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Steve Ashton

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Steve Ashton
Manitoba Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation
In office
April 9, 2015 – May 3, 2016
PremierGreg Selinger
Preceded byRon Kostyshyn
Succeeded byBlaine Pedersen
In office
November 3, 2009 – December 22, 2014
PremierGreg Selinger
Preceded byRon Lemieux
Succeeded byRon Kostyshyn
Manitoba Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
In office
September 21, 2006 – September 14, 2009
PremierGary Doer
Preceded byScott Smith
Succeeded byRon Lemieux
Manitoba Minister of Water Stewardship
In office
November 4, 2003 – September 21, 2006
PremierGary Doer
Preceded bynew portfolio
Succeeded byChristine Melnick
Manitoba Minister of Labour and Immigration
In office
June 25, 2003 – November 4, 2003
PremierGary Doer
Preceded byBecky Barrett
Succeeded byNancy Allan
Manitoba Minister of Conservation
In office
September 25, 2002 – November 4, 2003
PremierGary Doer
Preceded byOscar Lathlin
Succeeded byStan Struthers
Manitoba Minister of Transportation and Government Services
In office
January 17, 2001 – September 25, 2002
PremierGary Doer
Preceded bynew portfolio
Succeeded byScott Smith
Manitoba Minister of Highways and Government Services
In office
October 5, 1999 – January 17, 2001
PremierGary Doer
Preceded bynew portfolio
Succeeded bypoltfolio abolished
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Thompson
In office
November 17, 1981 – April 19, 2016
Preceded byKen MacMaster
Succeeded byKelly Bindle
President of the University of Manitoba Students' Union
In office
1978–1979
Personal details
Born
Steven John Ashton

(1956-02-29) February 29, 1956 (age 68)
Surrey, England
Political partyNew Democratic Party
SpouseHariklia Dimitrakopoulou-Ashton (1980–)
ChildrenNiki Ashton
Alexander Ashton
Alma materUniversity of Manitoba
Lakehead University

Steven John Ashton (born February 29, 1956) is a British-born Canadian politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a long-serving member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba,[1] and was a long-time cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party governments led by premiers Gary Doer and Greg Selinger.[2] He resigned from cabinet on December 22, 2014 to challenge Selinger for the leadership of the party. Ashton was eliminated from the race, after finishing last on the first ballot at the 2015 NDP leadership convention. Selinger was re-elected party leader on the second ballot. In 2017, Ashton ran for Manitoba NDP leader, losing to Wab Kinew, who became premier in 2023.[3][4]

Early life

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Ashton was born in Surrey, England, the son of John Stewart Ashton and Nedra May Childs.[5] His father was born in Wales.[6] He moved with his family, including his brothers Martin and Alan,[6] to Thompson, in northern Manitoba, at age eleven. He was educated at R. D. Parker Collegiate in that community, the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, and Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He was President of the University of Manitoba Students' Union in 1978–79 and has lectured in Economics for the former Inter Universities North in Thompson and Cross Lake.[1]

Political career

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Ashton was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1981 provincial election, defeating Progressive Conservative incumbent Ken MacMaster by 72 votes in the constituency of Thompson. At the time of his first election, Ashton was involved in an INCO strike in the Thompson area as a member of the United Steelworkers of America; he was also the second youngest person ever elected to the Manitoba legislature at the time. He was re-elected in the 1986 election by a greater margin. Ashton did not serve in the cabinet of Howard Pawley.[7]

The NDP were defeated in the provincial election of 1988, although Ashton won his own riding by a comfortable margin. He would later serve as House Leader for the NDP in opposition, and was easily re-elected in the provincial elections of 1990, 1995 and 1999.[7] In 1995, he supported Lorne Nystrom's bid to lead the federal New Democratic Party.

