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Ron Schuler

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Ron Schuler
Schuler in 2017
Minister of Infrastructure
In office
August 17, 2017 – December 30, 2021
PremierBrian Pallister
Kelvin Goertzen
Heather Stefanson
Preceded byBlaine Pedersen
Succeeded byReg Helwer
Minister of Crown Services
In office
May 3, 2016 – August 17, 2017
PremierBrian Pallister
Preceded byGreg Dewar
Succeeded byCliff Cullen
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Springfield-Ritchot
Springfield (1999–2011)
St. Paul (2011–2019)
Assumed office
September 21, 1999
Preceded byGlen Findlay
Personal details
Born (1963-02-12) February 12, 1963 (age 61)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative

Ronald Reinhold Schuler is a Canadian politician. He is currently a member of the Manitoba Legislature and a representative of the Progressive Conservative Party (PCs). He was first elected in the 1999 provincial election. and was re-elected in the 2003, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2019 and 2023 elections.

After the PCs won control of the Manitoba government in the 2016 election, Premier of Manitoba Brian Pallister appointed Schuler Minister of Crown Services. On August 17, 2017 he was named Minister of Infrastructure. On December 30, 2021, Premier Heather Stefanson removed Schuler from cabinet for persistently refusing to reveal whether he was vaccinated against COVID-19.[1]

Personal life and education

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Schuler was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He attended John M. King Elementary School, before moving to Benton Harbor, Michigan, where he attended Millburg Elementary School in Berrien County. In 1976, he moved back to Winnipeg, where he attended Elmwood Junior High and graduated from Elmwood High School in 1981. He is the youngest son of Wanda and Reinhold Schuler, with four sisters and one brother.[2]

Schuler obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba in 1987, with a major in international relations and a minor in sociology. He was a junior executive at the T. Eaton Company from 1979 to 1984. Schuler went on to become a small business owner, co-owning Christmas Traditions, Espresso Junction Inc., and Gingerbread World Inc. He also served as Chair of the Manitoba Intercultural Council from 1991 to 1993.[2]

School board service

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On October 25, 1995, Schuler began his political career when he was elected as a school trustee for Ward Three in the River East School Division.

1995 River East School Division Ward Three school trustee results

Candidate Total Votes Result
Ron Schuler 5745 Elected
Brian Olynik 4525 Elected
Peter Kotyk 3957 Elected
Bill Dueck 3726
Leni Hamm-Lousier 2591

[3]

In his first term on the River East School Board, Schuler served as Chairman of the Education and Policy Committee. He advocated a zero violence tolerance policy on issues affecting the safety of students and staff. Schuler strongly supported increased technology funding and division-wide upgrades to classroom computers and also strongly supported heritage language programs offered in the divisions.[2]

He was re-elected on October 28 as a school trustee for the River East School Division, Ward Three in the 1998 election. Schuler’s re-election led him to being appointed to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees in November 1998. He resigned from his position as school trustee on September 23, 1999 to pursue his career in provincial politics with the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba.[2]

1998 River East School Division Ward Three school trustee results

Candidate Total Votes Result
Ron Schuler 5772 Elected
Peter Kotyk 5173 Elected
Brian Olynik 5136 Elected
Con Lynch 4416
Al Penner 4005

[4]

Legislative service

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Schuler was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in the provincial election held on September 21, 1999, defeating New Democrat Leonard Kimakovich by 4969 votes to 4058 in the constituency of Springfield.


1999 Manitoba general election: Springfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Ron Schuler 4,969 49.69 -2.46 $25,718.76
New Democratic Leonard Kimacovich 4,058 40.58 5.50 $26,227.00
Liberal Patricia Aitken 771 7.71 -4.28 $13,962.00
Manitoba Roger Woloshyn 203 2.03 $2,703.08
Total valid votes 10,001
Rejected 44
Eligible voters / turnout 13,026 77.12 -0.29
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.

