Christine Melnick
Christine "Chris" Melnick is a former politician in Manitoba, Canada. She is a former cabinet minister in the government of New Democratic Party Premier Greg Selinger.
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Melnick received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba and subsequently received a master's degree in library and information science from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. She has worked for a variety of businesses in the private and public sectors, with experience such fields as in education, advertising and offshore oil. Prior to entering provincial politics, she was employed as a librarian and researcher at the Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre, and was a School Trustee for the Louis Riel School Division of Winnipeg. She was also active in women's health, human rights, literacy and environmental issues, and sat on the province's Council on Post-Secondary Education.
Melnick was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in 2003, replacing retiring NDP Member of the Legislative Assembly Linda Asper in the south Winnipeg riding of Riel. She received 4,393 votes, against 3,171 for her Progressive Conservative opponent, Shirley Render. Following the election, she was appointed Minister of Family Services and Housing, with responsibility for Persons with Disabilities.
She was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election and again in 2011.
In September 2007, she was appointed Minister of Water Stewardship replacing Steve Ashton. In January 2012, Melnick was appointed Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism. Melnick was shuffled from cabinet in October 2013 along with other veteran ministers Nancy Allan and Jim Rondeau.
On February 4, 2014, Selinger removed Melnick from the NDP caucus after she claimed she was told to act as a scapegoat for the premier relating to a controversy surrounding invitations issued to a legislative debate.
On November 13, 2014, Melnick was welcomed back into the caucus but without the ability to attend caucus meetings.
