35 Facts About Hugh McFadyen

Hugh Daniel McFadyen was born on 31 May 1967 and is a lawyer and politician in Manitoba, Canada.

Hugh McFadyen's aunt Linda McIntosh was a cabinet minister in the provincial government of Gary Filmon, and his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were members of the Manitoba legislature.

Hugh McFadyen has said that former Manitoba Premier Duff Roblin is his political hero.

Hugh McFadyen holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Manitoba.

Hugh McFadyen was a researcher for the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba in the mid-1990s, and was appointed principal secretary to Premier Gary Filmon following Taras Sokolyk's resignation in September 1998 following the Aboriginal vote splitting scandal.

Hugh McFadyen represented Filmon as an observer to the federal United Alternative convention, and was deputy campaign manager for the Progressive Conservatives in the 1999 provincial election.

Hugh McFadyen subsequently practiced law for two years in London, UK with Clifford Chance LLP, did post-graduate work at University College London, and worked for a consulting firm in Toronto.

Hugh McFadyen managed Sam Katz's successful campaign to become Mayor of Winnipeg in mid-2004, in a municipal by-election that followed the resignation of Glen Murray.

Hugh McFadyen resigned as advisor to the mayor in May 2005, in order to seek the federal Conservative Party nomination for Winnipeg South.

Hugh McFadyen defeated rival candidate Rod Bruinooge by only twelve votes at the nomination meeting.

Later in 2005, Hugh McFadyen resigned his federal nomination to seek the Progressive Conservative nomination for a provincial by-election in Fort Whyte.

Hugh McFadyen was supported by Gary Filmon, and again defeated Bruinooge for the nomination.

Hugh McFadyen was mentioned as a possible successor, even before his election to the legislature.

Hugh McFadyen's campaign was supported by fourteen MLAs, including Jack Reimer, Kelvin Goertzen and Cliff Cullen, as well as former cabinet ministers Rosemary Vodrey, David Newman, Jim Downey and Shirley Render.

Hugh McFadyen defeated rival candidates Ron Schuler and Ken Waddell on 29 April 2006.

Hugh McFadyen strongly criticized the Doer government over its alleged failure to protect investors from the failure of the Crocus Investment Fund, and launched a party task force into the matter headed by former cabinet minister Don Orchard.

Hugh McFadyen advocated fixed provincial election dates, and accused Doer of failing to keep an earlier pledge to end "hallway medicine" in the province.

In late 2006, Hugh McFadyen reversed his party's former position and promised to continue Manitoba's tuition freeze if elected as Premier.

Hugh McFadyen promised compensation for investors in the Crocus fund and financial incentives for Manitobans buying energy-efficient cars, raised the prospect of sharing the provincial sales tax with cities, and argued that parents who allow their children to wander the streets at night should be held responsible if their children commit crimes.

Hugh McFadyen initially refused to withdraw the accusation, and said that there had been card-carrying members of the Communist Party in Pawley's government.

In March 2007, Hugh McFadyen introduced a ten-point plan designed to make Manitoba Hydro a major player in the clean energy sector.

Hugh McFadyen's campaign was centred on five themes: better health care, a cleaner environment, law and order, improving Winnipeg's image, and keeping younger Manitobans in the province.

On criminal justice, Hugh McFadyen promised to fund 350 new police officers and non-uniformed "crimefighters", give the police a direct role in choosing judges.

Hugh McFadyen promised to deny legal aid to persons previously convicted of drug trafficking, benefiting from the proceeds of crime, or being part of a criminal organization.

Hugh McFadyen promised to bring the Jets hockey team back to Winnipeg, in order to convince younger Manitobans to remain in the province.

Hugh McFadyen was personally returned for Fort Whyte without difficulty.

Hugh McFadyen rejected the suggestion, and observed that the Progressive Conservatives would need to make significant changes to regain their former status as Manitoba's governing party.

In September 2007, Hugh McFadyen took part in an all-party delegation to Ottawa, calling on the federal government to increase penalties for car thieves, young offenders and criminal gangs.

Hugh McFadyen recommended changes to the Child and Family Services Act in late 2007, arguing that child safety should be the sole consideration when determining if a child should be assigned to the care of social workers.

Hugh McFadyen argued that the existing act was confusing, and allowed for too many other considerations.

In late 2007, Hugh McFadyen criticized the Doer government for its decision to construct a hydroelectric transmission line on the west rather than the east side of Lake Winnipeg.

Hugh McFadyen described the west side line as the greatest policy blunder in Manitoba history, and said that some indigenous leaders have been given effective veto power over development.

Ron Evans, Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and a former Progressive Conservative candidate, responded that Hugh McFadyen's comments threaten to damage years of work between his party and the indigenous community.

Hugh McFadyen led the Progressive Conservatives in the 2011 general election, in which the party failed to make any gains, ending up with nineteen seats for the second election in a row.

Hugh McFadyen announced his resignation as party leader in his concession speech.