37 Facts About Jim Rondeau

Jim Rondeau was born on April 6,1959 and is a former politician in Manitoba, Canada.

Jim Rondeau served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1999 to 2016, and served as cabinet minister in the provincial governments of Gary Doer and Greg Selinger from 2003 to 2013.

The son of Gaston Joseph Jim Rondeau and Dorothy Jean Finch, he was born in Winnipeg, and was educated at John Taylor Collegiate.

Jim Rondeau holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Winnipeg and has completed post-baccalaureate studies at the University of Manitoba.

Jim Rondeau was a teacher at Norway House High School from 1981 to 1984 and later taught at Cranberry Portage, before becoming coordinator of the Frontier School Division at the University of Winnipeg.

Jim Rondeau helped establish several learning centres and libraries throughout the province, and founded a school-to-work transition program for young people from northern Manitoba.

Jim Rondeau coached the Winnipeg Eagles Volleyball Club, and was coach and manager of the Manitoba Volleyball team in several North American Aboriginal Games.

Jim Rondeau was first elected to the Manitoba Legislature in the 1999 provincial election with a dramatic victory in the west-end Winnipeg riding of Assiniboia, previously regarded as safe for the Progressive Conservative Party.

Jim Rondeau entered the legislature as a backbench supporter of Gary Doer's government, and soon became known as a strong constituency worker.

Jim Rondeau kept a strong interest in educational issues, and was a frequent participant in debates at the St James-Assiniboia School Board.

Jim Rondeau represented the provincial government at Manitoba's 2001 Hire a Student Day event, and was appointed to the board of Junior Achievement of Manitoba in 2003 with responsibility for Government, Education and Labor Relations.

Jim Rondeau played an important role in assuring passage of the provincial Canadian Forces Personnel Act.

Jim Rondeau is the first openly gay member of the Manitoba legislature, and was the keynote speaker of Winnipeg's 2000 Gay Pride Parade.

Jim Rondeau encouraged the Doer government to introduce full legal equality for gay and lesbian couples during its first term, and strongly supported 2002 legislation that ensured full equality for all common-law relationships.

Jim Rondeau later became a vocal supporter of same-sex marriage, which was legalized in Canada in 2005.

Jim Rondeau supported Jack Layton for the leadership of the federal New Democratic Party in 2003.

Jim Rondeau became a strong advocate for public awareness and preventative medicine, and indicated that the Doer government would consider removing the provincial sales tax from nutritional supplements and alternative foods.

In December 2003, Jim Rondeau announced that Manitoba would ban all smoking from indoor public places and workplaces within a year.

Jim Rondeau introduced the anti-smoking bill in March 2004, and the ban came into effect at the beginning of October.

In March 2004, Jim Rondeau announced that the Doer government had signed a $2.5-million contract to create a Prostate Centre at CancerCare Manitoba.

Jim Rondeau later handled negotiations concerning whether or not the Manitoba government would provide funding for an abortion clinic in Winnipeg.

Jim Rondeau was promoted to a full cabinet portfolio on October 12,2004, as Minister of Industry, Economic Development and Mines.

Jim Rondeau indicated that Manitoba had the potential for strong economic growth in the mining sector, particularly in light of the need for raw materials in countries such as India and China.

Jim Rondeau announced that he would work to reduce government bureaucracy in the sector, and make it easier for mining projects to get underway.

Jim Rondeau launched a farm immigration program in February 2005, making it easier for young farmers to move to Manitoba.

Jim Rondeau expanded oil exploration in the province, removing the sales tax for drilling and exploration equipment.

Jim Rondeau argued that the government should compensate Manitoba for lost jobs if it chose to shut down the sector.

Jim Rondeau later indicated that he would support a ban on bulk exports to America, but added that government intervention appeared to be unnecessary in any event.

Jim Rondeau acknowledged that the province was responsible for regulating Crocus, but argued that it had no involvement in the fund's day-to-day operations.

Jim Rondeau criticized the environmental strategy of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government in late 2006, saying that Harper was not moving as assertively as had the previous government of Paul Martin.

Jim Rondeau has said that the money will go to developing hydrogen technology for buses and providing energy efficiency programs for low-income Manitobans.

Jim Rondeau was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election, as the New Democratic Party won a third consecutive majority government.

Jim Rondeau retained his position as Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mines, and was appointed as interim Minister of Competitiveness, Training and Trade, a position he held until February 2008.

Jim Rondeau has said that Manitoba would neither raise Hydro rates nor implement a carbon tax to promote conservation, arguing that the goal could be achieved by other means.

Jim Rondeau announced a "pause" on further uranium exploration permits the following month, after health and environmental concerns were raised by the Northlands Dene First Nation.

Jim Rondeau has indicated that the provincial and federal governments will spend over half a million dollars to expand a biodiesel testing laboratory in Manitoba Hydro's East Selkirk plant, and has announced legislation to encourage further growth within the sector.

In January 2008, Jim Rondeau announced a tax credit for investments in small and medium-sized businesses.