Greg Dewar

Gregory Dewar, MLA (born January 9, 1956) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He is a former member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.[1]

Dewar was born in Selkirk, Manitoba, the grandson of former mayor Ben Massey.[2] He was educated at the University of Winnipeg, and worked as a steelworker and as a small businessman prior to entering political life. Dewar served as treasurer of the Selkirk local of the Manitoba Metis Federation, and was a founding director of the Maurepas Village Housing Cooperative. He was also involved in the Selkirk Restitution and Reconciliation Committee, a program which assists young offenders.[3]

Dewar was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1990, running as a New Democrat in the riding of Selkirk.[1] He received 3735 votes, against 3467 for Progressive Conservative Russ Farrell (incumbent Liberal Gwen Charles was third with 3009). Dewar was re-elected by a wider margin in the 1995 election, and by a comfortable margin in 1999.[3] The NDP formed government following the 1999 election, and Dewar was appointed Government Whip.[3]

Dewar supported Lorne Nystrom's bid to become leader of the federal New Democratic Party in 1995. In 2003, he supported Bill Blaikie.

Dewar was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 2003, receiving more than 60% of the vote in his riding.[3]

He was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election and in the 2011 provincial election.[1] Dewar was the legislative assistant to the Minister of Finance.[3] He resumed the role of Government Whip following the 2011 election and held that position until 2014.[2]

On November 3, 2014, Dewar was appointed as Minister of Finance after then-Minister Jennifer Howard, along with four other ministers, resigned from cabinet over concerns about Premier Selinger's leadership.[4]