Gary Albert Doer (born 31 March 1948) is a former Canadian politician and diplomat from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He served as Canada's ambassador to the United States from 19 October 2009, to 3 March 2016. Doer previously served as the 20th premier of Manitoba from 1999 to 2009, leading a New Democratic Party government.
After his term as envoy to Washington, Doer took up a position as senior business advisor with the global law firm Dentons and was retained by the government of Alberta to lobby the Trump administration on the softwood lumber dispute. Doer is a member of the Inter-American Dialogue.
Early life and career Gary Doer was born to a middle class family in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His background is German and Welsh. He graduated from St. Paul's High School and went on to study political science and sociology at the University of Manitoba for one year where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity,Staff Writer (Summer 2012). "Tekes in Politics" . The Teke. pp. 12–13. Tau Kappa Epsilon. Retrieved 10 January 2018. but left to become a corrections officer at the Vaughan Street Detention Centre. He later rose to become deputy superintendent of the Manitoba Youth Centre."Profile: Gary Doer", Winnipeg Free Press, 17 April 1995. Doer's work environment was not always safe: he once had to deal with a hostage taking situation, and was attacked with a baseball bat on another occasion.Geoffrey York, "New leader of Manitoba NDP rose through union movement", Globe and Mail, 31 March 1988, A4. For the date of Doer's departure from university, see David Roberts, "Doer practices for last kick at the political can", Globe and Mail, 3 April 1995, A4.
Doer became president of the Manitoba Government Employees' Association in 1979, and served in this capacity until 1986."National union of civil workers acclaims head", Globe and Mail, 4 April 1979, P2. He also held prominent positions with the Manitoba Federation of Labour and the National Union of Public and General Employees, served as a director of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and became a governor of the University of Manitoba.Geoffrey York, "New leader of Manitoba NDP rose through union movement", Globe and Mail, 31 March 1988, A4. In 1983, he negotiated an agreement with the provincial government of Howard Pawley in which civil servants agreed to delay a wage increase in return for a guarantee of no layoffs or wage rollbacks."The Manitoba Government and the union representing about 12,000 civil servants ...", Globe and Mail, 16 February 1983, P8; "Manitoba workers opt for job security", Globe and Mail, 24 February 1983, P13. The following year, he openly criticized Dennis McDermott's leadership of the Canadian Labour Congress.Brian Cole, "Antagonism to McDermott voiced by Doer", Winnipeg Free Press, 22 October 1983.
Doer first joined the New Democratic Party in the 1970s, and worked for the party in the 1973 provincial election.Alison Mayes, "The province is his office", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 May 2007, B3. He discontinued his membership in 1975 to preserve the neutrality of his union, and was later courted by both the New Democrats and Progressive Conservatives to run for public office.Richard Cleroux and Geoffrey York, "Doer favored to win Manitoba NDP leadership race", Globe and Mail, 15 March 1988, a4. He rejoined the NDP in 1986, and was a candidate in that year's provincial election.Geoffrey York, "Filmon describes rival as a 'slick individual'", Globe and Mail, 16 March 1988, A4.Jordan Timm, "The Gary Doer phenomenon" , Macleans, 24 May 2007, accessed 18 August 2007.
Cabinet minister Doer was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in the 1986 provincial election for the northeast Winnipeg division of Concordia. He joined the government of Premier Howard Pawley on 17 April 1986, as Minister of Urban Affairs, and was given additional responsibilities as Minister responsible for the Manitoba Telephone System on 2 December of the same year. Doer ordered a Royal Canadian Mounted Police probe of the MTS soon after his appointment, and worked to reform its practices following a failed investment in Saudi Arabia."RCMP probes latest scandal in Manitoba telephone firm", Toronto Star, 15 December 1986, A18; Janet McFarland, "Chance meetings spark merger", Globe and Mail, 19 March 2004, B4. Outgoing MTS minister Al Mackling had previously commented that Doer would make a good replacement. See Ritchie Page, "Five top officials ousted over Manitoba telephone fiasco", Globe and Mail, 22 November 1986, A4. He soon developed a reputation as a "fixer", working as a trouble-shooter in difficult fields.Derek Ferguson, "Ex-rebel seems likely to succeed Pawley", Toronto Star, 29 March 1988, A24.
Doer was given further responsibilities as Minister of Crown Investments on 5 February 1987,He was also named to chair a new committee of cabinet called the Crown Reform Committee. See Geoffrey York, "Pawley hauls in reins on Crown companies after MTX write-off", Globe and Mail, 6 February 1987, A3. and was later named as Minister responsible for the Accountability of Crown Corporations (19 August 1987) and Minister responsible for the Liquor Control Act (21 September 1987). Seen as a rising star in the party, he was sometimes mentioned as a future leader.Geoffrey York, "Life sweet again for Pawley as NDP widens lead in polls", Globe and Mail, 17 March 1987, A9.
