Scott Smith (born 1959) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as New Democratic Party from 1999 to 2007, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Gary Doer.
Early life and career
Smith was born and raised in Brandon, Manitoba, and worked as a firefighter for twenty years before entering provincial politics. He was elected to the Brandon City Council in 1995, defeating an incumbent councillor in the city's seventh ward. He also ran for Mayor of Brandon in a by-election two years later, and finished third against Reg Atkinson in a close three-way contest. Smith continued to sit as a councillor during the mayoral campaign, and was re-elected without opposition in 1998.Wayne Langlois originally planned to challenge Smith, but withdrew from the contest before election day. "Who's running for council seats", Winnipeg Free Press, 15 September 1998, A9. While on council, he served as chair of Brandon's poverty task force, grants review committee and taxi review committee.Helen Fallding, "NDP voters want to know when social assistance will be increased", Winnipeg Free Press, 5 January 2000, A5;Meet Scott Smith , New Democratic Party of Manitoba, accessed 9 February 2007.
Member of the Legislative Assembly
Government backbencher
Smith was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1999 provincial election, defeating longtime Progressive Conservative MLA and sitting Minister of Education and Training James McCrae in the division of Brandon West.Helen Fallding, "McCrae the victim of Brandon's vote for change", Winnipeg Free Press, 22 September 1999, B2. The NDP won a majority government provincially, and Smith entered the legislature as a backbench supporter of Gary Doer's government. He served as Legislative Assistant to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Mines.
Cabinet minister
Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs
Smith was promoted to cabinet on January 17, 2001 as Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, with responsibility for administration of the Liquor Control Act. In this capacity, he defended his government's support for rent control over opposition from landlord groups.Sean O'Connor, "Landlord group spokesman accuses governments of wimping out when it comes to thorny issue", Winnipeg Free Press, 13 February 2001, A4. He increased the maximum rent increase from 1.5% to 2% for 2002,"Province OKs two per cent rent increase", Winnipeg Free Press, 31 August 2001, A7. but lowered it to 1% for 2003.David Kuxhaus, "Rent increases set at 1% for 2003", Winnipeg Free Press, 4 September 2002, A3.
In May 2002, Smith introduced legislation giving investors the right to seek financial compensation from advisers who mismanage funds through violations of the Manitoba Securities Act. Maximum compensation was set at $100,000. This legislation was the first of its kind in Canada.David Kuxhaus, "Law gives power to order restitution", Winnipeg Free Press, 28 May 2002, A4. Smith also introduced legislation to protect customers from negative option billing, and reformed provincial laws concerning reverse mortgages."Negative marketing out", Winnipeg Free Press, 10 May 2002, A8; David Kuxhaus, "New rules set for reverse mortgages", Winnipeg Free Press, 4 June 2002, A6.
Liquor Control Act
As Minister responsible for the Liquor Control Act, Smith indicated that his government would not expand the number of private wine stores in the province.Helen Fallding, "NDP sidesteps questions about private wine stores", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 March 2001, A11. He oversaw a tax break for Manitoba's microbrewery industry in April 2001, when the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission reduced its mark-up rates.David Kuxhaus, "NDP pours tax relief into microbreweries", Winnipeg Free Press, 19 April 2001, B7.
In June 2001, Smith announced that Manitoba's liquor laws would be reformed to allow liquor stores, beverage rooms, vendors and private clubs to open on Sundays. Municipalities were allowed to pass by-laws exempting themselves from the legislation.David Kuxhaus, "Sunday booze on tap", Winnipeg Free Press, 7 June 2001, A1. The bill was passed the following month, and came into effect in August. See "Sunday booze will flow Aug. 5", Winnipeg Free Press, 18 July 2001, A3. Due in part to extra revenue from this change, the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission's net profits increased by $4.7 million in the 2001-02 year.David Kuxhaus, "Sunday alcohol sales boost profits Manitoba", Winnipeg Free Press, 8 August 2002, A5.
Other responsibilities
Smith was appointed to the influential Treasury Board of cabinet on March 24, 2001, replacing Oscar Lathlin.Helen Fallding, "Doer removes Lathlin from Treasury Board", Winnipeg Free Press, 25 March 2001, A3. Following the September 11 attacks, he was appointed to an all-party task force on provincial security.Helen Fallding, "All parties get involved in strengthening security", Winnipeg Free Press, 5 October 2001, A3. In December 2001, he introduced steps to prevent the spread of false or forged birth certificates.Mia Rabson, "Province tightens rules for ID cards", Winnipeg Free Press, 6 December 2001, A17.
Minister of Transportation and Government Services
Premier Gary Doer shuffled his cabinet on September 25, 2002, and appointed Smith as Minister of Transportation and Government Services with responsibility for Emergency Measures and administration of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act.
