View source for Becky Barrett

{{Short description|American-born Canadian politician (1942–2024)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Becky Barrett
| birth_name          = Rebecca Catherine Barrett
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|1942|5|1|mf=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Pensacola, Florida]], U.S.
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|2024|01|26|1942|5|1}}
| death_place         = [[Winnipeg, Manitoba]], Canada
| office1             = [[Minister of Labour and Immigration (Manitoba)|Minister of Labour and Immigration]]
| term_start1         = January 17, 2001
| term_end1           = June 25, 2003
| predecessor1        = position created
| successor1          = [[Steve Ashton]]
| office2             = [[Minister of Labour (Manitoba)|Minister of Labour]]
| term_start2         = October 5, 1999
| term_end2           = January 17, 2001
| predecessor2        = [[Mike Radcliffe]]
| successor2          = position restructured
| office3             = [[Minister responsible for Multiculturalism (Manitoba)|Minister responsible for Multiculturalism]]
| term_start3         = October 5, 1999
| term_end3           = June 25, 2003
| predecessor3        = [[Rosemary Vodrey]]
| successor3          = Steve Ashton
| office4             = [[Minister charged with the administration of The Workers Compensation Act (Manitoba)|Minister charged with the administration of The Workers Compensation Act]]
| term_start4         = October 5, 1999
| term_end4           = June 25, 2003
| predecessor4        = Mike Radcliffe
| successor4          = Steve Ashton
| office5             = [[Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act]]
| term_start5         = October 5, 1999
| term_end5           = January 17, 2001
| predecessor5        = [[Linda McIntosh]]
| successor5          = [[Gord Mackintosh]]
| office6             = [[Minister responsible for the Civil Service (Manitoba)|Minister responsible for the Civil Service]]
| term_start6         = October 5, 1999
| term_end6           = January 17, 2001
| predecessor6        = Mike Radcliffe
| successor6          = [[Greg Selinger]]
| office7             = [[Legislative Assembly of Manitoba|Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba]] for [[Inkster (electoral district)|Inkster]]
| term_start7         = September 21, 1999
| term_end7           = June 3, 2003
| predecessor7        = [[Kevin Lamoureux]]
| successor7          = Kevin Lamoureux
| office8             = [[Legislative Assembly of Manitoba|Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba]] for [[Wellington (Manitoba provincial electoral district)|Wellington]]
| term_start8         = September 11, 1990
| term_end8           = September 21, 1999
| predecessor8        = riding created
| successor8          = [[Conrad Santos]]
| party               = [[New Democratic Party of Manitoba|New Democratic Party]]
| residence           = [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]]
| religion            = 
| occupation          = 
| alma_mater          = [[University of Manitoba]]
}}

'''Rebecca Catherine Barrett''' (May 1, 1942 – January 26, 2024) was an American-born Canadian politician. She served as a member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Manitoba]] from 1990 to 2003, and was a [[cabinet minister]] in the [[New Democratic Party of Manitoba|New Democratic Party]] (NDP) government of [[Gary Doer]] from 1999 to 2003.

==Early life and career==
Barrett was born in [[Pensacola, Florida]], U.S., and moved to Canada in 1975. She earned a [[Master's degree]] in social work from the [[University of Manitoba]] in 1979, and was a social worker before entering political life.<ref>Mia Rabson, "Barrett's decision to exit politics may signal vote near", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 19 November 2002, A3.</ref> During the 1980s, Barrett was the Manitoba NDP's director of organization.<ref>Ian Stewart, ''Jim Walding's nomination to constitutional defeat'', (Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 2009), p. 101.</ref>

==Politician==
===Opposition member (1990–1999)===
Barrett was elected in the north-end [[Winnipeg]] district of [[Wellington (Manitoba provincial electoral district)|Wellington]] in the [[1990 Manitoba general election|1990 provincial election]], defeating [[Manitoba Liberal Party|Liberal]] candidate [[Ernie Gilroy]] by over 1,200 votes. The [[Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba]] won a [[majority government]] in this election, and Barrett was appointed the New Democratic Party's family services critic in opposition.<ref>"Manitoba sets mass training blitz to fight satanism, abuse of children", ''Toronto Star'', 21 September 1990, A4.</ref> In June 1991, she criticized [[Premier of Manitoba|Premier]] [[Gary Filmon]]'s sudden announcement that Winnipeg's child and family services would be brought under a single agency.<ref>"Decision denounced", ''Globe and Mail'', 25 June 1991, A6.</ref> Barrett later criticized the Filmon government for cutting several Manitobans from [[social assistance]] programs without investing in education, [[job creation program]]s and skills upgrading.<ref>Arlene Billinkoff, "Just adding to the misery", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 16 November 1993.</ref> She also introduced a [[private member's bill]] that, if passed, would have required the [[Manitoba Office of the Children's Advocate]] to report to the legislature rather than the [[Minister of Family Services (Manitoba)|Minister of Family Services]].<ref>Arlene Billinkoff, "Child advocate kept on a leash", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 2 May 1993.</ref>

