Darren Thomas Praznik (born May 9, 1961) is a politician in

Manitoba Manitoba ( ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population o ...

, Canada. He was a cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative government of

Gary Filmon Gary Albert Filmon (born August 24, 1942) is Canadian politician from Manitoba. He was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1983 to 2000, and served as the 19th premier of Manitoba from 1988 to 1999. Political care ...

, and considered running for the party's leadership in 2000. Praznik was born in Selkirk,

, and attended the

University of Winnipeg The University of Winnipeg (UWinnipeg, UW) is a public research university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, that offers undergraduate faculties of art, business and economics, education, science and kinesiology and applied health as well as gr ...

and the

University of Manitoba The University of Manitoba (U of M, UManitoba, or UM) is a Canadian public research university in the province of Manitoba.Legislative Assembly of Manitoba The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba (french: Assemblée législative du Manitoba) is the deliberative assembly of the Manitoba Legislature in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly at provincial gener ...

in the 1986 general election, in the rural northeastern riding of Lac du Bonnet. He was defeated by Clarence Baker of the

New Democratic Party The New Democratic Party (NDP; french: Nouveau Parti démocratique, NPD) is a federal political party in Canada. Widely described as social democratic,The party is widely described as social democratic: * * * * * * * * * * * * t ...

, 3903 votes to 3601. Praznik was elected for Lac du Bonnet in the 1988 general election (defeating Baker by over 800 votes), and was soon named legislative assistant to

, the newly elected

Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of governm ...

. Praznik was re-elected in the 1990 election and was promoted to

Minister of Labour Minister of Labour (in British English) or Labor (in American English) is typically a cabinet-level position with portfolio responsibility for setting national labour standards, labour dispute mechanisms, employment, workforce participation, traini ...

, a position that he held until 1995. He held several other portfolios in the Filmon government, including

Minister of Northern Affairs The minister of northern affairs (french: ministre des Affaires du Nord) is a minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet. The position has been held by Dan Vandal since 20 November 2019. In 1953, the role of Minister of Northern Affairs and N ...

(1993–1997), Minister of Energy and Mines (1995–1997),

Minister of Health A health minister is the member of a country's government typically responsible for protecting and promoting public health and providing welfare and other social security services. Some governments have separate ministers for mental health. Coun ...

(1997–1999), and Minister of Highways and Transportation and Government House Leader (February to October 1999). As Health Minister, Praznik presided over a number of cutbacks in government funding, but was also responsible for expanding the government's home care delivery system. Filmon's Tories were defeated by

Gary Doer Gary Albert Doer (born 31 March 1948) is a former Canadian politician and diplomat from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He served as Canada's ambassador to the United States from 19 October 2009, to 3 March 2016. Doer previously served as the 20th p ...

's New Democrats in the 1999 election, and Praznik moved into the opposition. He considered running against Stuart Murray for the party's leadership in 2000, but left the race well before the convention took place. Murray was subsequently elected without opposition. Praznik resigned from the legislature in 2002 to become executive director of government relations with the

Canadian Blood Services Canadian Blood Services ( French: ''Société canadienne du sang'') is a non-profit charitable organization that is independent from the Canadian government. The Canadian Blood Services was established as Canada's blood authority in all provinces ...

. In 2007, he became president and CEO of the Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Praznik, Darren 1961 births Living people Members of the Executive Council of Manitoba People from Selkirk, Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba MLAs 21st-century Canadian politicians