The Pawley government was sustained by a narrow legislative majority after the 1986 election, and was defeated on 8 March 1988, when disgruntled backbencher Jim Walding voted with the opposition on a budget non-confidence motion. Pawley resigned as NDP leader the next day, and called a new general election for 26 April.Ross Howard, "'Courageous' move called best hope", Globe and Mail, 10 March 1988, A1.
NDP leader
Leadership election Doer was the first declared candidate in the Manitoba New Democratic Party's 1988 leadership contest. He was supported by cabinet ministers Vic Schroeder, Myrna Phillips, Muriel Smith, Leonard Evans, Jerry Storie and Wilson Parasiuk, and by federal Members of Parliament Rod Murphy and David Orlikow.Geoffrey York, "Senior ministers back Doer's leadership bid in New Democrat race", Globe and Mail, 26 March 1988, A8; Geoffrey York, "NDP delegates pick leader tomorrow", Globe and Mail, 29 March 1988, A4. He also received an endorsement from the Manitoba Federation of Labour."Ex-rebel seems likely to succeed Pawley." Doer emphasized his experience in managing large organizations, and called for pay equity legislation to be introduced within a year of his election."Attack on Meech pact given warm welcome", Globe and Mail, 29 March 1988, A4; Richard Cleroux and Geoffrey York, "Doer favored to win Manitoba NDP leadership race", Globe and Mail, 15 March 1988, A4. He narrowly defeated rival candidate Len Harapiak on the third ballot of the party's leadership convention in Winnipeg.Geoffrey York, "Doer captures NDP helm in tight Manitoba race", Globe and Mail, 31 March 1988, A1. He was not sworn in as premier, as the legislature had already been dissolved.Geoffrey York, "Pawley to stay until Manitoba election", Globe and Mail, 1 April 1988, A3. The rules of succession were unclear in this situation. It is possible that Doer could have been sworn in as premier, but he accepted Howard Pawley's decision to remain as a caretaker premier until the election.
Doer became leader of the Manitoba NDP when the party was at a low ebb of popularity. An internal poll before the election showed that they had only 6% popular support, and some NDP workers privately worried that they could lose all of their legislative seats.Tim Harper, "Manitoba parties stagger to the starting line", Toronto Star, 13 March 1988, B1; Geoffrey York, "Manitoba NDP in uphill battle", Globe and Mail, 26 March 1988, D1; Richard Cleroux and Geoffrey York, "NDP's 12 seats might have been 0, official admits", Globe and Mail, 28 April 1988, A19; Richard Cleroux, "Party bounced from office to third place", Globe and Mail, 29 April 1988, A8. The party was also $1 million in debt. See Doug Nairne, "Doer Die", Winnipeg Free Press, 24 January 1999, A1. Many believed Doer was their best hope for a recovery.Doer himself later acknowledged that he was not yet ready for the take a position of leadership. Daniel Lett, "Opposition leader knows he has to win this time", Winnipeg Free Press, 11 September 1999, A17. Support for the NDP increased to 19% during the leadership campaign, and to 23% after Doer was chosen as Pawley's successor. The party nevertheless remained in third place, and faced an uphill struggle in the 1988 election.Geoffrey York, "Party still running a poor third in popularity", Globe and Mail, 8 April 1988, A4.
1988 election Doer promised a $58 million tax cut, and opposed the federal government's free trade deal with the United States of America. He indicated that he was open to the possibility of amending the Meech Lake Accord, a federal proposal for constitutional reform.Derek Ferguson, "Tough fighting starts now in Manitoba election race", Toronto Star, 4 April 1988, A16; Geoffrey York, "New Manitoba NDP leader promises tax cut if returned", Globe and Mail, 5 April 1988, A4. He also promised to build more community health centres, and supported home renovations for senior citizens and the disabled.Geoffrey York, "Tories pledge additional tax cuts", Globe and Mail, 8 April 1988, A4.
The NDP won 12 out of 57 seats, while the Progressive Conservatives under Gary Filmon won 25 seats and the Liberals under Sharon Carstairs jumped from one seat to twenty. Although the NDP was knocked down to third place, it still held the balance of power. Doer rejected the possibility of forming a coalition government with the Liberals. Instead, he opted to tolerate a PC minority government, clearing the way for Filmon to become premier with the Liberals as the Official Opposition.Geoffrey York, "Manitoba's NDP will permit Tories to assume power", Globe and Mail, 28 April 1988, A1. He was not personally blamed for his party's loss, and continued as party leader. The NDP chose not to defeat Filmon's government during confidence votes in late 1988 and early 1989, as Doer argued the public would not support another election for a legislature less than a year old.Geoffrey York, "NDP critical, but won't kill Manitoba Tories' budget", Globe and Mail, 18 August 1988, A4; "Doer goes against non-confidence vote", Globe and Mail, 25 May 1989, A13; "Manitoba NDP foils Liberal bid to force election", Toronto Star, 25 May 1989, A15; Geoffrey York, "NDP cites tax breaks, backs Manitoba budget", Globe and Mail, 8 June 1989, A14.
Doer married Ginny Devine, who had previously been principal secretary to Premier Howard Pawley, in the summer of 1988. They later had a daughter, Emily Doer.
Meech Lake Accord