Merv Tweed

Mervin C. Tweed
Member of Parliament for Brandon—Souris
In office
2004 – August 31, 2013
Preceded by Rick Borotsik
Succeeded by Larry Maguire
MLA for Turtle Mountain
In office
1995–2004
Preceded by Bob Rose
Succeeded by Cliff Cullen
Chair of the Standing Committee on
Agriculture
In office
25 September 2012 – 23 October 2013
Minister Gerry Ritz
Preceded by Larry Miller
Succeeded by Bev Shipley
Personal details
Born (1955-08-06) August 6, 1955
Medora, Manitoba
Political party Conservative
Residence Brandon, Manitoba
Profession Automobile dealer

Mervin C. Tweed, MP (born August 6, 1955 in Medora, Manitoba) is a retired politician in Manitoba, Canada. He represented Brandon—Souris in the House of Commons of Canada from 2004 to August 31, 2013. Prior to that he was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1995 to 2004, representing the constituency of Turtle Mountain.[1] He is currently the president of Omnitrax, the American rail company responsible for the Churchill rail line. Despite under contract for maintenance of the line, the company is attempting to sue the Canadian government, to not fulfill its obligations.

Tweed was born in Medora, Manitoba,[1] and was educated at Brandon University. He operated a used car dealership for seventeen years, and was for a time an executive member of the Killarney and Area Recreation Committee.

Municipal politician

Tweed began his political career in municipal politics, serving as a councillor in the rural municipality of Brenda for five years, and as deputy reeve for three.[1]

Provincial politician (1995-2004)

In 1995, he was elected to the Manitoba legislature as a Progressive Conservative in Turtle Mountain, a safe seat for the party. He served as a parliamentary assistant to a variety of ministers in the government of Premier Gary Filmon before being appointed Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism with responsibility for the Development Corporation Act on February 5, 1999.[2]

Tweed was easily re-elected in the 1999 provincial election, although the Progressive Conservatives were defeated at the provincial level by the New Democratic Party under Gary Doer. Tweed resigned his cabinet portfolio with the rest of the Filmon ministry.[2]

Despite the NDP's landmark election win of 2003, Tweed was again re-elected in Turtle Mountain without difficulty, receiving 3,956 votes against 1,893 for New Democrat Lonnie Patterson.

Federal politician (2004-2013)

When federal Conservative MP Rick Borotsik (Brandon—Souris), announced his retirement in 2004, Tweed resigned his provincial seat and won the Conservative nomination for the riding. He received 18,209 votes in the general election, against 8,522 for Liberal Murray Downing.[3]

Following the 2004 election, Tweed was named opposition critic for Western Economic Diversification by Conservative leader Stephen Harper. In April 2006, Tweed was elected chairperson of House of Commons of Canada's Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, a post he held until September 25, 2012 when he was elected chairperson of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food.[1] His resignation takes effect on August 31, 2013.[4] Tweed is now President of OmniTRAX Canada,[5] which operates, amongst others, the Port of Churchill.

Electoral record[3]

Canadian federal election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeMerv Tweed22,38663.7+6.6––
New DemocraticJean Luc Bouché8,84525.2+7.5––
GreenDave Barnes2,0125.7-10.1––
LiberalWes Penner1,8825.4-2.9––
Total valid votes/Expense limit 35,125100.0 –
Total rejected ballots 139 0.4+0.1
Turnout 35,264 58.4+2
Eligible voters 60,402 ––
Canadian federal election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeMerv Tweed19,55757.1+2.7$40,902
New DemocraticJean Luc Bouché6,02417.7-2.5$16,762
GreenDave Barnes5,40815.8+11.2$39,823
LiberalMartha Jo Willard2,8368.3-9.7$12,178
Christian HeritageJerome Dondo2920.9+0.1$728
CommunistLisa Gallagher1240.4+0.1$622
Total valid votes/Expense limit 34,275100.0 $85,829
Total rejected ballots 1120.3 -0.1
Turnout 34,38756-4
Canadian federal election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
Conservative(x)Merv Tweed20,24754.4+2.7$51,606
New DemocraticBob Senff7,52820.2+1.1$7,255
LiberalMurray Downing6,69618.0-6.2$20,605
GreenBrad Bird1,7074.6+1.0$15.50
IndependentMike Volek6111.6–$4,238
Christian HeritageColin Atkins2900.8-0.2$1,380
CommunistLisa Gallagher1200.30.0$295
Total valid votes 37,119100.0 –
Total rejected ballots 1380.4-0.1
Turnout 37,33760+4
Canadian federal election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeMerv Tweed18,20951.7-17.5$54,647
LiberalMurray Downing8,52224.2+6.4$26,903
New DemocraticMike Abbey6,74019.1+6.8$13,512
GreenDavid Kattenburg1,2643.6–$1,322
Christian HeritageColin Atkins3511.0+0.7$683
CommunistLisa Gallagher1180.3+0.1$665
Total valid votes 35,204100.0 –
Total rejected ballots 1940.5+0.2
Turnout 35,39856.2-10.8

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Merv Tweed – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. 1 2 "MLA Biographies - Living". Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  3. 1 2 "Brandon—Souris, Manitoba (1952 - )". History of Federal Ridings since 1867. Parliament of Canada.
  4. ↑ "Tory MP Merv Tweed quits to pursue 'private sector opportunities'". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  5. ↑ cbc.ca: "Manitoba MP quits, takes top job at rail company. Tory MP second in matter of weeks to resign in Manitoba" 12 Aug 2013
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