Events in Manitoba History: Manitoba Provincial Election (1981)

Link to:
Provincial General Election (1977) | Provincial General Election (1986) | All Provincial Elections

The Manitoba general election of 1981 was held on 17 November. The results were as follows:

Party

Leader

Votes

Seats

New Democratic

Howard Russell Pawley (1934-2015)

228,784

34

Progressive Conservative

Sterling Rufus Lyon (1927-2010)

211,602

23

Liberal

Doug Lauchlan

32,373

0

Manitoba Progressive

Sidney “Sid” Green

8,731

0

Independent

-

1,141

0

Communist

Paula Fletcher

261

0

Totals

482,892

57

The voting results for individual constituencies were as follows:

Constituency

Candidate

Party

Votes

Arthur

James Erwin “Jim” Downey

Progressive Conservative

5,468

Earl Sterling

New Democratic

1,772

Assiniboia

Rurik “Ric” Nordman (1919-1996)

Progressive Conservative

4,006

Max Melnyk

New Democratic

2,822

Peter Moss

Liberal

817

Fran Huck

Manitoba Progressive

378

Brandon East

Leonard Salusbury “Len” Evans (1929-2016)

New Democratic

4,941

Garry Nowazek

Progressive Conservative

2,626

Margaret Workman

Liberal

512

Brandon West

Henry Nelson Carroll (1937-2015)

New Democratic

5,069

John Allen

Progressive Conservative

4,634

David Campbell

Liberal

547

Burrows

Conrado De Regla “Conrad” Santos (1934-2016)

New Democratic

4,890

Mary Shore

Progressive Conservative

1,384

Ben Hanuschak

Manitoba Progressive

728

Wayne Anderson

Liberal

617

Paula Fletcher

Communist

144

Charleswood

Sterling Rufus Lyon (1927-2010)

Progressive Conservative

6,334

Toni Vosters

New Democratic

3,243

Ken Brown

Liberal

969

Demetre Mastoris

Manitoba Progressive

231

Churchill

Jay Marine Cowan (1946-2022)

New Democratic

2,247

Mark Ingebrigtson

Progressive Conservative

883

Andrew Kirkness

Liberal

266

Doug MacLachlan

Manitoba Progressive

85

Crescentwood

Peter Fox (1921-1989)

New Democratic

5,333

Scotty McVicar

Progressive Conservative

2,586

Gail Ellen Stapon (1936-2015)

Liberal

309

Josephine Young

Manitoba Progressive

306

Bob Fraser

Independent

221

Dauphin

John Plohman

New Democratic

4,680

James Gordon “Jim” Galbraith

Progressive Conservative

4,044

Bob Hawkins

Liberal

1,049

Ellice

Brian Mark Corrin

New Democratic

4,233

Gavin Scott

Progressive Conservative

1,712

Rod Cantiveros

Liberal

782

Adam Klym

Manitoba Progressive

222

Bart Monaco

Independent

56

Elmwood

Russell John “Russ” Doern (1935-1987)

New Democratic

5,140

Eveline Holtmann

Progressive Conservative

1,910

Eric Wood

Liberal

347

Curtis Bloodworth

Manitoba Progressive

181

Emerson

Albert Driedger (1936-2011)

Progressive Conservative

4,376

Paul Dupuis

New Democratic

4,020

Steven Zaretski

Liberal

308

Jack Thiessen

Manitoba Progressive

116

Flin Flon

Jerry Storie

New Democratic

3,557

Bob McNeil

Progressive Conservative

2,126

Fort Garry

Louis Ralph “Bud” Sherman (1926-2015)

Progressive Conservative

6,227

Hans Wittich

New Democratic

3,705

Lil Haus

Liberal

1,042

James Goodridge

Manitoba Progressive

203

Fort Rouge

Roland Penner (1924-2018)

New Democratic

4,342

Perry Schulman

Progressive Conservative

2,843

June Alwyn Westbury (1921-2004)

Liberal

2,415

Joseph Russell “Bud” Boyce (1924-1984)

Manitoba Progressive

143

Gimli

John M. Bucklaschuk

New Democratic

4,825

Keith Alan Cosens (1932-1990)

Progressive Conservative

3,995

Allan Chambers

Liberal

276

Pat Bazan

Manitoba Progressive

127

Gladstone

Charlotte Louise Kingdon Oleson (1932-2017)

