Cliff Cullen

Template:Short description Template:Use Canadian English Template:Infobox officeholder Clifford James Cullen (born November 8, 1962) is a Canadian politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Spruce Woods. He was first elected in a by-election held in the summer of 2004, and was re-elected in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2019.<ref name="LAM bio">Template:Cite web</ref>

Early life and education

Cullen was raised on a farm near Wawanesa, Manitoba, and subsequently attended the University of Manitoba, where he received a Diploma in Agriculture.<ref name=carillon>Template:Cite news</ref> He worked in the agricultural and environmental sectors, and also has experience as an insurance broker.<ref name="Cliff Cullen">Template:Cite news</ref>

Political career

When Turtle Mountain MLA Mervin Tweed resigned from the provincial legislature in 2004 to run as a candidate in the 2004 Canadian federal election, Cullen sought and won the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba nomination to succeed him. Cullen was elected with about 60% of the popular vote on June 29, 2004.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Turtle Mountain constituency was abolished for the 2011 provincial election, and Cullen sought election in Spruce Woods, which absorbed the western portion of Turtle Mountain. He won easily with 66 percent of the vote.<ref name="LAM bio"/>

On May 3, 2016, Cullen was appointed to the Executive Council of Manitoba as Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Cullen was named Minister of Crown Services and Government House Leader as part of a cabinet shuffle on August 17, 2017.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On August 1, 2018, Cullen was named Minister of Justice and Attorney General.<ref name="LAM bio"/>

On January 5, 2021, Cullen was named Minister of Education.

On January 18, 2022 Cullen was named Deputy Premier of Manitoba and Minister of Economic Development, Investment and trade.

On January 30, 2023 after Cameron Friesen resigned as Finance Minister and MLA, Cullen was named Finance Minister.

Personal life

Cullen makes his home in the Glenboro area with his wife Marilyn and three sons.<ref name="Cliff Cullen"/>