About Preston Manning:
Preston Manning, the son of Alberta's longest serving premier Ernest Manning, founded two conservative federal political parties - the Reform Party and the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance or Canadian Alliance. Preston Manning was leader of the Reform Party for 13 years.
Since his retirement from politics, Preston Manning continues to be active writing and speaking about reforming Canadian politics through conservative principles, and has created The Manning Centre, a non-profit organization to support conservative research, training and communications.
Leader of the Reform Party of Canada:
1987-2000
Birth:
June 10, 1942 in Edmonton, Alberta
Education:
BA - University of Alberta
Profession:
Management consultant
Political Affiliation:
- Social Credit (1965-87)
- Reform Party (1987-2000)
- Canadian Alliance (2000-2002)
Riding:
Calgary Southwest
Political Career of Preston Manning:
- Preston Manning was a Social Credit candidate in Edmonton East in the federal election in 1965, but was defeated.
- The Reform Party was formed in 1987, advocating fiscal responsibility, provincial equality and parliamentary reform. Preston Manning was its first, and only, leader.
- In the 1988 general election, Preston Manning ran as a Reform Party candidate against former Prime Minister Joe Clark in Yellowhead, but was defeated. The Reform Party did not elect any MPs in the 1988 election.
- By 1993, the political scene in Canada had changed. Brian Mulroney left the Progressive Conservative Party in shreds, and only two Progressive Conservatives were elected. The Reform Party won a stunning 52 seats. Preston Manning won a seat in the House of Commons as the Reform Party MP for Calgary Southwest.
- In the 1997 federal election Preston Manning was re-elected and the Reform Party won 60 seats, making it the Official Opposition. All Reform Party MPs were from ridings west of Ontario.
- In 1998 Preston Manning began the United Alternative movement to merge the Reform Party with the Progressive Conservative Party. By 2000 the Canadian Alliance Party was created.
- Preston Manning resigned as Leader of the Official Opposition to run for the leadership of the new Canadian Alliance Party. He was defeated by Stockwell Day.
- Preston Manning was re-elected in the 2000 federal general election.
- In 2001, Preston Manning announced he was being treated for prostate cancer and he left politics in January 2002.
