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- Website:
- http://www.pcmanitoba.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26302596@N03/
http://www.youtube.com/PCManitobadotcom
http://twitter.com/pcmanitoba - Gender:
- Male
- Relationship Status:
- Married to
Jennifer McFadyen - Hometown:
- Winnipeg, MB
- Political Views:
- Conservative
- About Me:
- Hugh McFadyen is Manitoba's Leader of the Official Opposition and the 16th Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba.
Born in Selkirk in 1967, Hugh and his two younger brothers were raised in St. James by parents who dedicated their careers to public service.
Rural roots
Even though he was raised in the city, Hugh's roots are in rural Manitoba. His father, Ralph, was born and raised in Eriksdale, a small town in the Interlake. Ralph grew up working in his father's creamery, which went bankrupt during a period of economic hardship for the dairy industry. In spite of financial hardship Hugh's grandfather Dan, and grandmother, Mary, made significant volunteer contributions to their home town. His grandfather served as Reeve of Eriksdale and his grandmother was active with the local museum, United Church and Order of the Eastern Star.
On his mother's side, Hugh's roots are in and around Cartwright Manitoba. His great-grandfather, John Bell Laughlin, served as the Conservative MLA for Killarney and made his living in agriculture, law and business. In the face of criticism he joined the coalition government led by Premier John Bracken. He defended his decision on the basis of the need to set aside party interests in order to face the overriding challenges of war and a crisis in agriculture. He was also a vocal supporter of the Rowell-Sirois Commission which paved the way for renewed financial arrangements that helped unite Canada and pull it out of the Great Depression.
Hugh's grandparents left Cartwright during World War II when his grandfather joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as a pilot and pilot trainer. After serving overseas and at various bases around Canada, his grandparents returned to Winnipeg with their two daughters in the 1960s.
A family committed to public service
Hugh's parents met in Selkirk, where both worked in psychiatric nursing. His father went on to a successful career in the civil service while his mother carried on in nursing. She later became the Executive Director of a large not-for-profit organization and has worked as an advisor and advocate for several First Nations organizations in Manitoba and Canada's north.
Hugh's family lived briefly in Elmwood and Brandon before settling in St. James in 1971. He attended excellent public schools with dedicated teachers. In 1985 Hugh graduated from Silver Heights Collegiate where he had been a student in the International Baccalaureate program.
From hockey to curling
Recognizing early that a career in the NHL was unlikely, Hugh's dad encouraged him to take up curling. As a young curler at the remarkable Assiniboine Memorial Club he was inspired by the success of curling greats like Kerry Burtnyk, Mert Thompsett, Bob Ursel, Eric Montford, Darcy Kirkness and Greg Blanchard.
In 1986, Hugh skipped his team of Jonathan Mead, Norm Gould, John Lange and coach Don Harvey to a Canadian Junior Men's Championship, with a 12-0 record.
In 1987 the team won the silver medal at the World Junior Men's Championships in Victoria, losing a close final to Scotland. Hugh went on to have several enjoyable and moderately successful seasons in men's curling playing with the likes of Mike Riley and Dave Smith.
University of Manitoba
In 1990 Hugh graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Arts. His academic focus was international relations, with particular emphasis on the system of international economic relations established at Bretton Woods in 1944.
Hugh attended the U of M's Faculty of Law from 1990 to 1993. His coursework emphasized commercial, constitutional and international law. He was a member of the Faculty's Jessup Cup international law team in 1993, which argued a case on the issue of the application of laws to foreign corporations. Hugh was active in curling and volunteer activities during his time in law school.
Law and policy
Since graduation, Hugh has worked in a variety of legal and public policy roles. In his seven years of legal practice he has represented a variety of clients in commercial, regulatory and financial matters. His voluntary legal work has included advocating for families and individuals in financial distress, including protecting families from home foreclosures and personal bankruptcy. He has also provided voluntary advice and assistance to ensure access to buildings for people with physical disabilities.
As a policy advisor, Hugh spent three years with Premier Gary Filmon during the difficult era of large transfer cuts that followed years of deficit financing at the federal level. With Premier Filmon, he attended the spring 1999 First Ministers' meeting at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa that began the process of restoring federal health transfers to the provinces. This was the starting point for the significant increases in transfers that have flowed to the province in the decade since.
The next four years were spent away, first in London UK and then in Toronto. While in London, Hugh worked on international capital markets transactions with the firm Clifford Chance LLP and took courses on the history of political ideas and Russian foreign policy at the University of London. While in Toronto Hugh provided policy advice in the fields of energy, financial services and healthcare with the public affairs consulting firm Navigator. Hugh and his wife Jen returned to Winnipeg in 2003, shortly after the birth of their daughter Rachael.
Hugh managed Mayor Katz's campaign in the 2004 by-election and then spent almost two years as a policy advisor to the Mayor, working to secure funds for community centres and on a variety of transportation, wastewater and downtown development initiatives. Hugh was honoured to serve on the organizing committee for the 2005 Juno Awards in Winnipeg as well as the first BDO Classic curling event that raised money for the Children's Hospital Research Foundation. He is proud to have supported the initiative that started the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards from the Winnipeg Junos.
Running for office
Inspired by his grandmother, Gwen Laughlin, who campaigned for Duff Roblin and Sterling Lyon, Hugh entered politics in 2005 and was elected to the Manitoba Legislature in the Fort Whyte by-election of December 13, 2005. He was elected Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party on April 29, 2006 in the party's first ever one-member-one-vote election process.
Since becoming Leader, Hugh has advocated for Manitobans on a broad range of issues.
Becoming a parent
Hugh married Jennifer in 1995. Jen is an accountant who has worked for several large Canadian and international companies, in addition to having served in a variety of volunteer roles.
Hugh and Jen are incredibly proud of their greatest accomplishments, their daughter Rachael and son James who keep them busy with homework, sports and other activities.
A better future
Hugh's goals in public life are to leave a legacy of opportunity and financial security for his children and all others in their generation. His belief in the power of education is at the heart of his economic strategy. He is also mindful of the need to create opportunities while protecting our province's incredible natural legacy of clean land, air and water. His parents' backgrounds in healthcare and social services have given him a strong desire to improve our public healthcare system and to apply renewed energy to the challenge of guaranteeing justice and equal opportunities for our province's First Nations and Metis citizens as well as for recent immigrants to our great province.
Hugh is a proud Manitoban who believes that our best years lie ahead. He is not satisfied with mediocre results and wants to inspire all Manitobans to aim higher and to work together to forge a better future.
Through this website, and other opportunities to participate in the political process, he invites you to be part of a movement for change that can lead to a better Manitoba. - College:
- High School: