Manning, Preston (1942-…), was leader of Canada’s Reform Party from 1987 to 2000. He had helped found the party in 1987 to push for political reforms and for a reduction in the national debt. Under Manning’s leadership, the Reform Party won national prominence during the 1990’s. In the general election held in 1997, the party won more seats in the Canadian House of Commons than any other party except the Liberal Party. As a result, the Reform Party became Canada’s official opposition party. In 2000, members of the Reform Party voted to join the newly created Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance. The new party, commonly called the Canadian Alliance, then became the official opposition in the House of Commons. Manning ran for the leadership of the new party but was defeated by Stockwell Day, a former Alberta treasurer. Manning served in the House from 1993 to 2002 and was opposition leader from 1997 to 2000. In 2007, Manning was appointed to the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honors.
Ernest Preston Manning was born on June 10, 1942, in Edmonton, Alberta. His father, Ernest Charles Manning, was premier of Alberta from 1943 to 1968. The younger Manning graduated from the University of Alberta in 1964. He and his father coauthored the book Political Realignment (1967), which called for an end to Canada’s traditional two-party system. In The New Canada (1992), Preston explained the Reform Party’s goals. Before Manning became leader of the Reform Party, he worked as a management consultant for oil and utility companies and government agencies.
