View source for Brian Pallister

{{Short description|Premier of Manitoba from 2016 to 2021}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{pp-pc|small=yes}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Brian Pallister
| image               = Brian Pallister - 2019 (48002323306) (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Pallister in 2019
| office              = 22nd [[Premier of Manitoba]]
| monarch             = [[Elizabeth II]]
| lieutenant_governor = [[Janice Filmon]]
| deputy              = [[Heather Stefanson]]<br />Kelvin Goertzen
| term_start          = May 3, 2016
| term_end            = September 1, 2021
| predecessor         = [[Greg Selinger]]
| successor           = [[Kelvin Goertzen]]
| office1             = [[Leader of the Opposition (Manitoba)|Leader of the Opposition in Manitoba]]
| deputy2             = [[Heather Stefanson]]<br />[[Kelvin Goertzen]]
| term_start1         = July 30, 2012
| term_end1           = May 3, 2016
| predecessor1        = [[Hugh McFadyen]]
| successor1          = [[Flor Marcelino]]
| office2             = Leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba]]
| term_start2         = July 30, 2012
| term_end2           = September 1, 2021
| predecessor2        = Hugh McFadyen
| successor2          = [[Kelvin Goertzen]] (interim)
| office3             = Member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Manitoba]]<br />for [[Fort Whyte]]
| term_start3         = September 4, 2012
| term_end3           = October 4, 2021
| predecessor3        = Hugh McFadyen
| successor3          = [[Obby Khan]]
| office4             = Member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Manitoba]]<br />for [[Portage la Prairie (provincial electoral district)|Portage la Prairie]]
| term_start4         = September 15, 1992
| term_end4           = April 28, 1997
| predecessor4        = [[Edward Connery]]
| successor4          = [[David Faurschou]]
| parliament5         = Canadian
| riding5             = [[Portage—Lisgar]]
| term_start5         = November 27, 2000
| term_end5           = October 14, 2008
| predecessor5        = [[Jake Hoeppner]]
| successor5          = [[Candice Bergen (politician)|Candice Bergen]]
| office6             = [[Minister of Government Services (Manitoba)|Minister of Government Services]]
| premier6            = [[Gary Filmon]]
| term_start6         = May 9, 1995
| term_end6           = January 6, 1997
| predecessor6        = [[Gerry Ducharme]]
| successor6          = [[Frank Pitura]]
| birth_name          = Brian William Pallister
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1954|7|6}}
| birth_place         = [[Portage la Prairie]], Manitoba, Canada
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba]]
| otherparty          = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]] (before 2000)<br />[[Canadian Alliance]] (2000–2003)<br />[[Conservative Party of Canada]] (2003–present)
| spouse              = Esther Johnson
| children            = 2
| education           = [[Brandon University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Bachelor of Education|BEd]])
}}
'''Brian William Pallister''' (born July 6, 1954) is a Canadian politician who served as the 22nd [[premier of Manitoba]] from 2016 until 2021. He served as leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba]] from 2012 to 2021. He had been a [[cabinet minister]] in the provincial government of [[Gary Filmon]] and a member of the [[House of Commons of Canada]] from 2000 to 2008.

==Early life and career==
Pallister was born in [[Portage la Prairie]], [[Manitoba]], the son of Anne Ethel (Poyser) and Bill Pallister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcmanitoba.com/leader|title=Meet our Leader!!!!!!!|website=Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba - New|access-date=Feb 14, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.omegafuneralhome.com/obituary/Anne-Pallister|title=Obituary for Anne Ethel (Poyser) Pallister|first=Omega Funeral|last=Home|website=Obituary for Anne Ethel (Poyser) Pallister|access-date=Feb 14, 2020}}</ref> He holds [[Bachelor of Arts]] and [[Bachelor of Education]] degrees from [[Brandon University]]. From 1976 to 1979, he worked as a high school teacher in rural Manitoba, where he also served as the local union representative. He later became a chartered financial analyst.<ref>"Possible candidates to lead the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 6 November 2005, A8.</ref> Pallister is also a skilled [[curling|curler]] and won the provincial mixed curling championship in 2000.<ref>"Pallister wins Manitoba mixed curling tourney", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 20 March 2000, C2.  Pallister is also a former member of the [[Rideau Curling Club]] in Ottawa. See "Pallister curls from one House to another", ''National Post'', April 13, 2004. {{cite web|url=http://www.daifallah.com/curling23.htm |title=Curling |access-date=2007-01-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706144934/http://www.daifallah.com/curling23.htm |archive-date=2007-07-06 }}</ref> This qualified him for the [[2001 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship]], which he finished with a 3–8 record in second last place.<ref>[http://www.curling.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Mixed_2001.pdf 2001 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship]</ref>