Cabinet

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When NDP leader Gary Doer became Premier of Manitoba in October 1999, Ashton was appointed Minister of Highways and Government Services. On July 4, 2000, he was charged with administration of the Gaming Control Act; his ministry was renamed as Transportation and Government Services on January 17, 2001. Following a cabinet shuffle on September 25, 2002, Ashton became Minister of Conservation (in which capacity he argued for national approval of the Kyoto Accord on climate change). On June 25, 2003, he was also made Minister of Labour and Immigration with responsibility for Multiculturalism and administration of the Worker's Compensation Act.[2]

In 2003, Ashton supported Bill Blaikie's campaign to become leader of the federal NDP.

Ashton was re-elected in the 2003 election with over 82% of the vote in his constituency. On November 4, 2003, he was named as the minister in charge of Manitoba Water Stewardship,[2] a department created after highly publicized water contamination tragedies in Walkerton, Ontario and North Battleford, Saskatchewan.

Ashton was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election and in September 2007 he was appointed Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Organization.[2]

On September 4, 2009, Ashton announced his candidacy to succeed Gary Doer as leader of the Manitoba NDP in the 2009 leadership election and ran on a platform advocating the party's return to its social justice and labour roots.[7][8] Ashton placed second behind Greg Selinger with 34.2% of the vote.[9][10]

Upon Greg Selinger's election as premier, Ashton was made Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, with the added responsibilities of Emergency Measures and the administration of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act. He also became the lead minister for Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure programs.[2]

Ashton resigned from cabinet on December 22, 2014 to challenge Selinger in the 2015 Manitoba NDP leadership election, at which he was unsuccessful.[11]

He returned to cabinet in April 2015 as Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation and Minister responsible for emergency measures.[2]

After thirty-four and a half years as an MLA, Ashton lost his seat to Progressive Conservative candidate Kelly Bindle in the April 19, 2016, provincial election.[12]

In 2017, Ashton ran for Manitoba NDP leader, losing to Wab Kinew.

Personal life

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In 1979, Ashton married Hariklia[5] "Hari" Dimitrakopoulou, and the couple have two children.[1] His daughter, Niki, is also a politician and is the federal NDP Member of Parliament for the riding of Churchill—Keewatinook Aski,[13] while his son Alexander was elected chairman of the board of trustees for the School District of Mystery Lake.[14] Ashton is also Secretary of the Canadian Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles, seeking the return of the treasured sculptures from Britain to Greece. He speaks Greek, and has written on the political culture of that nation.[7]

Electoral results

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2017 leadership convention

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Candidate Votes %
Wab Kinew 728 74.3
Steve Ashton 253 25.7
Total Valid Votes 981 100.00

2015 leadership convention

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First ballot

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Candidate Votes %
Greg Selinger 612 36.02
Theresa Oswald 575 33.84
Steve Ashton 502 29.54
Total Valid Votes 1,699 100.00

Ashton eliminated. Releases his delegates, did not publicly endorse another candidate[15]

2009 leadership convention

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2009 New Democratic Party of Manitoba leadership election
Candidate Votes Percentage
Greg Selinger 1,317 65.75%
Steve Ashton 685 34.20%
Spoiled ballots 1 0.05%
Total 2,003 100.00%

Provincial results

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2016 Manitoba general election: Thompson
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Kelly Bindle 1,712 44.16 15.86 $11,544.03
New Democratic Steve Ashton 1,527 39.39 -29.14 $17,980.87
Liberal Inez Vystrcil-Spence 638 16.46 13.28 $7,318.95
Total valid votes/expense limit 3,877 99.13   $32,545.00
Total rejected ballots 34 0.87 0.39
Turnout 3,911 37.36 0.64
Eligible voters 10,469
Progressive Conservative gain from New Democratic Swing 22.50
Source: Elections Manitoba[16]
2011 Manitoba general election: Thompson
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Steve Ashton 2,586 68.52 −5.38 $11,696.80
Progressive Conservative Anita Campbell 1,068 28.30 18.17 $16,809.87
Liberal Ken Dillen 120 3.18 −12.79 $462.91
Total valid votes 3,774 99.53
Rejected and declined votes 18 0.47 -0.15
Turnout 3,792 36.72 −3.10
Registered voters 10,328
New Democratic hold Swing -11.78
2007 Manitoba general election: Thompson
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Steve Ashton 3,036 73.90 -8.83 $9,356.43
Liberal Kenny Braun 656 15.97 12.07 $7,377.03
Progressive Conservative Cory Phillips 416 10.13 -3.25 $688.99
Total valid votes 4,108 99.37
Rejected and declined votes 26 0.63 -0.05
Turnout 4,134 39.82 2.28
Registered voters 10,382
New Democratic hold Swing -10.45