Progressive Conservative

4,447

Irvin Joel

New Democratic

1,650

Alex Suderman

Liberal

737

Inkster

Don Scott

New Democratic

6,283

Bill Dueck

Progressive Conservative

1,561

Sidney “Sid” Green

Manitoba Progressive

783

Myroslaw Tracz

Liberal

364

Interlake

William “Bill” Uruski

New Democratic

4,599

Neil Dueck

Progressive Conservative

2,181

Bob Lundale

Liberal

372

Kildonan

Mary Elisabeth Brugger Dolin (1936-1985)

New Democratic

6,794

Ken Galanchuk

Progressive Conservative

4,478

Alex Berkowits

Liberal

755

Dan Tokarz

Manitoba Progressive

300

Kirkfield Park

Geraldine Rose “Gerrie” Hammond (?-1992)

Progressive Conservative

6,443

Lee Monk

New Democratic

3,551

Lac du Bonnet

Samuel “Sam” Uskiw (1933-2011)

New Democratic

4,682

Berton Trainor

Progressive Conservative

2,809

Lakeside

Harry John Enns (1931-2010)

Progressive Conservative

5,055

Larry Verner Moldowan (1940-2013)

New Democratic

2,630

Bill Ridgeway

Liberal

592

Hugh McCaw

Manitoba Progressive

107

La Verendrye

Bob Banman

Progressive Conservative

4,418

Jim Henry

New Democratic

1,149

Alphonse Fornier

Manitoba Progressive

704

Logan

Maureen Lucille Hemphill

New Democratic

3,759

Stephen H. “Steve” Juba (1914-1993)

Independent

700

Aurèle J. LeClaire (1963-2020)

Progressive Conservative

659

Art Potvin

Manitoba Progressive

103

Minnedosa

David Blake

Progressive Conservative

4,160

Gary Grant

New Democratic

3,397

Morris

Clayton Manness

Progressive Conservative

4,579

Peter Francis

New Democratic

1,821

Niakwa

Abe Kovnats (1928-1996)

Progressive Conservative

5,432

Lloyd Schreyer

New Democratic

4,736

Douglas Biggs

Liberal

1,345

Osborne

Muriel Ann Lipsey Smith

New Democratic

5,371

Ben Lindsey

Progressive Conservative

2,726

Fraser Dunford

Liberal

1,262

George Buss

Manitoba Progressive

165

Pembina

Donald Warder “Don” Orchard

Progressive Conservative

6,361

Jeff Taylor

New Democratic

862

Ken Popkes

Liberal

696

John Brooks

Manitoba Progressive

274

Portage la Prairie

Lloyd George “Jiggs” Hyde (1920-1985)

Progressive Conservative

3,620

Audrey Tufford

New Democratic

2,413

Hugh Moran

Liberal

1,601

Radisson

Gerard Lecuyer

New Democratic

6,108

George Provost

Progressive Conservative

2,566

Joel Morassutti

Manitoba Progressive

376

Rhineland

Arnold Brown

Progressive Conservative

4,116

Ralph William Eisbrenner (1918-2012)

New Democratic

1,181

Jacob M. “Jake” Froese (1917-2003)

Manitoba Progressive

349

Riel

Doreen Dodick

New Democratic

4,362

Donald William Craik (1931-1985)

Progressive Conservative

4,120

John Karasevich

Liberal

1,087

Dino Kostis

Manitoba Progressive

98

River East

Phil Eyler

New Democratic

5,949

Harold Piercy

Progressive Conservative

5,903

Shirley Wolechuk

Liberal

259

Lindsay Ulrich

Manitoba Progressive

177

River Heights

Warren J. Steen (1940-2009)

Progressive Conservative

4,905

David McNichol Sanders (1947-2016)

New Democratic

3,217

Jay Prober

Liberal

2,526

Janet Lundman

Manitoba Progressive

142

Roblin-Russell

James Wallace “Wally” McKenzie (1914-1999)

Progressive Conservative

4,508

Zane Wonitoway

New Democratic

3,673

Rossmere

Vic Schroeder

New Democratic

5,776

Ian Sutherland

Progressive Conservative

4,293

Bill deJong

Liberal

389

Merv Unger

Manitoba Progressive

142

Rupertsland

Elijah Harper (1949-2013)

