Rick Wowchuk

Rick Wowchuk
MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Swan River
Incumbent
Assumed office
19 April 2016
Preceded byRon Kostyshyn
Personal details
Born
Richard Paul Wowchuk

1958
Swan River, Manitoba, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative

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]

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.

  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.