
Preceded byIan Wishart
Succeeded byWayne Ewasko As minister of advanced Education
Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living
In office
May 3, 2016 – August 1, 2018
PremierBrian Pallister
Preceded bySharon Blady
Succeeded byCameron Friesen
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Steinbach
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 3, 2003
Preceded byJim Penner
Personal details
Born (1969-06-12) June 12, 1969 (age 55)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada[citation needed]
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Spouse
Kimberley Hiebert
​
(m. 1997)​
Children1
Alma materUniversity of Manitoba (BA, BComm, LL.B.)

Kelvin Goertzen MLA (born June 12, 1969) is a Canadian politician who served as the 23rd premier of Manitoba from September to November, 2021. A member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, he is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Steinbach, first elected in the 2003 provincial election, and was re-elected in 2007, 2011, 2016, 2019 and most recently in 2023.[1] Goertzen served as interim leader of the PC party, from September 1, 2021 to October 30, 2021. He was sworn as premier on September 1, 2021. Goertzen was succeeded as premier on the afternoon of November 2, 2021, by Heather Stefanson who won the PC leadership election on October 30.[2] Goertzen, upon his swearing-in, selected Rochelle Squires as his deputy premier.[3] Goertzen resumed his role as Deputy Premier of Manitoba on November 3, 2021.[4] His final posts in the Stefanson Government were Government House Leader, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and Minister responsible for Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI). He currently serves as the Deputy Leader of the PC Party alongside Kathleen Cook.

Early life and education

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Goertzen was born on June 12, 1969[5] in Winnipeg, Manitoba[citation needed] but was raised in Steinbach, Manitoba. He attended public school in Steinbach and graduated high school from the Steinbach Regional Secondary School in June 1987. Goertzen obtained a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Economics, a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Law each from the University of Manitoba. While attending Robson Hall law school at the University of Manitoba, Goertzen was awarded more than a dozen academic prizes and was the school's top student during his second year of law studies.[citation needed]

Community involvement

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Goertzen served for two years as the Vice-President of the Steinbach Arts Council and served as Vice-President of the Southeast Helping Hands Food Bank in Steinbach for seven years. He has been involved as a participant and fundraiser in a number of community related causes including the Mennonite Heritage Village Museum and the Steinbach Association for Community Living. He is a member of the South East Rotary Club.

In June 2007, Goertzen was awarded the "HOPE" medal by the Lions Club Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario for his community service work helping those less fortunate in Manitoba [citation needed]. In 2012 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of community service by Governor General of Canada David Johnson.

Political involvement

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Goertzen became involved in political activities while attending high school, serving as an early organizer for the Reform Party of Canada. In 1995, Goertzen was hired as an intern at the Manitoba Legislature serving with the Progressive Conservative Caucus. Following the internship, he served in the Manitoba Department of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship and subsequently worked as an Executive Assistant to MLAs Jim Penner and Albert Driedger. Following the 2000 federal election, Goertzen also worked as an advisor to Provencher Member of Parliament Vic Toews and was a key local organizer for Toews in the 2000, 2004 and 2006 federal elections. In 2003, he participated in a public protest against the legalization of same-sex marriage in Canada.

Prior to seeking elected office himself, Goertzen also served as the President of the Steinbach Progressive Conservative Association, as a Regional Director on the Board of the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party and as a member of the Management Committee of the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party.

Elected office

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One week prior to the calling of the 2003 provincial election, Steinbach MLA Jim Penner announced he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and would not be seeking re-election.[6] After the election was called a short nomination process occurred. Some critics suggested Goertzen's service as local association President gave him an advantage in the short nomination time frame. The sudden events had no impact on the election result, however. Steinbach is one of the Manitoba PCs' safest seats, and Goertzen was elected with over 74% of the popular vote despite the poor showing of PC candidates elsewhere in the province. Goertzen became the youngest MLA ever elected from Steinbach since its creation in 1990, as well as the first Manitoba Legislative Intern to be elected to the Manitoba Legislature.

