Rene Ernest Toupin (May 15, 1934 – March 15, 2014), born in

Saint Boniface Boniface, OSB (born Wynfreth; 675 –5 June 754) was an English Benedictines, Benedictine monk and leading figure in the Anglo-Saxon mission to the Germanic parts of Francia during the eighth century. He organised significant foundations of ...

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 ...

, was a

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 ...

in Manitoba,

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. He was a New Democratic member of 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 ...

from 1969 to 1977, and served as a

cabinet minister A minister is a politician who heads a ministry, making and implementing decisions on policies in conjunction with the other ministers. In some jurisdictions the head of government is also a minister and is designated the ' prime minister', ' p ...

in the government of

Edward Schreyer Edward Richard Schreyer (born December 21, 1935) is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as the 22nd governor general of Canada from 1979 to 1984. He previously served as the 16th premier of Manitoba from 1969 to 1977. Schr ...

. Toupin was educated at

Université Laval (; English: ''Laval University)'' is a public research university in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The university traces its roots to the Séminaire de Québec, founded by François de Montmorency-Laval in 1663, making it the oldest institutio ...

, and returned to Manitoba after his graduation. He was the Chair of the La Salle School Board from 1962 to 1966, and Chair of the La Salle Credit Union from 1962 to 1969. He was also a member of the Societe Franco-Manitobaine. He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1969,"August 1969 - New Democratic Party Success in Manitoba Election. - Formation of N.D.P. Provincial Cabinet.", ''Keesing's Record of World Events, August 1, 1969 scoring a relatively easy win in the riding of Springfield. The NDP formed a

minority government A minority government, minority cabinet, minority administration, or a minority parliament is a government and cabinet formed in a parliamentary system when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in ...

following this election, and Toupin was named

Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs The Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs was a Government of Canada cabinet position held between 1967 and 1995. The minister was responsible for consumer and corporate issues relating to legislation at the federal level. The minister was a ...

on July 15, 1969. On December 18, 1969, he was transferred to the

Ministry of Health and Social Development The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (, in short ) is a ministry of the Government of Russia responsible for health care and public health. The Ministry of Health oversees the legal regulation and state policies of health in Russia, ...

, where he remained for over four years. Toupin was narrowly re-elected in the 1973 election over Progressive Conservative challenger John Vaags. Toupin held several cabinet portfolios during the Schreyer government's second term in office. He was named Minister of Tourism, Recreation and Cultural Affairs from January 28, 1974, and also became the Minister of Cooperative Development responsible for the Liquor Commission on October 15, 1975. Followed a cabinet shuffle on September 22, 1976, he retained the Cooperative Development portfolio and was named Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs for a second time, with responsibility for the Manitoba Telephone System and Communications. The New Democrats were defeated in the 1977 election, and Toupin personally lost his riding to Tory Bob Anderson by just under 2,000 votes. He did not seek a return to provincial politics after that time. He died on March 15, 2014, at the age of 79.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Toupin, Rene 1934 births 2014 deaths Franco-Manitoban people Members of the Executive Council of Manitoba New Democratic Party of Manitoba MLAs People from St. Boniface, Winnipeg Politicians from Winnipeg 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba