Jeff Wharton is a Canadian politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Red River North, formerly serving as the Minister of Economic Development, Investment and Trade. A member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, he was first elected in the 2016 provincial election as MLA for Gimli, and re-elected in 2019 as MLA for Red River North.[1]

Jeff Wharton
Minister of Economic Development, Investment and Trade
In office
January 30, 2023 – October 18, 2023
PremierHeather Stefanson
Preceded byCliff Cullen
Succeeded byJamie Moses
Minister of Environment, Climate and Parks
In office
January 18, 2022 – January 30, 2023
PremierHeather Stefanson
Preceded bySarah Guillemard
Succeeded byKevin Klein
Minister of Crown Services
In office
September 25, 2019 – January 18, 2022
PremierBrian Pallister
Kelvin Goertzen
Heather Stefanson
Preceded byColleen Mayer
Succeeded byPortfolio Abolished
Minister of Municipal Relations
In office
August 17, 2017 – October 23, 2019
PremierBrian Pallister
Preceded bynew portfolio
Succeeded byRochelle Squires
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Red River North
Gimli (2016-2019)
Assumed office
April 19, 2016
Preceded byPeter Bjornson
Personal details
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Residence(s)Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba

Wharton initially ran as the Progressive Conservative candidate for Gimli in the 2011 provincial election, but lost to incumbent NDP MLA Peter Bjornson. When Bjornson retired in 2015, Wharton ran and was elected MLA for Gimli in the 2016 Manitoba election.

On August 17, 2017, Premier Brian Pallister appointed Wharton as Minister of Municipal Relations.[2]

Following electoral boundary changes implemented in 2019, Gimli was dissolved and Wharton successfully sought election in the new constituency of Red River North.

Wharton was appointed Minister of Crown Services on September 26, 2019. He was succeeded by the Honourable Jamie Moses with the election of the NDP government in 2023.[3] On October 24, 2023, he was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Economic Development, Investment and Trade.

Electoral record

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2023 Manitoba general election: Red River North
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Jeff Wharton 5,926 60.35 +2.38 $24,507.31
New Democratic Alicia Hill 3,893 39.65 +14.78 $168.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 9,819 98.56 $64,198.00
Total rejected and declined ballots 143 1.44
Turnout 9,962 60.47 -3.49
Eligible voters 16,474
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -6.20
Source(s)
2019 Manitoba general election: Red River North
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Jeff Wharton 5,569 57.97 -8.2 $24,853.38
New Democratic Chris Pullen 2,389 24.87 +3.2 $4,288.04
Green Graham Hnatiuk 740 7.70 $275.00
Liberal Noel Ngo 735 7.65 -4.5 $0.00
Manitoba First Jocelyn Burzuik 173 1.80 $1,716.07
Total valid votes 9,606
Rejected 38
Eligible voters / turnout 15,077 63.96
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -5.7
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2019). Statement of Votes for the 42nd Provincial General Election, September 10, 2019 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.
"Candidate Election Returns". Elections Manitoba. Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
2016 Manitoba general election: Gimli
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Jeff Wharton 5,614 60.53 17.25
New Democratic Armand Bélanger 2,579 27.81 -23.72
Green Dwight Harfield 843 9.09 5.91
Manitoba Ed Paquette 239 2.58
Total valid votes 9,275
Rejected 108
Eligible voters / turnout 14,226 65.96 -0.03
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2016). Statement of Votes for the 41st Provincial General Election, April 19, 2016 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.
"Election Returns: 41st General Election". Elections Manitoba. 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
2011 Manitoba general election: Gimli
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Peter Bjornson 5,012 51.52 -7.22 $37,146.57
Progressive Conservative Jeff Wharton 4,210 43.28 9.20 $34,709.30
Green Glenda Whiteman 309 3.18 $1,012.25
Liberal Lawrence Einarsson 197 2.03 -5.16 $0.00
Total valid votes 9,728
Rejected 17
Eligible voters / turnout 14,769 65.98 3.07
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2011). Statement of Votes for the 40th Provincial General Election, October 4, 2011 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.
"Election Returns: 40th General Election". Elections Manitoba. 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2018.

References

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