Home > John Harvard (politician)

Harvard was born in Glenboro , Manitoba, and was a broadcast journalist from 1957 to 1988. He worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for eighteen years, and was for many years the host of a popular call-in show in Winnipeg. Ironically, his predecessor as Lt. Governor was Peter M. Liba, who worked as a journalist for CBC's competitor CanWest.

Harvard was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1988 as a Liberal in the upscale riding of Winnipeg-St. James , defeating incumbent Progressive ConservativeProgressive Conservative Party of Canada Founded July 1, 1867 (nation's founding) Dissolved December 7, 2003Merged with CA into the Conservative Party Colours Blue (usu. w/ Red detailing) The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (PC) was a Canadian po George Minaker by 18695 votes to 16993 (in the previous election, the Liberal candidate had finished third). Harvard was a backbench member of the parliamentary opposition from 1988 to 19931993 is a common year starting on Friday and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003 Events January January 1 Czechoslovakia divides. Establishment of independent Slovakia and Czech Republic..

The Liberal Party won the 1993 federal election, and Harvard was easily re-elected in Winnipeg-St. James (receiving 21628 votes, against 8249 for his nearest competitor, ReformerFor the Reform Party that existed prior to Canadian Confederation see Reform Party (pre-Confederation Reform Party of Canada Founded October 31, 1987 Dissolved March 25, 2000 Into the Canadian Alliance Colours Green The Reform Party of Canada was a conser Peter Blumenschein ). He was not appointed to cabinet, but was named Parliamentary SecretaryIn the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to appoint parliamentary secretaries (in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, "parliamentary assistants") from their caucu to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services in 19961996 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty''. Events January January 5 Hamas operative Yahya Ayyash is killed by an Israeli-planted booby-trapped cell phone Jan.

Harvard was again re-elected without difficulty in the federal election of 19971997 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Reef''. Events January January 3 NBC's Today Show Bryant Gumbel signs off for the last time January 8 Mister Rogers receives a star on t, running in the redistributed riding of Charleswood-Assiniboine . He became Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food after the election, but was dropped from the role entirely in 1998.

Harvard faced his most difficult election in 2000, narrowly defeating his Canadian Alliance challenger Cyril McFate by 13901 votes to 11569 ( Progressive Conservative Curtis Moore was third with 9991).

Harvard was for many years a supporter of Paul Martin for the Liberal Party's leadership, and it was perhaps for this reason that he was never called into the cabinet of Jean Chrétien. As early as 2000, Harvard publicly suggested that Chrétien should consider stepping down as party leader. When Martin became prime minister on December 12, 2003, Harvard was sworn in to the Privy Council as parliamentary secretary to the minister of international trade.

Harvard resigned his parliamentary seat on May 6, 2004. It is rumoured that this was done at the urging of Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray, who sought the Liberal candidacy for riding in the upcoming federal election of 2004. The next day, it was announced that Harvard would be appointed lieutenant-governor of Manitoba. He was officially sworn in on June 30. The appointment allowed Murray to contest the (renamed) riding of Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia in the federal election (unsuccessfully, as it turned out).

The position of Lt. Governor is largely ceremonial, and Harvard holds very little direct influence over the government of Manitoba.