==Provincial politics==
Pallister began his political career at the provincial level, winning a by-election in [[Portage la Prairie (provincial electoral district)|Portage la Prairie]] on September 15, 1992, as a candidate of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba]]. He entered the provincial legislature as a [[backbench]] supporter of the [[Gary Filmon|Filmon]] government and pushed for balanced budget legislation.<ref>"Brian Pallister's commitment to fiscal responsibility", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 30 May 1997, A10.</ref> In 1993, he endorsed [[Jean Charest]]'s bid to lead the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]].<ref>"Campbell slips in Manitoba", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 13 June 1993, Canadian Wire Stories.</ref>

Pallister was reelected in the [[1995 Manitoba general election|1995 provincial election]], and sworn into cabinet on May 9, 1995, as [[Minister of Government Services (Manitoba)|Minister of Government Services]]. He carried out reforms that eliminated almost 3,000 pages of statutory regulations as part of a government campaign against regulations,<ref>"Manitoba to alter or eliminate 133 out of 560 regs", ''Eco-Log Week'', 31 May 1996.</ref> presided over changes to the Manitoba Disaster Assistance Board, and oversaw provincial flood claims.<ref>Tony Davis, "Flooding sows devastation", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 9 July 1995, A5; Bud Robertson, "Province demands Ottawa pay flood costs", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 13 December 1995, A7; "Filmon Tories overhaul disaster board", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 30 October 1996, A7.</ref> He stepped down from cabinet on January 6, 1997, to prepare for his first federal campaign.

Pallister defeated Paul-Emile Labossiere to win the Progressive Conservative nomination for [[Portage—Lisgar]] in the [[1997 Canadian federal election|1997 federal election]], and formally resigned his seat in the legislature on April 28, 1997.<ref>Bud Robertson, "3,000 turn out for nomination", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 28 February 1997, A8.</ref> He lost to [[Reform Party of Canada|Reform Party]] incumbent [[Jake Hoeppner]] by 1,449 votes.

There were rumours that Pallister would campaign to succeed Filmon as leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba]] in 2000, but he declined.<ref>Scott Edmonds, "Only one contender left for Manitoba Tory leadership", ''Canadian Press'', 19 May 2000, 10:02 report.</ref>

== Federal politics ==

===1998 Progressive Conservative Party of Canada leadership bid===

In 1998, Pallister campaigned for the leadership of the federal Progressive Conservative Party on a platform designed to win back voters who had left the party for Reform.<ref>Graham Fraser and Brian Laghi, "Pallister embraces right-wing platform", ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', 16 September 1998, A4.</ref> His supporters included former cabinet ministers [[Don Mazankowski]] and [[Charles Mayer (politician)|Charlie Mayer]], [[Senate of Canada|Senator]] [[Consiglio Di Nino]], and [[Jim Jones (Canadian politician)|Jim Jones]], the sole Progressive Conservative representative in the House of Commons from [[Ontario]].<ref>Paul Samyn, "Pallister gains prestigious ally", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 11 September 1998, B2; Graham Fraser, "Leadership hopeful winning support", ''Globe and Mail'', 12 September 1998, A7; David Roberts, "Two Tories get behind Pallister", ''Globe and Mail'' 25 August 1998, A5.</ref> He finished fourth on the first ballot of the 1998 [[Progressive Conservative leadership elections#1998 Progressive Conservative leadership election|Progressive Conservative leadership election]] with 12.5% support, behind [[David Orchard]], [[Hugh Segal]], and the eventual winner, former [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Joe Clark]]. He withdrew from the contest a few days later. Pallister said that Progressive Conservatives had "voted for the past" and missed an opportunity to renew themselves.<ref>David Kuxhaus, "Pallister exits Tory race, says PCs voted for past", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 29 October 1998, A5.  One published report indicates that Pallister later endorsed Clark over Orchard.  Sarah Binder, "Clark won't take leadership win for granted", ''Kitchener-Waterloo Record'', 6 November 1998, A9.</ref>

