Charles Greenlay
Charles Edwin Greenlay (June 8, 1899
Early life
Born at
Political life
Greenlay first entered political life in 1930 as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie. In 1943, persuaded by his childhood friend, Douglas Lloyd Campbell, to pursue provincial politics, he was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in a by-election held on November 18, 1943, replacing Toby Sexsmith. At this time, Manitoba was governed by a coalition of Liberal-Progressives and Conservatives. Running in Portage la Prairie, Greenlay easily won election as a pro-coalition Conservative. Shortly after his election, the Conservatives renamed themselves as Progressive Conservatives.[1]
Greenlay was re-elected as a coalition Progressive Conservative in the
Greenlay was re-elected without opposition in the 1949 provincial election.[1] The following year, the Progressive Conservatives left the coalition government to sit on the opposition benches. Greenlay opposed this decision, and left the Progressive Conservatives to sit as a Liberal-Progressive. He was named Provincial Secretary again on February 13, 1950, also retaining the Minister of Labour portfolio.[1]
Greenlay was re-elected as a Liberal-Progressive in the
The Liberal-Progressives were defeated by the Progressive Conservatives in the 1958 provincial election, although Greenlay was re-elected in Portage la Prairie[1] with an increased majority. In the 1959 election, however, he lost his seat to Progressive Conservative candidate John Christianson[1] by 473 votes. Manitoba CCF leader Lloyd Stinson once described Greenlay as "a mild, quiet little man, not lacking in ability but essentially cautious and stubborn". Likeable on a personal level, he was a very conservative administrator. His decision to switch parties in 1950 was met with little controversy.
Later life
Following his defeat to J. A. Christianson in the 1959 general election, he returned to municipal government as Secretary-Treasurer of the Municipality of
He died in Portage la Prairie at the age of 84.[2]
References
- Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "MLA Biographies - Deceased". Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Archived from the original on 2014-03-30.
- ^ a b c d "Charles Edwin Greenlay (1899-1984)". Memorable Manitobans. Manitoba Historical Society.
- Sources
- The Canadian Parliamentary Guide. 1947.
- "Obituary". Winnipeg Free Press. 29 May 1984. p. 44.