After his election to the Manitoba Legislature, Goertzen was promoted to the shadow cabinet as Chief Justice Critic and in 2005 was also appointed Deputy House Leader. As Justice Critic, Goertzen called for increased police resources, stronger laws against organized crime, electronic monitoring of sex offenders and a drug treatment court to assist individuals addicted to drugs and alcohol. In 2005-2006, Goertzen held a series of informational meetings across Manitoba about Crystal Meth and lobbied for new legislation to allow parents of drug addicted teenagers to place their children in drug treatment. The NDP government accepted that suggestion and legislation was passed June 13, 2006.

Goertzen was a strong supporter of Opposition Leader Stuart Murray and refused to participate in internal Caucus dissent that ultimately led to the end of Murray's leadership in November 2005.

Goertzen was among the first MLAs to endorse the provincial PC leadership campaign of Hugh McFadyen who eventually won the leadership. McFadyen reappointed Goertzen as Justice Critic after his leadership election and also appointed him the PC House Leader. Goertzen was again nominated the provincial PC candidate for Steinbach on September 8, 2006. On May 22, 2007 Goertzen was re-elected with 83% of the vote, the largest victory in the history of the riding.

In February 2010, Goertzen was named Deputy Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, and hence Deputy Leader of the Opposition. On October 4, 2011, Goertzen was re-elected in Steinbach by another large majority, although the PC's once again lost the election to the NDP. With the resignation of McFayden as party leader after the election, there was some speculation in the local media that Goertzen may be a candidate for the position.

Following the 2011 election and selection of Brian Pallister as leader of the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party, Goertzen was again appointed House Leader and Justice Critic for the PC Caucus. In 2013 he led a filibuster in the Manitoba Legislature to protest the increase of the provincial sales tax (PST) by the NDP government.

In 2013, despite widespread media speculation, he declined to run for the Conservative Party of Canada in the federal riding of Provencher, centered on Steinbach, following the resignation of MP Vic Toews.

Following the Progressive Conservative victory in the 2016 provincial election, newly-elected premier Pallister named Goertzen as a member of the new cabinet, assigning him the office of Health, Seniors and Active Living.[7]

In May 2018, Goertzen was strongly criticized for speaking at an anti-abortion rally in Steinbach, and for constant deferral of questions related to women's reproductive matters, including abortion, to Rochelle Squires, minister of the status of women.[8]

In September 2020, Goertzen made a Facebook post emphasizing the right to refuse vaccination, which received widespread condemnation by the public and which many medical experts considered to be problematic coming from an education minister and previous health minister.[9]

Personal life

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Goertzen married his wife Kimberley Hiebert in 1997. They live in Steinbach, Manitoba and have one son.[5]

Goertzen has published several articles related to law and politics including in the Asper Review of International Business and Trade Law (Volume 3- 2003) and Underneath the Golden Boy (Volume 3-2004). In November 2006, he published a book on the life of Jim Penner, his predecessor in the Legislature, entitled A Life Well Lived: The Story of Jim Penner and Penner Foods (National Library of Canada ISBN 0-9781405-0-8).