===Canadian Alliance MP===

In July 2000, Pallister wrote an open letter to Joe Clark announcing his candidacy in the next federal election with a dual endorsement from the Progressive Conservative and [[Canadian Alliance]] associations in Portage-Lisgar.<ref>Brian Pallister, "Dear Joe: An open letter to: The Rt. Hon. Joe Clark", ''Globe and Mail'', 26 July 2000, A15.</ref> The latter party was a successor to Reform, and emerged from the efforts of Reformers to merge with [[Blue Tory]] elements in the Progressive Conservative Party who opposed Clark's [[Red Tory]] leadership. Clark had previously rejected Pallister's proposal as a violation of the Progressive Conservative Party's constitution, and did not respond to the letter.<ref>Jean-Denis Bellavance, "Manitoba Tory challenges Clark on coalition ban", ''[[National Post]]'', 4 May 2000, A06.</ref> As a result, Pallister left the Progressive Conservatives and joined the Alliance on August 17, 2000.<ref>"Canadian Conservatives hit by another defection", ''[[Reuters]] News'', 17 August 2000, 13:06 report.</ref> He won his new party's nomination for Portage—Lisgar over Dennis Desrochers and former MP [[Felix Holtmann]], in a contest marked by some bitterness.<ref>Helen Fallding, "Pallister carries Alliance flag", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 2 November 2000, A1.  Desrochers was an army captain who had served in [[Yugoslavia]].  See Helen Fallding, "Alliance stars faltering", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 26 October 2000, A1.</ref>

Pallister was elected to the House of Commons in the [[2000 Canadian federal election|2000 general election]], defeating his nearest opponent by over 10,000 votes. Hoeppner, running as an independent, finished in a distant fourth place. The Liberal Party won a [[majority government]], and Pallister served on the opposition benches. He did not openly endorse anyone in the 2002 [[Canadian Alliance leadership elections|Canadian Alliance leadership election]].

===Conservative MP===

The Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties merged on December 7, 2003, and Pallister became a member of the resulting [[Conservative Party of Canada]]. He considered launching a bid for the new party's leadership, but instead endorsed outgoing Alliance leader [[Stephen Harper]] for the position.<ref>"Manitoba Alliance MP Brian Pallister says he won't lead merged party", ''Canadian Press'', 6 January 2004, 20:25 report.</ref> He was easily reelected in the [[2004 Canadian federal election|2004 election]], in which the Liberals were reduced to a [[minority government]]. In July 2004, he was appointed to the [[Official Opposition (Canada)|Official Opposition]] [[Shadow Cabinet]] as critic for [[Minister of National Revenue (Canada)|National Revenue]].

Pallister gained increased national prominence in September 2005 after drawing attention to $750,000 of apparent spending irregularities in the office of [[David Dingwall]], the Chief Executive Officer of the [[Royal Canadian Mint]].<ref>Paul Samyn, "Mint manager's spending questioned by Tory MP", ''[[Vancouver Sun]]'', 28 September 2005, A6.</ref> Dingwall resigned after the accusations were publicized, but later claimed that his expenditures were inaccurately reported and fell within official guidelines.<ref>Bruce Cheadle, "Dingwall denies breaking Mint rules, says he quit to save controversy", ''Canadian Press'', 19 October 2005, 18:44 report.</ref> An independent review completed in late October 2005 found only minor discrepancies in Dingwall's expenses, amounting to less than $7,000. Pallister criticized this review as "little more than a whitewash", and argued that the auditors failed to include numerous ambiguous expenses.<ref>Paul Samyn, "Mint audit clears me: Dingwall", ''Montreal Gazette'', 27 October 2005, A13.</ref>

Pallister sang a parody of [[Pink Floyd]]'s "Another Brick in the Wall, Part Two" in the House of Commons on October 3, 2005, during the "Statements by Members" session before [[Question Period]]. The adjusted lyrics attacked [[David Dingwall]] and the Liberal government. The Speaker ruled him out of order.<ref>"Tory MP tunes up on Dingwall", ''Edmonton Journal'', 4 October 2005, B6.</ref>

Before the [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 federal election]], the ''[[Winnipeg Free Press]]'' reported that some Manitoba Progressive Conservatives were trying to persuade Pallister to challenge [[Stuart Murray]] for the provincial leadership.<ref>Mia Rabson, "Leadership dispute distracting Tories", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 29 October 2005, A6.</ref> Murray subsequently resigned, after 45% of delegates at the party's November 2005 convention voted for a leadership review. A subsequent ''Free Press'' poll showed Pallister as the second-most popular choice to succeed Murray, after fellow MP [[Vic Toews]].<ref>Mia Rabson, "Toews, Pallister for Murray's job: poll", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 27 December 2005, B2.</ref> Pallister campaigned for reelection at the federal level and was noncommittal about his provincial ambitions.

