History of Canadian First Ministers - Manitoba

Manitoba

Manitoba did not adopt a party system until 1888. Before that time, the premiership changed frequently, with five premierships in the first parliament alone. The only premier to serve a long term during this time was John Norquay, who held the office for nine years from 1878 to 1887. After the party system was adopted, the premiership alternated between the Manitoba Liberal Party and the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba (originally just "Conservative") until 1969. Thenafter, it alternated between the New Democratic Party of Manitoba and the Progressive Conservatives. The longest serving premier of Manitoba was John Bracken, who held the office for twenty-one years from 1922 to 1943 and was a member of the Liberal Party, then calling itself the "Liberal-Progressive Party".