Barrett also served as her party's justice critic.<ref>David Roberts, "Senator resigns to become judge", ''Globe and Mail'', 11 February 1993, A4; Glen MacKenzie, "Criminologist can't get excited' over latest data", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 24 August 1994.</ref> She called on the Filmon government to remove provincial judge [[Bruce McDonald (judge)|Bruce McDonald]] from office in 1993, after McDonald was reported as telling a female complainant to "work something out" with a man accused of assaulting her.<ref>Paul Samyn and Ruth Teichroeb, "NDP calls for removal of judge", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 27 March 1993; Ruth Teichroeb, "McCrae vows to hold judge accountable for abuse stand", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 30 April 1993.</ref> McDonald was later forced to resign from the bench after the ''Winnipeg Free Press'' uncovered a pattern of questionable behaviour in his decisions.<ref>Ruth Teichrob, "Defiant judge resigns McDonald cites stress on family", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 7 December 1993.</ref> Barrett also called for Manitoba to ban [[pellet gun]]s in 1993, when a 14-year-old girl required hospitalization after being shot in the leg.<ref>"NDP calls for ban on pellet guns", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 15 June 1993.</ref>

Barrett led the Manitoba NDP's candidate search committee in the buildup to the [[1995 Manitoba general election|1995 provincial election]], and placed an emphasis on recruiting women and minority candidates.<ref>Paul Samyn, "Election", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 21 March 1995.</ref> She was personally re-elected, defeating her Liberal opponent by almost 2,000 votes. The Progressive Conservatives won a second majority government provincially, and Barrett was named as her party's urban affairs critic.<ref>Paul Samyn, "Who's calling the shots?", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 24 September 1995, A3.</ref> In May 1998, she unveiled her party's platform for revitalizing the city of Winnipeg. Highlights of the platform included giving more power to city councillors and residents' associations, providing tax incentives for inner city renewal, guaranteeing stable funding for schools, renewing several aboriginal programs and enacting a new anti-gang policy.<ref>Doug Nairne, "NDP unveils vision for city", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 30 May 1998, A1.</ref>

===Minister of Labour and Immigration (1999–2003)===
The New Democratic Party won a majority government in the [[1999 Manitoba general election|1999 provincial election]]. Barrett did not run for re-election in Wellington, but instead challenged popular Liberal incumbent [[Kevin Lamoureux]] in the neighbouring division of [[Inkster (electoral district)|Inkster]]. She won by 143 votes. Barrett was regarded as a strong ally of incoming premier [[Gary Doer]],<ref>Doug Nairne, "Would-be cabinet maker has house full of choices", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 25 January 1999, A4.</ref> and there was little surprise when he chose her as a member of his first cabinet.

Barrett was sworn in as [[Minister of Labour (Manitoba)|Minister of Labour]] on October 5, 1999, with responsibility for administering the [[Minister charged with the administration of The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act|Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act]] and the [[Minister charged with the administration of The Workers Compensation Act (Manitoba)|Workers Compensation Act]], as well as for the [[Minister responsible for the Civil Service (Manitoba)|Civil Service]] and [[Minister responsible for Multiculturalism (Manitoba)|Multiculturalism]].<ref>"MANITOBA GOVERNMENT: Doer administration installed in office", 6 October 1999.</ref> On January 17, 2001, her position was renamed as the [[Minister of Labour and Immigration (Manitoba)|Minister of Labour and Immigration]], and she was relieved of responsibility for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act and the Civil Service.

;Labour
Barrett's primary accomplishment in office was to reform Manitoba's labour laws, reversing many of the decisions made by the right-wing Filmon government during the 1990s. Her reform legislation, introduced in July 2000, made [[trade union]] certification automatic if 65% of employees signed membership cards, allowed interim certifications, ensured that employees would not be fired for convictions involving minor offenses, and gave employees the exclusive right to approve or reject arbitration if a labour dispute dragged on more than sixty days.<ref>David Kuxhaus, "Biz leaders call labour law changes 'pretty scary stuff'", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 7 July 2000, A1; Becky Barrett, "Labour Act aims for fairness" [editorial], ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 22 July 2000, A15; Becky Barrett, "Manitoba labour" [editorial], ''National Post'', 4 August 2000, C15; David Kuxhaus, "Tories take final swipe at labour law", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 18 August 2000, A3. The aspects of the bill dealing with arbitration were later modified to consider account charges of bad-faith bargaining. See Mia Rabson, "Binding arbitration still a sore point", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 28 January 2003, A6.</ref> Barrett argued that the changes were necessary to correct a decade of imbalance under the previous government.<ref>David Kuxhaus, "Business battles NDP", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 19 July 2000, A1.</ref> The bill was met with intense opposition from the business community and, in response to criticism, Barrett changed the bill to give either party in a labour dispute the right to call for binding arbitration after sixty days.<ref>"Coalition of 16,000 employers joins fight against Manitoba labour bill", ''Canadian Press'', 27 July 2000, 5:45pm; David Kuxhaus, "NDP bends on besieged labour bill", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 13 August 2000, A1; Paul McKie, "Business, labour dig in at hearings", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 15 August 2000, A3; Bill Redekop, "Labour ups ante in battle over bill", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 17 August 2000, A1.</ref> Barrett also allowed parents to take more time off work after the birth of their children<ref>"Bill to let parents take more time off work", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 7 December 2000, A5.</ref> and increased Manitoba's [[minimum wage]] by 25 cents for every year of her tenure in office.<ref>Sean O'Connor, "Minimum wage to hit $6.25", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 30 November 2000, A3; Helen Fallding, "Public to weigh worth of $6.25 an hour", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 13 March 2001, A11; Mia Rabson, "Minimum wage should rise to $8, activists say", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 18 May 2001, A9; "Manitoba minimum wage to increase 25 cents to $6.50 on April 1", ''Canadian Press'', 28 December 2001, 11:35pm.</ref>

Following extensive consultations, Barrett subsequently introduced reforms to Manitoba's workplace safety legislation in 2002. These changes gave workplace safety and health inspectors the right to fine employers who ignore safety violations, required employers to ensure their workers receive proper safety training, and required a written health and safety program for all workplaces with more than twenty employees.<ref>Mia Rabson, "Mothers claim safety fines would've saved their sons", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 27 April 2002, A6.</ref> Some business groups again opposed these messages, though on this occasion Barrett received support from the labour movement and the ''[[Winnipeg Free Press]]'' newspaper.<ref>Mia Rabson, "Business outraged as NDP moves to toughen workplace safety law", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 26 April 2002, A1; "Editorial - Safer jobs", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 29 April 2002, A10.</ref> Barrett's reforms also made Manitoba the first province in Canada to provide compensation for firefighters who develop certain types of cancer while on the job.<ref>David Kuxhaus, "Firefighters win battle for cancer compensation", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 2 May 2002, A3; Joseph Brean, "Firefighters win battle for cancer compensation: Manitoba legislation could have ripple effect across Canada", ''National Post'', 24 May 2002, A8.</ref>

Barrett established an arm's-length complaints office for Manitoba's [[Manitoba Public Insurance|Autopac]] program in April 2000<ref>"New office to handle Autopac's complaints", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 19 April 2000, A11.</ref> and signed an official proclamation in the same month to commemorate the 13 Winnipeg civic workers who had been killed on the job since 1978.<ref>Allison Bray, "Workplace deaths, injuries mourned", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 29 April 2000, A6.</ref> One month later, she announced the hiring of eight new workplace safety and health inspectors.<ref>Daniel Lett, "New safety inspectors to focus on 47 worst firms", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 24 May 2000, A5.</ref> She announced a new round of civil service hiring in early 2001, with a particular focus on [[employment equity]].<ref>David Kuxhaus, "Doer boosting the civil service", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 2 January 2001, A1.</ref> Late in her term, she announced that Winnipeg paramedics would be added to a list of [[essential services]] not allowed to strike.<ref>"Strikes, lockouts outlawed for Winnipeg paramedics under proposed law", ''Canadian Press'', 4 December 2002, 8:50pm.</ref>

Barrett also held a series of public hearings into Manitoba's pension legislation in 2003, in the first full review of the legislation since 1984.<ref>"Public hearings to begin Monday on Manitoba pension benefit legislation", ''Canadian Press'', 10 January 2003, 9:46pm.</ref>

;Immigration
Shortly after her appointment to cabinet in 1999, Barrett successfully pressured the [[Government of Canada|federal government]] to allow Manitoba to recruit more than twice as many immigrants for skilled jobs.<ref>David Kuxhaus, "Manitoba to double number of skilled immigrants", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 20 November 1999, A3; "MANITOBA GOVERNMENT: Immigration agreement expansion announced", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 22 November 1999.</ref> Manitoba's percentage of Canadian immigration increased in the years that followed, and the federal government again increased the number of targeted recruitment positions in 2001, 2002 and 2003.<ref>Paul Samyn, "Manitoba immigration leaps", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 9 February 2001, A3; Mia Rabson, "Manitoba widens door to immigration", '"Winnipeg Free Press'', 28 November 2001, A3; Martin Cash, "Nominee immigration program gets bigger", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 12 March 2002, B3; "Canada and Manitoba Renew Immigration Agreement", 'Canada NewsWire'', 13 November 2002, 04:02pm.</ref> In 2001, the Doer government introduced a medical licensing program to bring foreign-trained doctors into Canadian practice.<ref>"First three Man. foreign doctors receive licences for rural practice", ''Canadian Press'', 29 October 2002, 11:24pm.</ref> Barrett also worked with the federal government to ensure Canada's ratification of the [[International Labour Organization]]'s convention 182 against [[child labour]].<ref>"Ratification of child labour pact closer", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 5 February 2000, A2.</ref>