Pallister was easily reelected in 2006. The Conservatives won a minority government, and Pallister requested that incoming [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Stephen Harper]] not consider him for a [[Cabinet of Canada|cabinet portfolio]] while he was making his decision about entering provincial politics.<ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/pallister-weighs-bid-for-manitoba-tory-crown/article18153719/ "Pallister weighs bid for Manitoba Tory crown"], ''Globe and Mail'', 28 January 2006, A5.</ref> On February 17, 2006, he announced that he would not seek the provincial party leadership and would remain a federal MP.<ref>Mia Rabson, "Pallister says he'll stay on as MP", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 18 February 2006, A3.</ref> He was appointed chair of the House of Commons standing committee on Finance,<ref>Tara Perkins, "MPs play broker in battle between insurers, banks", ''Toronto Star'', 15 May 2006, C3.</ref> and in 2007 indicated that he wanted to remove financial access to offshore tax havens such as [[Barbados]].<ref>Paul Samyn, "MPs aim to kill corporate loophole", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 13 May 2007, A7.</ref> Later in the year, he was appointed [[parliamentary secretary]] to the [[Minister of International Trade (Canada)|Minister of International Trade]] and to the [[Minister for International Cooperation (Canada)|Minister for International Cooperation]].

Pallister surprised political observers in January 2008 by announcing that he would not run in the [[2008 Canadian federal election|next federal election]].<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/conservative-mp-pallister-to-leave-politics-1.720684 "Conservative MP Pallister to leave politics"], [[CBC.ca]], 9 January 2008; Mary Agnes Welch, "Party organizer seeks Conservative nomination in Portage-Lisgar", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 29 January 2008, A5.</ref>

== Return to provincial politics ==
[[File:Brian Pallister and Andrew Scheer - 2018 (41696270412).jpg|thumb|Pallister with [[Andrew Scheer]] in Ottawa in 2018.]]

=== Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba ===
After the [[2011 Manitoba general election|2011 provincial election]], [[Hugh McFadyen]] announced his resignation as leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba]]. On April 11, 2012, Pallister announced his intention to seek the party's leadership. On July 28, he became the [[presumptive nominee]] when the nomination process closed with no other candidates entered,<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/brian-pallister-takes-over-tory-leadership-in-manitoba-1.1277747 "Brian Pallister unopposed for Tory leadership in Manitoba,"] ''[[CBC News]]'', July 28, 2012.</ref> and was acclaimed as leader on July 30, 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/brian-pallister-takes-over-tory-leadership-in-manitoba-1.1277747 |date=July 30, 2012 |title=Brian Pallister takes over Tory leadership in Manitoba |publisher=CBC News}}</ref> Two months later, he easily won a by-election for McFadyen's seat of [[Fort Whyte]] in southwest Winnipeg.

Pallister came under fire by his critics for some off-color remarks he made while opposition leader. In 2013, when filming a holiday greeting, he called [[atheists]] "infidels". Pallister said that he never intended to offend anyone with the statement.<ref>"Manitoba Opposition leader has a holiday message for 'all you infidel atheists' ", ''The Globe and Mail'', 2 December 2013</ref>

During a debate in the Legislature on November 24, 2014, Pallister expressed his personal disdain for [[Halloween]] when talking about the NDP's PST tax increase. He compared the government's move to that of the holiday and said Halloween was bad for the integrity of children. The video went viral a year after the statement was made.<ref>"Brian Pallister says Halloween threatens the integrity of children", ''CBC.ca'', 1 November 2015</ref>

===2016 Manitoba general election===
On April 14, 2016, a [[CBC News]] report revealed that Pallister had traveled to [[Costa Rica]] 15 times since elected to Manitoba MLA in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/brian-pallister-spends-nearly-1-in-5-days-of-his-time-in-costa-rica-travel-logs-show-1.3535782|title=Pallister spends nearly 1 in 5 days of his time in Costa Rica, logs show|website=www.cbc.ca|access-date=2016-04-17}}</ref> Since then, he spent about 240 days either in Costa Rica or en route.

Pallister's Tories went into the election having led in most opinion polls for almost four years. [[Greg Selinger]]'s NDP government had raised the [[provincial sales tax]] after promising not to do so. Pallister led his party to a decisive victory over the NDP, claiming 40 of the 57 available seats in the legislature<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/in-manitoba-brian-pallister-wins-an-ugly-election-of-bad-choices/|title=In Manitoba, Brian Pallister wins an ugly election of bad choices - Macleans.ca|website=Macleans.ca|language=en-US|access-date=2016-04-22}}</ref> – the biggest majority government in recent Manitoba history.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-election-results-1.3543735|title=Brian Pallister's PCs win majority government in Manitoba|publisher=CBC News|date=2016-04-19}}</ref> He also became the first Progressive Conservative premier of the province since Filmon lost the 1999 election.

==Premier of Manitoba (2016–2021)==

Pallister and his cabinet were sworn in on May 3, 2016. He led the PCs to re-election with a slightly decreased majority in [[2019 Manitoba general election|2019]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Manitoba Election: Incumbent premier Brian Pallister's full victory speech after PCs re-elected {{!}} Watch News Videos Online|url=https://globalnews.ca/video/5886664/manitoba-election-incumbent-premier-brian-pallisters-full-victory-speech-after-pcs-re-elected/|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Global News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Manitoba Election: Brian Pallister wins re-election in Fort Whyte {{!}} Watch News Videos Online|url=https://globalnews.ca/video/5886283/manitoba-election-brian-pallister-wins-re-election-in-fort-whyte/|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Global News|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Economic policy ===

====Housing====

In June 2019, Pallister's government signed onto the National Housing Strategy with the federal government.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web |title=Province of Manitoba {{!}} News Releases {{!}} Governments of Canada and Manitoba Sign 10-year Housing Agreement |url=https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=45386 |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=Province of Manitoba |language=en}}</ref> The 10-year agreement with the federal government promised to invest almost $450.8 million to expand and repair social and community housing in the province.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> The strategy was cost shared by both levels of government, with Manitoba contributing $225.4 million to the agreement.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

==== PST changes ====

Pallister reduced Manitoba's [[provincial sales tax]] (PST) to 7 percent (down from 8 percent) in his government's 2019 budget, effective July 1.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dacey |first1=Elisha |title=Manitoba’s PST to be cut back to 7% on July 1 |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5030319/manitobas-pst-to-be-cut-back-to-7-per-cent-on-july-1/ |website=Global News |access-date=8 October 2023 |date=7 March 2019}}</ref> In 2021, his government exempted the PST from personal services such as haircuts and salon services.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Unger |first1=Danton |title=Pallister promises to move forward with personal services PST cut, reduction to education property tax |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/pallister-promises-to-move-forward-with-personal-services-pst-cut-reduction-to-education-property-tax/ |website=CTV News |access-date=8 October 2023 |date=1 April 2021}}</ref>

====Carbon tax====

Pallister, just like fellow conservative premiers [[Doug Ford]], [[Jason Kenney]] and [[Scott Moe]], is opposed to [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Justin Trudeau]]'s [[Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act|federal-imposed]] [[Carbon pricing in Canada|carbon tax]]. In 2019, Pallister's government filed a court challenge against it.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lambert|first=Steve|date=2019-04-03|title=Manitoba joins two other provinces challenging federal carbon tax in court|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/article/manitoba-joins-two-other-provinces-challenging-federal-carbon-tax-in-court/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-24|website=CTV News|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403202108/https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/manitoba-joins-two-other-provinces-challenging-federal-carbon-tax-in-court-1.4364200 |archive-date=2019-04-03 }}</ref> On March 25, 2021, when the [[Supreme Court of Canada]] ruled that the federal government's carbon tax plan is constitutional, Pallister said that Manitoba will continue the challenge.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McKendrick|first=Devon|date=2021-03-25|title=Manitoba will continue challenge of federal carbon tax: Pallister|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/manitoba-will-continue-challenge-of-federal-carbon-tax-pallister/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-24|website=CTV News|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325193833/https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/manitoba-will-continue-challenge-of-federal-carbon-tax-pallister-1.5362145 |archive-date=2021-03-25 }}</ref>

===COVID-19 pandemic===

Pallister led the provincial government response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Province of Manitoba {{!}} COVID Updates|url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/updates.html|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Province of Manitoba|language=en}}</ref> In December 2020, he received international attention and praise on social media for his "impassioned plea" for adherence to [[social distancing]] restrictions during the Holiday season to keep people safe.  However, many of these social media posts were later taken down when it came to light that Manitobans were reported as finding the province's response too slow, waiting for infection rates to soar before increasing restrictions, allowing the virus a rapid spread into October and November,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Froese |first1=Ian |title=Pallister's emotional plea to stay apart during the holidays resonates — but less so in Manitoba |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-brian-pallister-emotional-appeal-1.5829675 |access-date=11 December 2020 |work=CBC News |date=December 4, 2020}}</ref> when the province witnessed the worst per capita rate of infection in Canada.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manitoba PCs defend COVID-19 response, ask for priority rapid test supply amid rising numbers |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7477726/manitoba-government-covid-19-defense-testing/ |access-date=4 January 2021 |work=Global News |date=November 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Staff|date=2020-12-04|title=Pallister clip goes viral: Social media star tweets in praise of Premier, then deletes|language=en-CA|work=Winnipeg Free Press|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/pallister-clip-goes-viral-573290391.html|access-date=2021-05-23}}</ref> Critics of Pallister's government blamed the surge of COVID-19 cases in part on Pallister's Restart Manitoba plan, which encouraged the re-opening of the provincial economy in direct opposition to the advice of many Manitoba doctors.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister Asks CBC Journalist Why She Didn't Help Him Protect Manitobans From COVID-19 |url=https://pressprogress.ca/manitoba-premier-brian-pallister-asks-cbc-journalist-why-she-didnt-help-him-protect-manitobans-from-covid-19/ |access-date=4 January 2021 |work=PressProgress |date=November 23, 2020}}</ref> Pallister faced similar criticism during the third wave of the virus in May 2021, with changes to the Public Health Orders coming weeks after some critics first called for. Critics rejected his assertions that the province had already imposed some of the toughest restrictions in the country, with Opposition Party Leaders alleging he was not competent to govern in a pandemic.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pallister accused of 'gaslighting' Manitobans |url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/pallister-accused-of-gaslighting-manitobans-574374482.html |access-date=8 May 2021 |work=Winnipeg Free Press |date=May 7, 2021}}</ref> The Pallister government's slow response during the third wave further led to a lack of space in intensive care units in Manitoba and the transfer of several patients to hospitals out of province in [[Thunder Bay]], [[Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario|Sault Ste Marie]], [[North Bay, Ontario|North Bay]], and [[Ottawa, Ontario|Ottawa]], many of whom died either en route or far from family and advocates.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manitoba COVID-19 patient dies after attempted transport to Ontario ICU |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7895765/manitoba-covid-19-patient-dies-transport-ontario/ |access-date=17 March 2022 |work=Global News |date=May 26, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Woman in her 50s the 11th Manitoba COVID patient to die in out-of-province ICU |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/woman-in-her-50s-the-11th-manitoba-covid-patient-to-die-in-out-of-province-icu-1.6084829 |access-date=17 March 2022 |work=CBC |date=June 29, 2021}}</ref>