[17]

2003 Manitoba general election: Thompson
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Steve Ashton 3,291 $9,804.99
Progressive Conservative Bill Archer 532 $2,448.27
Liberal Myrle Traverse 155 $627.36
Total valid votes/Expense limit 100.0   $
Eligible voters –
Source: Elections Manitoba[18][19]
1999 Manitoba general election: Thompson
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Steve Ashton 3,793 70.99 9.29 $7,846.00
Progressive Conservative Cecil Thorne 1,306 24.44 1.94 $20,487.52
Liberal Pascal Bighetty 244 4.57 -11.22 $2,661.92
Total valid votes 5,343 99.42
Rejected and declined votes 31 0.58 0.25
Turnout 5,374 54.40 −0.47
Registered voters 9,879
New Democratic hold Swing 3.67

[20]

1995 Manitoba general election: Thompson
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Steve Ashton 3,619 61.71 1.78
  Progressive Conservative Chuck Shabe 1,320 22.51 -7.36
Liberal Tim Johnston 926 15.79 5.57
Total valid votes 5,865 100.00
Rejected votes 19
Turnout 5,884 54.87
Registered voters 10,724
Source: Elections Manitoba[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Steven Ashton". Alumni Awards. Lakehead University. 2011. Archived from the original on 2014-03-14. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "MLA Biographies - Living". Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  3. ^ "Steve Ashton jumps into Manitoba NDP leadership race | CBC News".
  4. ^ "Manitoba's NDP chooses Wab Kinew as new leader". CBC News. 2017-09-17. Archived from the original on 2023-01-17.
  5. ^ a b Normandin, Pierre G (1984). Canadian Parliamentary Guide.
  6. ^ a b "Ashton, John - Obituaries". Winnipeg Free Press. 2018-07-06.
  7. ^ a b c d "Steve Ashton: Manitoba's longest-serving MLA since 1981 resigns from cabinet to seek premiership". Thompson Citizen. September 9, 2009. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  8. ^ "Minister Steve Ashton resigns, says he will seek leadership of Manitoba NDP". Prince George Citizen. December 22, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  9. ^ "Selinger picked as Manitoba's next NDP premier". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 17, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  10. ^ Welch, Mary Agnes (October 17, 2009). "Selinger wins NDP leadership race". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  11. ^ "BREAKING: Steve Ashton enters Manitoba NDP leadership rac". Global News. December 22, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  12. ^ "Former MLA Steve Ashton says he will support the NDP as he has in every election since joining party". 29 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Steve Ashton". Lakehead Alumni. Lakehead University. Archived from the original on 2014-03-14. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  14. ^ "Alexander Ashton defeats Leslie Tucker to become new school board chair". Barker, John. The Thompson Citizen. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
  15. ^ "Manitoba Premier Selinger leads after first ballot in NDP leadership vote". Globe and Mail. March 8, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  16. ^ "2016 Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Thompson — Official Results — 2007 Provincial Election". Archived from the original on 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2010-11-25. - 2007 results
  18. ^ "Election Returns: 38th General Election". Elections Manitoba. 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  19. ^ "Thompson — Official Results — 2003 Provincial Election". Archived from the original on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
  20. ^ "Summary of Results - 1999 General Election". Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2010-08-10. - 1999 Results
  21. ^ "Election Returns: 36th General Election" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. 1995. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
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