;Multiculturalism
Barrett introduced legislation in 2000 to recognize [[Holocaust memorial days|Holocaust Memorial Day]] in Manitoba.<ref>"A day to remember Holocaust victims", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 26 April 2000, A2.</ref>

;Retirement
The opposition Progressive Conservatives targeted Barrett as a vulnerable minister after the business community's harsh response to her labour reforms in 2000. She was also criticized for approving a plan that would have allowed Manitoba Public Insurance to divert part of its annual surplus to infrastructural repairs at three Manitoba universities in late 2000. This plan provoked significant opposition, and was later reversed.<ref>"Pared-down cabinet maintains solidarity", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 15 October 2001, A9.</ref>

In late 2002, Barrett announced that she would not be a candidate in the [[2003 Manitoba general election|next provincial election]].<ref>Mia Rabson, "Barrett's decision to exit politics may signal vote near", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 19 November 2002, A3.</ref> Her last major act in office was to sign a new agreement with federal [[Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (Canada)|Immigration Minister]] [[Denis Coderre]] in June 2003, to increase the total immigration to Manitoba to 10,000 persons per year.<ref>"Canada and Manitoba sign new Immigration Agreement", ''Canada NewsWire'', 6 June 2003; David Kuxhaus, "Province to double immigration", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 7 June 2003, A3.</ref>

==Federal politics==
Barrett supported [[Alexa McDonough]]'s successful bid to lead the federal [[New Democratic Party]] in 1995.<ref>Dan Lett, "NDP looks for way out of wilderness", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 14 October 1995, C9.</ref> She later served on a committee that reviewed the federal NDP's outreach strategy in 2001,<ref>Carolin Vesely, "Left seeking right answers", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 9 September 2001, A4.</ref> and supported [[Bill Blaikie]]'s campaign to become leader of the federal NDP in 2002–03.  Barrett ran federal [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|Member of Parliament]] [[Pat Martin]]'s successful re-election campaign in the [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 federal election]] at [[Winnipeg Centre]].<ref>Daniel Lett, "New cash-crunch hampers candidates", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 6 December 2005, A12.</ref>

==2003 onwards==
In 2006, the [[Auditor General of Manitoba]], [[Jon Singleton (accountant)|Jon Singleton]], released a report that was strongly critical of the management of the [[Manitoba Workers Compensation Board]] under its former chairman, [[Waldron Fox-Decent|Wally Fox-Decent]]. In the resulting controversy, it was noted that former WCB chief executive officer Pat Jacobsen had sent a written complaint about Fox-Decent to Barrett in March 2001. Barrett chose to refer the matter back to the WCB board of directors, a decision that some critics later described as an abdication of ministerial responsibility.<ref>"The Doer government has steadfastly refused [...]", ''Canadian Press'', 18 January 2006, 04:22pm.</ref> Barrett's successor [[Nancy Allan]] argued that she acted properly, as the WCB board held legal authority over the matter.<ref>Martin Cash, "Auditor slams NDP: Ex-minister's response to complaints under fire", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 18 January 2006, A1.</ref> For his part, Fox-Decent rejected Jacobsen's complaint as a "poison pen" letter from a disgruntled employee.<ref>Martin Cash, "Former CEO 'still shocked' by rebuff", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 18 January 2006, A4.</ref>

Barrett died in Winnipeg on January 26, 2024, at the age of 81.<ref>[https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/theglobeandmail/name/rebecca-barrett-obituary?id=54265775 Rebecca Catherine Barrett], ''The Globe and Mail'', 2 February 2024.</ref>

==Electoral record==
{{1999 Manitoba general election/Inkster}}

{{1995 Manitoba general election/Wellington}}

{{1990 Manitoba general election/Wellington}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Doer Ministry}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrett, Becky}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian women politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of Manitoba]]
[[Category:New Democratic Party of Manitoba MLAs]]
[[Category:Politicians from Pensacola, Florida]]
[[Category:Politicians from Winnipeg]]
[[Category:Women government ministers of Canada]]
[[Category:Women MLAs in Manitoba]]