===Indigenous relations===

On July 7, 2021, Pallister gained controversy when he made remarks about colonial settlers, some who operated the [[Canadian Indian residential school system]], stating that "the people [colonists] who came here to this country, before it was a country and since, didn't come here to destroy anything. They came here to build. They came to build better."<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 July 2021 |title=Here's a look at Brian Pallister's full comments on Canada Day statue toppling — and what he's said since |language=en-US |work=[[CBC News]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/brian-pallister-comments-colonization-indigenous-1.6106977 |access-date=24 August 2021}}</ref> The comments prompted his [[Minister of Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations (Manitoba)|Minister of Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations]], [[Eileen Clarke (politician)|Eileen Clarke]], to resign. Her successor, [[Alan Lagimodiere]], instantly gained controversy after he defended the residential school system, saying that "At the time I think the intent…they thought they were doing the right thing. In retrospect, it's easy to judge in the past. But at the time, they really thought that they were doing the right thing."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Petz|first=Sarah|date=2021-07-15|title=New Manitoba Indigenous minister says residential school system believed 'they were doing the right thing'|language=en-US|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/alan-lagimodiere-comments-residential-schools-1.6104189|access-date=2021-08-24}}</ref> Weeks later, Pallister apologised for his comments, although many First Nations chiefs were unsatisfied with his apology, believing that it was insufficient and came too late.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arsenault |first=Mike |date=4 August 2021 |title='The damage has already been done': Pallister's apology not enough for Man. Indigenous leaders |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/the-damage-has-already-been-done-pallisters-apology-not-enough-for-man-indigenous-leaders/ |access-date=4 October 2023 |website=CTV News |language=en}}</ref>

=== Resignation ===

On August 10, 2021, Palister announced that he would be resigning as Premier on September 1 and not be seeking re-election in the [[Next Manitoba general election|next provincial election]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Petz|first=Sarah|date=2021-08-10|title=Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister stepping down before next election|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-premier-brian-pallister-announcement-1.6136047|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-10|website=[[CBC News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810161841/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-premier-brian-pallister-announcement-1.6136047 |archive-date=2021-08-10 }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Lambert|first=Steve|date=2021-08-28|title=Brian Pallister will step down as Manitoba premier on Wednesday|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/brian-pallister-manitoba-premier-resigns-1.6157735|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210831073037/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/brian-pallister-manitoba-premier-resigns-1.6157735|archive-date=2021-08-31|access-date=2021-08-30|website=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> Deputy Premier [[Kelvin Goertzen]] was chosen as interim leader of the PCs<ref>{{Cite web|title=Province of Manitoba {{!}} News Releases {{!}} Kelvin Goertzen Selected as Premier Designate|url=https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=52357|access-date=2021-09-01|website=Province of Manitoba|language=en}}</ref> and officially took over as premier on September 1. Pallister resigned his seat in the legislature on October 4.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 4, 2021|title=Former Manitoba premier Brian Pallister resigns as MLA for Fort Whyte|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/brian-pallister-mla-resigns-fort-whyte-manitoba-1.6199387|url-status=live|website=CBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004210333/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/brian-pallister-mla-resigns-fort-whyte-manitoba-1.6199387 |archive-date=2021-10-04 }}</ref> Health Minister [[Heather Stefanson]] was [[2021 Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba leadership election|elected as Pallister's permanent successor on October 30]], and was sworn in as premier on November 2.

==Electoral record==

=== 2019 Manitoba general election ===
{{Canadian election result/top|MB|2019|Fort Whyte|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|MB|PC|'''Brian Pallister'''|5,619|57.19|-6.99}}
{{CANelec|MB|NDP|Beatrice Bruske|1,757|17.88|+1.61}}
{{CANelec|MB|Liberal|Darrel Morin|1,731	|17.62|+6.21}}
{{CANelec|MB|Green|Sara Campbell|665|6.77|-0.15}}
{{CANelec|MB|Manitoba First|Jason Holenski|54|0.54|-0.65}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|9,826|100.0 &nbsp;}}<!--
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|&ndash;|&ndash;|&ndash;}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|&ndash;|&ndash;|&ndash;}}-->
{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|16,386}}
{{Canadian election result/source|Source: [[Elections Manitoba]]|Source: [[Elections Manitoba]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionsmanitoba.ca/en/Results/Elections/2019|title=Results: 42nd General Election|publisher=[[Elections Manitoba]]|date=29 March 2016|access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/en/Results/ENR|title=41ST GENERAL ELECTION, APRIL 19, 2016 - OFFICIAL RESULTS|publisher=[[Elections Manitoba]]|date= 19 April 2016|access-date=18 November 2016}}</ref>
{{end}}