Electoral record

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2023 Manitoba general election: Steinbach
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Kelvin Goertzen 5,868 74.37 -7.26 $20,976.32
New Democratic Gord Meneer 1,221 15.48 +7.42 $1,145.76
Liberal Cyndy Friesen 801 10.15 +5.31 $6,032.40
Total valid votes/expense limit 7,890 97.60 – $65,660.00
Total rejected and declined ballots 194 2.40 –
Turnout 8,084 48.14 -4.35
Eligible voters 16,791
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -7.34
Source(s)
Source: Elections Manitoba[10][11][12]
2019 Manitoba general election: Steinbach
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Kelvin Goertzen 6,241 81.64 -7.53 $14,150.78
New Democratic Robert Jessup 616 8.06 3.12 $612.56
Green Janine Gibson 418 5.47 – $0.00
Liberal LeAmber Kensley 370 4.84 -1.05 $0.00
Total valid votes 7,645 – –
Rejected 31 –
Eligible voters / Turnout 14,623 52.49 0.78
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2019). Statement of Votes for the 42nd Provincial General Election, September 10, 2019 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.
"Candidate Election Returns". Elections Manitoba. Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
2016 Manitoba general election: Steinbach
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Kelvin Goertzen 6,982 89.17 3.68 $17,469.05
Liberal Dakota Young-Brown 461 5.89 -0.99 $5.84
New Democratic Kathleen McCallum 387 4.94 -2.69 $146.90
Total valid votes 7,830 – –
Rejected 87 –
Eligible voters / Turnout 15,310 51.71 2.05
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2016). Statement of Votes for the 41st Provincial General Election, April 19, 2016 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.
"Election Returns: 41st General Election". Elections Manitoba. 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
2011 Manitoba general election: Steinbach
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Kelvin Goertzen 5,469 85.49 2.51 $28,130.00
New Democratic Dally Gutierrez 488 7.63 -1.03 $0.00
Liberal Lee Fehler 440 6.88 2.14 $987.95
Total valid votes 6,397 – –
Rejected 26 –
Eligible voters / turnout 12,934 49.66 -0.32
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2011). Statement of Votes for the 40th Provincial General Election, October 4, 2011 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.
"Election Returns: 40th General Election". Elections Manitoba. 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
2007 Manitoba general election: Steinbach
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Kelvin Goertzen 6,144 82.98 8.35 $25,321.51
New Democratic Rawle Squires 641 8.66 -6.59 $331.36
Liberal Jonathan Thiessen 351 4.74 -3.19 $340.30
Green Janine G. Gibson 268 3.62 1.42 $421.15
Total valid votes 7,404 – –
Rejected 25 –
Eligible voters / turnout 14,863 49.98 7.99
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2007). Statement of Votes for the 39th Provincial General Election, May 22, 2007 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.
2003 Manitoba general election: Steinbach
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Kelvin Goertzen 4,284 74.63 -3.49 $24,714.92
New Democratic Bonnie Schmidt 875 15.24 2.79 $341.35
Liberal Monica Guetre 455 7.93 -1.49 $3,465.33
Green Connie Jantz 126 2.20 – $74.58
Total valid votes 5,740 – –
Rejected 41 –
Eligible voters / turnout 13,768 41.99 -15.52
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2003). Statement of Votes for the 38th Provincial General Election, June 3, 2003 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

References

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  1. ^ "MLA Biographies - Living". Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
  2. ^ "Kelvin Goertzen named as interim leader of Manitoba PCs, to become premier-designate". 31 August 2021.
  3. ^ Unger, Danton (1 September 2021). "Manitoba's new premier not moving forward with Bill 64 this fall". CTV News. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Province of Manitoba | News Releases | Premier Stefanson's Agenda to be Unveiled in Speech from the Throne". Province of Manitoba. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b Guide Parlementaire Canadien. 1972. ISBN 9781592373109.
  6. ^ "There's A New Book In Town - Steinbachonline.com". Steinbachonline.com. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  7. ^ "A look at the men and women who make up Manitoba's new Tory cabinet". Brandon Sun. 3 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen questioned over speech at anti-abortion rally | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  9. ^ Grabish, Austin (4 September 2020). "Manitoba's education minister under fire for comments on right to refuse vaccines in midst of pandemic". CBC News. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Summary of Votes Received" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  11. ^ "CANDIDATE ELECTION RETURNS GENERAL ELECTION 2023". Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  12. ^ "2023 GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE AND REGISTERED PARTY ELECTION EXPENSE LIMITS - FINAL EXPENSE LIMIT" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
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