Mary Elisabeth Dolin ( Brugger; January 25, 1936 – April 9, 1985) was an American-born Canadian

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

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. She was elected to the

Legislative Assembly of Manitoba The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba () is the deliberative assembly of the Manitoba Legislature in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly at List of Manitoba genera ...

in 1981 as a

New Democrat New Democrats may refer to: * New Democratic Party, a social democratic party in Canada * New Democrats (United States), the ideological centrist faction of the Democratic Party ** New Democrat Coalition, the related caucus in the United States H ...

, and was a cabinet minister in the government of

Howard Pawley Howard Russell Pawley (November 21, 1934 – December 30, 2015) was a Canadian politician and professor who was the 18th premier of Manitoba from 1981 to 1988. Prior to his premiership, Pawley served in various ministerial positions after his ...

prior to her death. She also had the married names of Higgins from 1957 to 1966 and Andrus from 1966 to 1979. Born Mary Elisabeth Brugger in Fond du Lac,

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

, she was educated at

Webster College Webster University is a private university with its main campus in Webster Groves, Missouri, United States. It has multiple branch locations across the United States and countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The university has an alumni net ...

Saint Louis University Saint Louis University (SLU) is a private university, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit research university in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by Louis William Valentine DuBourg, it is the oldest university west of the Missi ...

Washington University in St. Louis Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is a private research university in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1853 by a group of civic leaders and named for George Washington, the university spans 355 acres across its Danforth ...

and the

University of Manitoba The University of Manitoba (U of M, UManitoba, or UM) is a public research university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1877, it is the first university of Western Canada. Both by total student enrolment and campus area, the University of ...

. She came to Canada with her husband and children in 1970. She held a number of degrees, including a Bachelor of Education, and was a teacher and school administrator before entering political life. She served as a member of the Manitoba Teachers' Society, as well as the Manitoba Association of Rights and Liberties. Dolin was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1981 provincial election in the north-end

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

riding of Kildonan, defeating her Progressive Conservative opponent by more than 2,000 votes. On July 19, 1982, she was named Manitoba Minister of Labour and Manpower, with responsibility for the Civil Service Act, the Civil Service Superannuation Act, the Pension Benefits Act and the Public Servants Insurance Act, and well as the minister responsible for the

Status of Women Women's rights are the rights and Entitlement (fair division), entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide. They formed the basis for the women's rights movement in the 19th century and the feminist movements during the 20th and 21st c ...

. Following a cabinet shuffle on November 4, 1983, she retained the Labour portfolio and the Status of Women responsibility, while also becoming the Minister of Urban Affairs. As Labour Minister, Dolin conducted the final pension review in Manitoba before 2004.

Death and legacy

She left cabinet on January 30, 1985 following her diagnosis of breast cancer. She died shortly thereafter. Her husband, Marty Dolin, was elected in a 1985 by-election held in the Kildonan riding following her death. The Mary Beth Dolin Meritorious Fire Service Medal was established in her honour in 1988.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dolin, Mary Beth New Democratic Party of Manitoba MLAs Washington University in St. Louis alumni Webster University alumni Saint Louis University alumni University of Manitoba alumni Politicians from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin American emigrants to Canada 1936 births 1985 deaths Women MLAs in Manitoba Members of the Executive Council of Manitoba 20th-century Canadian women politicians Women government ministers of Canada Deaths from cancer in Manitoba Deaths from breast cancer in Canada 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba