Rick Wowchuk

Richard Paul "Rick" Wowchuk (/ˈwoʊˌtʃʌk/ WOH-chuk^[1]) is a Canadian politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, representing the electoral district of Swan River as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba. He was first elected in the 2016 provincial election, and re-elected in 2019 and 2023.^[2]

Rick Wowchuk MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Swan River
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 April 2016
Preceded by	Ron Kostyshyn
Personal details
Born	Richard Paul Wowchuk 1958 Swan River, Manitoba, Canada
Political party	Progressive Conservative

During the 2019 election campaign, Wowchuk came under scrutiny after it was revealed he was under sexual harassment allegations from his former constituency office assistant. It was reported Wowchuk violated workplace policy on five occasions, including by showing a picture of nude women to his assistant, by making a comment about her wearing a bikini, and through a joke about taking a meeting with her on FaceTime while he himself was bathing.^[3] The allegations did not affect Wowchuk at the polls; he was allowed to remain in the PC caucus and was re-elected in his riding by a large margin.^[4]

On October 24, 2023, after an election in which the PCs lost government to the New Democratic Party, he was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Natural Resources.

Electoral record

v t e 2023 Manitoba general election: Swan River
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Progressive Conservative	Rick Wowchuk	4,801	62.91	-5.95	$11,614.36
	New Democratic	Andy Maxwell	2,433	31.88	+6.00	$6,625.95
	Keystone	Don McKenna	397	5.20	–	$1,323.84
Total valid votes/expense limit			7,631	98.29	–	$52,337.00
Total rejected and declined ballots			133	1.71	–
Turnout			7,764	57.90	+3.03
Eligible voters			13,409
	Progressive Conservative hold		Swing		-5.98
Source(s) Source: Elections Manitoba[5][6][7]

v t e 2019 Manitoba general election: Swan River
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Progressive Conservative	Rick Wowchuk	5,546	68.87	12.68	$9,962.06
	New Democratic	Shelley Wiggins	2,084	25.88	-7.27	$6,225.59
	Liberal	David Teffaine	423	5.25	-1.34	$0.00
Total valid votes			8,053	–	–
Rejected			62	–
Eligible voters / turnout			14,790	54.87	-5.31
Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2019). Statement of Votes for the 42nd Provincial General Election, September 10, 2019 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.

v t e 2016 Manitoba general election: Swan River
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Progressive Conservative	Rick Wowchuk	4,105	56.19	15.80	$27,515.00
	New Democratic	Ron Kostyshyn	2,422	33.15	-23.00	$32,595.02
	Liberal	Shayne Lynxleg	482	6.60	3.13	$131.25
	Green	Dan Soprovich	297	4.07	–	$2,061.05
Total valid votes			7,306	–	–	$39,956.00
Rejected			25	–
Eligible voters / turnout			12,182	60.18	0.52
Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2016). Statement of Votes for the 41st Provincial General Election, April 19, 2016 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba."Election Returns: 41st General Election". Elections Manitoba. 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2018.

References

1. "Swan River MLA Rick Wowchuk celebrates World Teachers Day". YouTube. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
2. "Manitoba election results". Global News. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
3. Annable, Kristin (5 September 2019). "PC candidate breached workplace policy by showing photo of naked women, report says". CBC News. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
4. Annable, Kristin (18 September 2019). "MLA Rick Wowchuk remains in PC caucus after showing assistant pic of naked women". CBC News. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
5. "Summary of Votes Received" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
6. "CANDIDATE ELECTION RETURNS GENERAL ELECTION 2023". Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
7. "2023 GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE AND REGISTERED PARTY ELECTION EXPENSE LIMITS - FINAL EXPENSE LIMIT" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 4 May 2024.