[5]

During Schuler’s first term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Gary Filmon, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, appointed Schuler as the PC Caucus Labour & Immigration Critic.[2]

The voters of Springfield re-elected Schuler as their MLA on June 3, 2003 by a much greater margin, though the PCs incurred a net loss of four seats across Manitoba. Stuart Murray appointed Schuler as the PC Caucus Critic for Energy, Science and Technology, and the Chief Critic for the Kyoto Accord, the Civil Service Commission, and Lotteries and Gaming.[2]

2003 Manitoba provincial election: Springfield

Candidate Name Party Votes
Ron Schuler PC 4,917 – 60.3%
Georgine Spooner NDP 2,512 – 30.8%
Vince Boileau Lib 682 – 8.9%
rejected 20
declined 14
total votes cast 8,145
registered voters 14,599
turnout 55.79%

[6]

On February 24, 2006, Schuler announced that he would seek the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba. Hugh McFadyen won the leadership election on April 29, 2006.

2006 Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba leadership election

Candidate Votes Votes Vote %
Hugh McFadyen 6,091 67%
Ron Schuler 1,953 21%
Ken Waddell 1099 12%

[7]

For a third consecutive term, Schuler was re-elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Springfield on May 22, 2007.


2007 Manitoba general election: Springfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Ron Schuler 5,165 58.46 -2.16 $25,538.14
New Democratic Ernest Muswagon 2,656 30.06 -0.91 $7,505.06
Liberal James Johnston 1,014 11.48 3.07 $4,606.05
Total valid votes 8,835
Rejected 46
Eligible voters / turnout 15,641 56.78 0.99
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.

[8]

In September 2007, Schuler was appointed Critic for Education, Citizenship and Youth, as well as Caucus Whip by Leader Hugh McFadyen. As of February 4, 2010, Schuler is the Critic for Housing and Community Development and Sports.

Schuler held several critic portfolios during his time in Opposition, including Labour and Immigration, Energy, Science and Technology, Kyoto Accord, the Civil Service Commission, Lotteries and Gaming, Education, Citizenship & Youth, Community Economic Development Fund, Housing and Community Development and Sports, as well as Caucus Whip.[9]

Schuler was re-nominated to represent the Progressive Conservative Party in the 2011 Manitoba provincial election, held on October 4, in the newly created constituency of St. Paul and won re-election.[2]


2011 Manitoba general election: St. Paul
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Ron Schuler 5,554 59.59 $31,993.34
New Democratic Cynthia Ryan 3,491 37.45 $18,456.72
Liberal Ludolf R. Grolle 276 2.96 $462.91
Total valid votes 9,321
Rejected 48
Eligible voters / turnout 16,075 58.28
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.
2016 Manitoba general election: St. Paul
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Ron Schuler 7,091 71.60 12.02 $26,021.09
New Democratic Andrew Podolecki 1,757 17.74 -19.71 $5,710.34
Liberal Pete Sanderson 1,055 10.65 7.69 $8,519.18
Total valid votes 9,903
Rejected 203
Eligible voters / Turnout 16,536 61.12 2.83
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.
2019 Manitoba general election: Springfield-Ritchot
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Ron Schuler 5,670 59.48 -7.2 $44,481.26
New Democratic Sam Okoi 1,982 20.79 +5.6 $1,451.32
Green Garrett Hawgood 1,066 11.18 +10.1 $672.14
Liberal Sara Mirwaldt 814 8.54 -6.3 $0.00
Total valid votes 9,532
Rejected 50
Eligible voters / Turnout 15,822 60.56
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -6.4
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.
2023 Manitoba general election: Springfield-Ritchot
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Ron Schuler 5,752 54.89 -4.59 $32,727.68
New Democratic Tammy Ivanco 3,827 36.52 +15.73 $5,175.20
Liberal Trevor Kirczenow 900 8.59 +0.05 $285.00
Total valid votes/Expense limit 10,479 99.37 $70,572.00
Total rejected and declined ballots 66 0.63
Turnout 10,545 58.30 -2.27
Eligible voters 18,089
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -10.16

References

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