New Democratic

3,032

Allan Ross

Liberal

1,004

Nelson Scribe

Progressive Conservative

272

Frances Thompson

Manitoba Progressive

56

St. Boniface

Laurent Louis “Larry” Desjardins (1923-2012)

New Democratic

5,844

Guy Marcel Savoie (1934-2023)

Liberal

1,925

Wes Rowson

Progressive Conservative

1,346

Don Forsyth

Manitoba Progressive

106

St. James

Alvin H. "Al" Mackling

New Democratic

5,376

Clement George Minaker (1937-2012)

Progressive Conservative

4,597

Harvey Norbas

Manitoba Progressive

180

St. Johns

Donald Marto Malinowski (1924-2003)

New Democratic

4,004

Don Cilinsky

Progressive Conservative

1,785

Henry Kozlowski

Liberal

674

Bernie Bellan

Manitoba Progressive

446

William Cecil Ross (c1911-1998)

Communist

117

St. Norbert

Gerald W. Mercier

Progressive Conservative

5,728

Ruth Pear

New Democratic

3,826

Grant Temple

Liberal

857

Allan Yap

Manitoba Progressive

216

Ste. Rose

Aimé Rawleigh “Pete” Adam (1913-2009)

New Democratic

4,031

Ivan Llewellyn Traill (1932-2022)

Progressive Conservative

3,823

Valerie Wilson

Manitoba Progressive

194

St. Vital

Derek James “Jim” Walding (1937-2007)

New Democratic

5,504

John Robertson

Progressive Conservative

4,236

Gord Patterson

Liberal

684

Selkirk

Howard Russell Pawley (1934-2015)

New Democratic

5,626

Eugene Kinaschuk

Progressive Conservative

3,020

Max Hofford

Manitoba Progressive

131

Seven Oaks

Eugene Michael Kostyra (1947-2020)

New Democratic

6,127

Al Christie

Progressive Conservative

2,179

Wayne Glowacki

Liberal

486

Morley Golden

Manitoba Progressive

367

Springfield

Andy Anstett

New Democratic

5,303

Bob Anderson

Progressive Conservative

4,833

Peter Sanderson

Liberal

327

Dennis Sweatman

Manitoba Progressive

113

Sturgeon Creek

John Franklin “Frank” Johnston (1929-2017)

Progressive Conservative

5,546

Robert Adams

New Democratic

3,253

John Epp

Liberal

732

Swan River

Douglas MacLeod “Doug” Gourlay

Progressive Conservative

3,884

Leonard Harapiak

New Democratic

3,615

George Simpson

Manitoba Progressive

138

The Pas

Harry Myrislaw Harapiak (1938-2000)

New Democratic

4,236

Percy Pielak

Progressive Conservative

1,303

Laverne Jaeb

Liberal

509

Thompson

Steve Ashton

New Democratic

2,890

Ken MacMaster

Progressive Conservative

2,818

Cy Hennessey

Liberal

138

Transcona

Wilson Parasiuk

New Democratic

6,013

Stephania Jo Lopuck (1923-2021)

Progressive Conservative

2,269

Albert Smaczylo

Manitoba Progressive

120

Turtle Mountain

Alan Brian Ransom (1940-2020)

Progressive Conservative

4,775

Joan Johannson

New Democratic

1,660

Bill Harrison

Independent

164

Tuxedo

Gary Albert Filmon

Progressive Conservative

6,731

Terri Gray

New Democratic

2,433

Bev McCaffrey

Liberal

1,257

Virden

Henry Edward “Harry” Graham (1921-2006)

Progressive Conservative

5,059

Maude Lelond

New Democratic

2,859

Wolseley

Myrna Phillips

New Democratic

4,370

Leonard Anthony “Len” Domino

Progressive Conservative

2,904

Doug Lauchlan

Liberal

1,539

Murdoch MacKay (1930-2023)

Manitoba Progressive

224

See also:

Events in Manitoba History: Manitoba Provincial By-Elections (1984-1985)

Memorable Manitobans: Members of the Thirty-Second Legislative Assembly of Manitoba (1982-1986)

Sources:

“Manitoba voters have spoken,” Winnipeg Free Press, 18 November 1981, page 18.

Obituary [Aurèle J. LeClaire], Winnipeg Free Press, 22 August 2020.

Historical Summaries, ElectionsManitoba.

Obituary [Stephania Jo Lopuck], Winnipeg Free Press, 20 March 2021.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 19 November 2023