Rene Ernest Toupin (May 15, 1934 – March 15, 2014), born in

Saint Boniface Boniface, OSB ( la, Bonifatius; 675 – 5 June 754) was an English Benedictines, Benedictine monk and leading figure in the Anglo-Saxon mission to the Germanic parts of the Frankish Empire during the eighth century. He organised significant ...

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 ...

, was a

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

in Manitoba,

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

. He was a New Democratic member of the

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 ...

from 1969 to 1977, and served as a

cabinet minister A minister is a politician who heads a ministry, making and implementing decisions on policies in conjunction with the other ministers. In some jurisdictions the head of government is also a minister and is designated the ‘prime minister’, � ...

in the government of

Edward Schreyer Edward Richard Schreyer (born December 21, 1935) is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 22nd since Canadian Confederation. Schreyer was born and educated in Manitoba, and was first electe ...

. Toupin was educated at

Université Laval Université Laval is a public research university in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The university was founded by royal charter issued by Queen Victoria in 1852, with roots in the founding of the Séminaire de Québec in 1663 by François de Montmo ...

, and returned to Manitoba after his graduation. He was the Chair of the La Salle School Board from 1962 to 1966, and Chair of the La Salle Credit Union from 1962 to 1969. He was also a member of the Societe Franco-Manitobaine. He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1969,"August 1969 - New Democratic Party Success in Manitoba Election. - Formation of N.D.P. Provincial Cabinet.", ''Keesing's Record of World Events, August 1, 1969 scoring a relatively easy win in the riding of

Springfield Springfield may refer to: * Springfield (toponym), the place name in general Places and locations Australia * Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast) * Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council) * Springfield, Queenslan ...

. The NDP formed a

minority government A minority government, minority cabinet, minority administration, or a minority parliament is a government and Cabinet (government), cabinet formed in a parliamentary system when a political party or Coalition government, coalition of parties do ...

following this election, and Toupin was named

Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs The Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs was a Government of Canada cabinet position held between 1967 and 1995. The minister was responsible for consumer and corporate issues relating to legislation at the federal level. The minister was al ...

on July 15, 1969. On December 18, 1969, he was transferred to the

Ministry of Health and Social Development The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (russian: Министерство здравоохранения Российской Федерации, in short russian: Минздрав России, translit=Minzdrav Rossii) is a ministry of ...

, where he remained for over four years. Toupin was narrowly re-elected in the 1973 election over Progressive Conservative challenger John Vaags. Toupin held several cabinet portfolios during the Schreyer government's second term in office. He was named Minister of Tourism, Recreation and Cultural Affairs from January 28, 1974, and also became the Minister of Cooperative Development responsible for the Liquor Commission on October 15, 1975. Followed a cabinet shuffle on September 22, 1976, he retained the Cooperative Development portfolio and was named Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs for a second time, with responsibility for the Manitoba Telephone System and Communications. The New Democrats were defeated in the 1977 election, and Toupin personally lost his riding to Tory Bob Anderson by just under 2,000 votes. He has not sought a return to provincial politics since this time. He died on March 15, 2014, at the age of 79.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Toupin, Rene 1934 births 2014 deaths Franco-Manitoban people Members of the Executive Council of Manitoba New Democratic Party of Manitoba MLAs People from Saint Boniface, Winnipeg Politicians from Winnipeg