Transportation
In October 2002, Smith instructed drivers of the province's fleet vehicles to purchase environmentally friendly ethanol fuel in areas where it was reasonably available. He said that the Doer government wanted to see ethanol made more widely available across the province, and hoped his decision would provide an incentive for retailers."Manitoba government angers fuel dealers with mandatory ethanol switch", Canadian Press, 11 October 2002, 20:52. Provincial ethanol purchases increased dramatically in the last three months of the year."Putting money where gas tank is ", Winnipeg Free Press, 17 March 2003, B3. Smith also unveiled two hybrid electric cars for the provincial fleet in December 2002, and said that he planned to double the number of environmentally friendly vehicles in provincial service.Helen Fallding, "Province adds hybrid cars to fleet", Winnipeg Free Press, 3 December 2002, A8; Mia Rabson, "NDP wants 100 'green' vehicles in its fleet", Winnipeg Free Press, 4 December 2002, A8.
In February 2003, Smith introduced a plan to have the Trans-Canada Highway twinned as far as the Saskatchewan border over a period of four years. The plan was conditional on financial aid from the federal government."Highway twinning needs help", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 February 2003, B4. In the same year, he joined with federal cabinet minister Rey Pagtakhan to announce significant upgrades to Manitoba's highway system.Paul Samyn, "Millions earmarked for highway", Winnipeg Free Press, 12 September 2003, A5.
Smith also introduced a number of measures to improve driving safety in Manitoba. In September 2003, he indicated that repeat drunk drivers would be required to install ignition-interlock devices in their cars, requiring them to pass a breathalyzer test before the car could be started."Manitoba to introduce ignition-interlock systems for drunk drivers", Canadian Press, 18 September 2003, 20:35. He introduced tougher penalties for seatbelt violations,Bruce Owen, "Seatbelt scofflaws to get licence demerits", Winnipeg Free Press, 25 September 2003, A1. and sought to introduce high-technology drivers' licenses with biometric information."Private-sector help sought to revamp drivers' licences", Winnipeg Free Press, 30 September 2003, A5.
Government Services
Smith announced in November 2002 that the Doer government would expedite the tendering process for provincial capital construction, indicating that 80% of projects would be tendered by January. Many contracts had not been not tendered until the spring or early summer in previous years, and some in the industry complained that the delays led to market confusion.Mia Rabson, " NDP speeds up tendering", Winnipeg Free Press, 1 November 2002, A13.
Smith was also in charge of the provincial government's efforts to maintain economic viability for the financially troubled port city of Churchill in northern Manitoba.David O'Brien, "Port's economic viability 'threatened'", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 March 2003, B6. The government pledged one million dollars to find new markets and new products for the city in early 2003."Minister prods partners, $1M to aid Churchill port", Winnipeg Free Press, 23 April 2003, B4.
Smith presided over a memorial ceremony for the victims of the September 11 attacks at the International Peace Garden in September 2003. He drew attention to his own background as a firefighter in paying tribute to those who died in the New York City attacks.Leah Janzen, "Peace garden to highlight memorials", Winnipeg Free Press, 11 September 2003, A4.
Minister of Industry, Economic Development and Mines
Smith was re-elected in the 2003 provincial election, winning an unexpectedly easy victory over former Brandon Mayor Reg Atkinson.Mike McIntyre, "NDP scores historic victory in Brandon", Winnipeg Free Press, 4 June 2003, B2. He was promoted to Minister of Industry, Economic Development and Mines on November 4, 2003, retaining responsibility for Emergency Measures and the Manitoba Lotteries Act. He was also given responsibility for the Liquor Control Act a second time.
Smith helped oversee the controversial expansion of Manitoba's pharmaceutical sector, and defended local retailers who profited from the sale of medicine to American buyers.Kevin Rollason, "Internet pharmacies 'sanctioned'", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 February 2004, A6.
Smith also worked with Manitoba beef farmers through the summer of 2004, in an effort to purchase a new slaughterhouse with thorough bovine spongiform encephalopathy testing procedures. The value of Canadian cattle had declined dramatically in previous months, when the American border was closed to trade after BSE was found in a single Canadian cow. Many farmers argued that a more comprehensive testing system would be necessary to reopen the American border.Leah Janzen, "Ranchers pushing for total mad-cow testing", Winnipeg Free Press, 15 June 2004, A3.
As Minister of Mines, Smith oversaw the expansion of Manitoba's burgeoning gold sector."New gold mine eyed for Manitoba's north", Winnipeg Free Press, 15 November 2003, C13. The province announced $1.4 million in tax credits for the mining industry in spring 2004."$22 million to be spent on mining in province", Winnipeg Free Press, 7 May 2004, A6.
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade
Smith was promoted again on October 12, 2004 to Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade. He retained responsibility for Emergency Measures, Lotteries and the Liquor Control Act, and also became minister responsible for International Relations Coordination.
Shortly after his appointment, Smith announced that the Doer government would not proceed with a series of controversial changes to the provincial Planning Act. Farmers and environmental groups had criticized the changes, arguing that they would remove municipal oversight from the expansion of hog farms. Smith argued that the proposed changes were no longer necessary, due to the Water Protection Act being developed by his government.Daniel Lett, "Province scraps bill to manage new hog farms", Winnipeg Free Press, 3 November 2004, A3. He introduced a revised set of changes in 2005, which received cautious support from advocacy groups.Paul Egan, "Revised Planning Act would streamline development", Winnipeg Free Press, 26 April 2005, B2;