Peter Bjornson

Peter Bjornson is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a cabinet minister in the NDP government of Premier Greg Selinger.

Peter Bjornson
Minister of Education and Advanced Learning
In office November 3, 2014 – April 29, 2015
Premier	Greg Selinger
Preceded by	James Allum
Succeeded by	James Allum
Manitoba Minister of Housing and Community Development
In office October 18, 2013 – November 3, 2014
Premier	Greg Selinger
Preceded by	Kerri Irvin-Ross
Succeeded by	Kerri Irvin-Ross
Minister of Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade
In office November 3, 2009 – October 18, 2013
Premier	Greg Selinger
Preceded by	Andrew Swan
Succeeded by	Theresa Oswald
Minister of Education, Citizenship and Youth
In office November 4, 2003 – November 3, 2009
Premier	Gary Doer Greg Selinger
Preceded by	Ron Lemieux
Succeeded by	Nancy Allan
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Gimli
In office June 3, 2003 – August 7, 2015
Preceded by	Ed Helwer
Succeeded by	Jeff Wharton
Personal details
Political party	New Democratic Party

Bjornson has lived for his entire life in the community of Gimli, Manitoba. He worked as a teacher before entering politics, and has extensive experience in local community service. Bjornson received a Governor General's Award for excellence in teaching Canadian history in 2000, and a Prime Minister's Medal in 2001. He also served as a town councillor in Gimli between 1988 and 2002.

Bjornson was one of the new MLAs in the New Democratic Party caucus following the party's provincial election victory in 2003. He was elected in the riding of Gimli, which had been won by the Progressive Conservatives in the election of 1999. With the incumbent MLA retiring, Bjornson defeated Tory candidate by 5500 votes to 3651.

After the election, Bjornson was appointed as Manitoba's Minister of Education, Citizenship and Youth. In November 2009, he became Minister of Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade under Premier Selinger.

He was re-elected in the 2007 and 2011 provincial elections.