Leonard "Len" Derkach (born January 21, 1945) is a former politician in

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

, Canada. He was a cabinet minister in the government of

Gary Filmon Gary Albert Filmon (born August 24, 1942) is a Canadian politician from Manitoba who served as the 19th premier of Manitoba. He was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1983 to 2000, and served as the premier from ...

, and was a member of the

Manitoba legislature The Manitoba Legislature is the legislature of the province of Manitoba, Canada. Today, the legislature is made of two elements: the lieutenant governor of Manitoba, lieutenant governor (representing the King of Canada) and the unicameral assemb ...

from 1986 to 2011. The son of Nicholas Derkach and Minnie Kalyniak, he was born in Rossburn, Manitoba, and was educated at

Brandon University Brandon University is a university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, with an enrolment of approximately 3,375 (2020) full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, ...

. He worked as a teacher and farmer before entering provincial politics. He was also a school board trustee on the Pelly Trail School Board from 1979 to 1985, serving as chair from 1982 to 1985. In 1974, he married Margaret Ann Helten. In 1986, Derkach was elected to the provincial legislature as a Progressive Conservative in

Roblin-Russell Roblin-Russell is a former provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created by redistribution in 1979 (with considerable territory from the former riding of Roblin), and was abolished in 1999. Roblin-Russell w ...

, a rural riding in the province's southwest. Derkach defeated his New Democratic opponent, Fred Embryk, by 3,241 votes to 3,203. The NDP won the election, and Derkach became an opposition MLA. The Progressive Conservatives won the provincial election of 1988, and Derkach was re-elected in Roblin-Russell by an increased margin (with the Liberals overtaking the NDP for second place). When Gary Filmon was sworn in as

Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of govern ...

on May 9, 1988, Derkach was named

Minister of Education An education minister (sometimes minister of education) is a position in the governments of some countries responsible for dealing with educational matters. Where known, the government department, ministry, or agency that develops policy and deli ...

(which was renamed Minister of Education and Training on April 21, 1989). In this capacity, he increased funding for the province's private schools. Derkach was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 1990. After a cabinet shuffle on January 14, 1992, he was named Minister of Rural Development. He was again re-elected in the provincial election of 1995, once more defeating Fred Embryk. The Progressive Conservatives were defeated by the New Democrats in the provincial election of 1999. Derkach was re-elected in the renamed riding of Russell by a reduced margin, defeating New Democrat Vince Lelond by 595 votes. He resigned from cabinet with the rest of the Filmon ministry after the election. Derkach served as opposition critic on matters relating to education and Manitoba's growing

casino A casino is a facility for gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos also host live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, conce ...

economy, and was re-elected by an increased margin in the general election of 2003, despite the poor province-wide showing of the Progressive Conservative Party. In addition to serving as a cabinet minister, Derkach also served as Director of the Canada Ukraine Legislative Education Project while in government. He was re-elected in the 2007 election. In 2011, Derkach announced he would not seek an eighth term in the legislature.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Derkach, Len 1945 births Living people Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba MLAs Members of the Executive Council of Manitoba 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba 21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba