Honourable Bill Blaikie

Minister of Conservation
Minister responsible for Recycling and Environmental Education
Minister responsible for Climate Change
Minister responsible for Green Initiatives
Government House Leader

 

Biography

Bill was first elected as Member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly for the constituency of Elmwood on March 24, 2009.  On November 3, 2009 Premier Greg Selinger appointed Bill government house leader as well as Minister of Conservation and the Minister responsible for recycling, environmental education and climate change.

Bill was a Member of Parliament from 1979 to 2008, representing the Winnipeg riding of Elmwood—Transcona and its antecedents as a member of the New Democratic Party. While an M.P., Bill served in a number of critic roles including Environment, Health, Trade, and Foreign Affairs. He also served as NDP House Leader, Parliamentary Leader, and Deputy Leader. He was the Dean of the House of Commons from 2004 to 2008 and in 2006 he was appointed Deputy Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, the first New Democrat to serve in that position. In 2007, he was voted Parliamentarian of the Year in a poll of his peers conducted by Maclean’s Magazine.

Bill has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies from the University of Winnipeg, and a Master of Divinity from the Toronto School of Theology. He was ordained a minister in the United Church of Canada in 1978. He received an Honourary Doctor of Divinity from the University of Winnipeg in 2007, and also from Victoria University, Toronto, in 2009.

Bill and his wife Brenda were married in 1973 and have four children.