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Peter James Maloway (born November 10, 1952) is a Canadians politician, who has served as a member of both the House of Commons of Canada and the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. He is the longest-serving current member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
He originally served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1986 to 2008, representing Elmwood for the New Democratic Party of Manitoba. He was then elected to the House of Commons of Canada for the Winnipeg division of Elmwood—Transcona in the 2008 federal election as a member of the New Democratic Party, but was defeated by Conservative candidate Lawrence Toet in the 2011 federal election. He subsequently ran in the 2011 provincial election in his former provincial riding of Elmwood, winning re-election to the provincial legislature.
Maloway was the Returning Officer for the Winnipeg division of Wolseley in the 1973 provincial election. Official results on election night showed a tie between Manitoba Liberal Party leader Izzy Asper and New Democratic Party candidate Murdoch MacKay. Maloway initially cast a tiebreaking vote for MacKay, although a subsequent recount showed Asper elected by four votes.Glen MacKenzie, "Ace helped form RCAF", Winnipeg Free Press, 16 May 1995.
Maloway joined the New Democratic Party in 1971. He was a candidate for the Winnipeg City Council in 1974 and 1983, and unsuccessfully sought the federal NDP nomination for Winnipeg North Centre in 1984.
The Pawley government was unexpectedly defeated in the legislature in early 1988, when disgruntled backbencher Jim Walding voted with the opposition on a motion of non-confidence. Pawley resigned as party leader, but remained premier in a caretaker administration until a new provincial election could be held. Maloway supported Maureen Hemphill's bid to succeed Pawley in the leadership contest that followed; she finished fourth against Gary Doer. Winnipeg Free Press, 26 March 1988.
The NDP entered the 1988 provincial election very low in the public opinion polls, and some insiders privately worried that the party could lose all of its seats. Maloway narrowly retained the Elmwood division against a strong challenge from the Liberal Party. The Progressive Conservatives under Gary Filmon won a minority government, while the NDP fell to third-party status. In opposition, Maloway served as his party's critic for Consumer and Corporate Affairs, and deputy critic for Finance."Manitoba gas rate rise sparks call for probe", Globe and Mail, 5 January 1990, B3. See also "NDP calls for probe of firm claiming to employ disabled", Globe and Mail, 26 April 1990, A6; Stevens Wild, "Province says deficit on target", Winnipeg Free Press, 6 October 1993; Tony Davis, "Unshackle us, dealers demand", Winnipeg Free Press, 17 June 1995, A17.
Maloway was an opponent of the Meech Lake Accord, an unsuccessful attempt at constitutional reform that would have delegated powers from the federal government to the provinces and recognized Quebec as a distinct society within Canada. The accord required approval from all ten of Canada's provincial legislatures to be passed into law; Maloway supported the decision of fellow NDP MLA Elijah Harper to block the accord's passage through procedural tactics, and indicated that he considered taking a similar approach himself.Susan Delacourt and Geoffrey York, "Ottawa aiming to sell Manitobans on Meech Lake", Globe and Mail, 29 April 1988, A5; Geoffrey York, "Native MLA blocks debate on Meech", Globe and Mail, 13 June 1990, A1.
He was re-elected in the 1990 provincial election, defeating Progressive Conservative candidate Vic Toews. In 1991, he argued that Manitoba should adopt Quebec's system of no-fault auto insurance.Lindor Reynolds, "How public plans stack up", Globe and Mail, 20 August 1991, C5; Don Campbell, "Bad debt no bar to bank board", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 May 1993. He also argued that the Public Utilities Board should be given the power to regulate gas prices, in order to prevent price gouging.Richard Mackie, "May step in to control gas prices, Rae says", Globe and Mail, 4 October 1990, A1.
Maloway was re-elected by an increased margin in 1995. He criticized the state of Manitoba's real estate sector later in the same year, arguing that it was being run in a haphazard manner.Paul Wiecek, "Realty-Checks", Winnipeg Free Press, 3 December 1995, A3. He later expressed concern that parts of Manitoba's Autopac system would be sold off to the private sector,Alice Krueger, "Insurers driving for auto business", Winnipeg Free Press, 15 October 1996, A1. and accused the Filmon government of privatizing the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission by stealth.Doug Nairne, "MLCC uncorks wine sales", Winnipeg Free Press, 17 July 1998, A1.
After eleven years in opposition, the New Democratic Party was returned to government in the 1999 provincial election. Maloway was returned in Elmwood without difficulty, and was re-elected again in 2003 and 2007 by significant margins.Maloway was the first candidate nominated by any party in the 2003 election. See David Kuxhaus, "Re-election machinery put in place", Winnipeg Free Press, 22 May 2002, A3. He sat as a backbench supporter of Gary Doer's government, and was described in a 2007 newspaper report as a left-leaning maverick.Mary Agnes Welch, "Blaikie wannabes lining up in Elmwood", Winnipeg Free Press, 21 December 2007, A7.
Maloway criticized Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray's "New Deal for Winnipeg" in the early 2000s, arguing that the city should correct its own finances instead of appealing for aid from other levels of government.Mary Agnes Welch, "City's MLAs oddly silent on new deal", Winnipeg Free Press, 19 November 2004, B1. In 2007, he criticized his party's decision to abandon its "one member, one vote" method of leadership selection and return to its former model of delegated conventions. He argued that the change would take power away from ordinary party members.Mary Agnes Welch, "Activists' motion splits NDP", Winnipeg Free Press, 5 February 2007, A5.
In May 2008, Maloway called on the provincial government to ensure that municipal repairs to the Disraeli Bridge in northeast Winnipeg would be carried out in a way that benefited the public interest. He expressed concern that traffic bottlenecks would occur if the bridge was completely blocked for several months, and called for the bridge to be expanded from four to six lanes.Bruce Owen, "MLA wants province in on plans for Disraeli", Winnipeg Free Press, 3 May 2008, B5. Some municipal politicians criticized this plan, and accused him of opportunism.Bartley Kives, "Mayor blasts MLA on Disraeli plan", Winnipeg Free Press, 15 May 2008, B2. Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz launched into a personal attack on Maloway during a council debate, for which he was criticized by the Winnipeg Free Press newspaper."Editorial - Sam's potty mouth", Winnipeg Free Press, 16 May 2008, A14.
After Blaikie announced his retirement from the House of Commons of Canada in 2007, Maloway indicated he would seek the NDP nomination to succeed him in the federal Elmwood—Transcona riding. He won the nomination over rival candidates Lorene Mahoney and Kevin Rebeck on September 7, 2008.Mary Agnes Welch, "Maloway seeks nod to run in Transcona", Winnipeg Free Press, 30 August 2008, A4; Bruce Owen, "Steen, Maloway facing off", Winnipeg Free Press, 8 September 2008, A3. One local reporter wrote that Maloway's record in the legislature was scant, adding that several party members were disappointed with his selection. See Mary Agnes Welch, "Don't give up hope ... yet", Winnipeg Free Press, 12 October 2008, A6. Maloway made the Disraeli bridge his main issue in the 2008 federal election,Bartley Kives, "Celebrities vie for long-time NDP seat", Winnipeg Free Press, 4 October 2008, A14. and was elected over former Winnipeg Jets player Thomas Steen, who had been recruited as a star candidate by the Conservatives. The Conservatives won a minority government nationally, and Maloway was appointed as the NDP Critic for Science and Technology.Mia Rabson, "Roll call on the Rideau - Now we can track how, or if, MPs voted", Winnipeg Free Press, 24 May 2009, B1.
Maloway introduced a Private Member's Bill known as the "Airline Passenger's Bill of Rights" in February 2009. The bill would require airlines to include hidden fees and taxes in their advertised ticket prices, reimburse passengers who are bumped from overbooked flights by up to $1,200, and provide compensation for passengers who are left stranded on airport tarmacs for long periods of time. It has won the support of consumer advocacy groups, and Maloway has said that it will force airlines to act more responsibly.Patrick White, "NDP MP has high hopes for legislation securing rights of airline passengers", Globe and Mail, 23 January 2009, A4; "MP's bill seeks end to long delays on tarmac", National Post, 23 January 2009, A2; Mia Rabson, "Bill sets pay for bumped flyers", Winnipeg Free Press, 23 January 2009, A4; "Legislation for air travellers", CTV News, 24 January 2009 transcript; Mia Rabson, "MP pushes for 'truth in advertising' from airlines", Winnipeg Free Press, 5 February 2009, A7; Brent Jang, "MP proposes to give air passengers $500 hourly for delays", Globe and Mail, 5 February 2009, A6; Chris Sorensen, "Bill aims to make the sky friendlier for bumped flyers", Toronto Star, 11 February 2009, B8. The National Airlines Council of Canada has opposed the measure, and has said that it will strengthen protection for travelers under an existing federal initiative.Brent Jang, "Airline council offers to boost fliers' protection", Globe and Mail, 4 March 2009, B8. Maloway's bill narrowly passed second reading in the House of Commons in May 2009.The bill passed by a vote of 139 to 131, with several Liberal and Bloc Québécois members voting in favour. See Sarah Schmidt, "Airline passenger bill of rights narrowly passes crucial vote", CanWest News Service, 13 May 2009. On May 29, 2009, Maloway wrote a guest editorial defending the bill in the National Post newspaper.Jim Maloway, "The NDP's bill would create friendlier skies" editorial, National Post, 29 May 2009, A14.
Maloway has spoken against proposed free trade deals between Canada and the governments of Peru and Colombia.
Maloway was defeated by Conservative candidate Lawrence Toet in the 2011 federal election.
Source: Elections Canada
Note: All provincial electoral information is taken from Elections Manitoba. Municipal results are taken from the Winnipeg Free Press newspaper, 24 October 1974 and 27 October 1983. The final official results were not significantly different.
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