=== 2016 Manitoba general election ===
{{Canadian election result/top|MB|2016|Fort Whyte|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|MB|PC|'''Brian Pallister'''|6,775|64.18|+9.00}}
{{CANelec|MB|NDP|George Wong|1,718|16.27|+5.02}}
{{CANelec|MB|Liberal|Peter Bastians|1,205|11.41|-20.15}}
{{CANelec|MB|Green|Carli Runions|731|6.92|+5.20}}
{{CANelec|MB|Manitoba|Daryl Newis|127|1.20|+1.20}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|10,556|100.0 &nbsp;}}<!--
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|&ndash;|&ndash;|&ndash;}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|&ndash;|&ndash;|&ndash;}}-->
{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [[Elections Manitoba]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/en/Voting/Candidates/1|title=Candidates: 41st General Election|publisher=[[Elections Manitoba]]|date=29 March 2016|access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/en/Results/ENR|title=41ST GENERAL ELECTION, APRIL 19, 2016 - OFFICIAL RESULTS|publisher=[[Elections Manitoba]]|date= 19 April 2016|access-date=18 November 2016}}</ref>
{{end}}

=== 2012 by-election ===
{{CANelec/top|MB|September 4, 2012|Fort Whyte|Fort Whyte|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes|by=yes|reason=Resignation of [[Hugh McFadyen]]}}
{{Canadian party colour|MB|PC|row}}
|[[Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba|Progressive Conservative]]
|'''Brian Pallister'''
|align="right"|3,626
|align="right"|55.18
|align="right"|-7.29
|align="right"|
{{CANelec |MB |Liberal |Bob Axworthy |2,074 |31.56 |+23.64 |}}
{{CANelec|MB|NDP|Brandy Schmidt|739|11.25|-18.36|}}
{{CANelec |MB |Green |Donnie Benham |113 |1.72 |&ndash; |}}
{{Canadian party colour|MB|Independent|row}}
|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|Darrell Ackman
|align="right"|19
|align="right"|0.29
|align="right"|
|align="right"|
|- bgcolor="white"
!align="right" colspan=3|Total valid votes
!align="right"|6,571
!align="right"|99.88
!align="right"|
|align="right"|
|- bgcolor="white"
!align="right" colspan=3|Rejected and declined votes
!align="right"|8
!align="right"|0.12
!align="right"|
|align="right"|
|- bgcolor="white"
!align="right" colspan=3|Turnout
!align="right"|6,579
!align="right"|42.28
!align="right"|-19.63
|align="right"|
|- bgcolor="white"
!align="right" colspan=3|Electors on the lists
!align="right"|15,560
!align="right"|
!align="right"|
|align="right"|
|}

=== 2006 Canadian federal election ===
{{2006 Canadian federal election/Portage—Lisgar}}

=== 2004 Canadian federal election ===
{{2004 Canadian federal election/Portage—Lisgar}}

=== 2000 Canadian federal election ===
{{2000 Canadian federal election/Portage—Lisgar}}

=== 1997 Canadian federal election ===
{{1997 Canadian federal election/Portage—Lisgar}}

=== 1995 Manitoba general election ===
{{1995 Manitoba general election/Portage la Prairie}}

===1992 by-election===
{{1992 Manitoba provincial by-elections/Portage la Prairie}}

All electoral information is taken from [[Elections Canada]] and [[Elections Manitoba]]. Provincial expenditures refer to individual candidate expenses. Italicized expenditures refer to submitted totals, and are presented when the final reviewed totals are not available.

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.brianpallister.ca}}
* {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=1167}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Greg Selinger]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Premier of Manitoba]]|years=2016&ndash;2021}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Kelvin Goertzen]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Hugh McFadyen]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the Opposition (Manitoba)]]|years=2012&ndash;2016}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Flor Marcelino]]}}
{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Gary_Filmon}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post1preceded = [[Gerald Ducharme]]
| post1         = [[Minister of Government Services (Manitoba)|Minister of Government Services]]
| post1years    = 1995&ndash;1997
| post1note     =
| post1followed = [[Frank Pitura]]
}}
{{s-par|ca-mb}}
{{succession box|title=[[Legislative Assembly of Manitoba|Member of the Manitoba Legislature]] for [[Portage la Prairie (provincial electoral district)|Portage la Prairie]]
| before = [[Ed Connery]]
| after  = [[David Faurschou]]
| years  = 1992&ndash;1997}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Hugh McFadyen]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Legislative Assembly of Manitoba|Member of the Manitoba Legislature]] for [[Fort Whyte]]|years=2012&ndash;present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{MBPremiers}}
{{Manitoba PC Leaders}}
{{Pallister ministry}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pallister, Brian}}
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