From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ronald Turner
Ronald Turner
Ronald David Turner (August 19, 1915 in Carman, Man- mum commensurate with the provision of a satisfactory
itoba – 1965) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He level of essential services." (Winnipeg Free Press, 28 April
served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1946 1953).
to 1956, and was a cabinet minister in the government of While a conservative and cautious administrator in
Douglas Campbell. most respects, Turner played a leading role in establish-
Turner was educated at the University of Manitoba ing the Manitoba Hydro-electric Board in 1953, at a cost
and the Manitoba Law School. He practiced as a barrister- of $54,600,000. The Hydro-Electric Board later became
at-law, and became a Queen’s Counsel in 1955. one of the most powerful public agencies in Canada.
During World War II, Turner served in the Royal Many believed Turner would eventually replace
Canadian Air Force from 1939 to 1945. In 1946, he was Campbell as leader of the Liberal-Progressive Party, but
elected to the Manitoba legislature as a special repre- this did not occur. He resigned from cabinet on July 6,
sentative of Manitobans serving overseas in the RCAF. 1956 to become president of Transair, an airline based
Although elected as an independent, he soon joined the in Winnipeg. He remained in the legislature as a back-
caucus of the governing Liberal-Progressive Party. bencher, but did not seek re-election in 1958. As a back-
He was re-elected in the 1949 provincial election, bencher, he opposed the CCF’s plan for comprehensive
winning the third position in the four-member con- social security.
stituency of Winnipeg South. On December 1, 1951, he Turner’s friends expected that he would eventually
was appointed to cabinet in the senior position of Provin- return to politics, either as provincial Liberal leader or as
cial Treasurer. a Member of Parliament for the federal Liberal Party. His
Turner was again re-elected in the 1953 provincial early death in 1965 came as a surprise to those who knew
election, topping the poll in Winnipeg South. He was by him.
this time the leading cabinet representative from Win- Persondata
nipeg, and received the additional portfolio of Railway
Name Turner, Ronald
Commissioner on January 18, 1954.
Turner was known as a skilled politician, and was de- Alternative names
scribed by CCF leader Lloyd Stinson as "undoubtedly the Short description Canadian politician
brightest front bench performer in the latter days of the Date of birth August 19, 1915
Campbell regime". He was known as both a civil liberal
Place of birth
and a fiscal conservative. Just prior to the 1953 provincial
election, he summarizing his political philosophy with Date of death 1965
the following statement: "The government is of the belief Place of death
that the cost of government should be held to the mini-
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ronald_Turner&oldid=468268082"
Categories:
• 1915 births
• 1965 deaths
• Independent MLAs in Manitoba
• People from Carman, Manitoba
• Members of the Executive Council of Manitoba
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