# Ralph Eichler

Ralph Eichler (born March 23, 1950) is a retired Canadian politician. From 2003 until 2023, he was the member of Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for the riding of Lakeside.

## Early life and career

Before entering provincial politics, Eichler served for eight years as the administrator of the Interlake School Division. He also owned and operated Prairie Farm Ranch Supply, an exporter of livestock handling equipment. In the latter capacity, he oversaw the invention of a device known as "The Stockdoctor", now used internationally. Eichler has also served as a director of the Prairie Implements Manufacturers Association and the Teulon Golf and Country Club, as well as serving as president of the Interlake Riding Club.

## Political career

In the 2003 Manitoba general election, Eichler was elected to the Manitoba legislature as a Progressive Conservative, defeating New Democrat Robert Marshall by 4,102 votes to 3,012. He was only the third person to hold the riding in 81 years. For the first 47 years after the creation of the district, Douglas Lloyd Campbell had represented it, and following Campbell's retirement, Harry Enns represented it for 34 years. Eichler himself was nominated and elected following Enns' retirement.
The NDP government was re-elected in 2003, and Eichler sat in opposition until 2016.
He was re-elected in the 2007, 2011, and 2016 provincial elections.
On May 3, 2016, after the new Progressive Conservative government under the leadership of Brian Pallister was sworn in, Eichler was appointed to the Executive Council of Manitoba as Minister of Agriculture.
He was re-elected in the 2019 election.
On October 4, 2022 he announced he would not seek re-election in the 43rd provincial election and would serve the rest of his term. He retired with the call of the 2023 election.

## Electoral record

vte2019 Manitoba general election: Lakeside :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ralph Eichler | 6,409 | 68.24 | -11.8 | $18,395.34 |
| | New Democratic | Dan Rugg | 2,089 | 22.24 | +5.8 | $2,433.39 |
| | Liberal | Ilsa Regelsky | 894 | 9.52 | +5.9 | $0.00 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 9,392 | 98.88 | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 106 | 1.12 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,498 | 59.22 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 16,039 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | -8.8 |
| 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. "Candidate Election Returns". Elections Manitoba. Elections Manitoba. Retrieved March 2, 2020. |||||||
vte2016 Manitoba general election: Lakeside :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ralph Eichler | 6,077 | 81.61 | 15.81 |
| | New Democratic | Matt Austman | 1,369 | 18.39 | -7.51 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,446 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 272 | – |
| Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | 13,357 | 57.78 | 0.66 |
| 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 September 10, 2018. |||||||
vte2011 Manitoba general election: Lakeside :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ralph Eichler | 5,043 | 65.80 | 9.61 | $16,402.48 |
| | New Democratic | Rosemary Hnatiuk | 1,985 | 25.90 | -7.34 | $6,166.66 |
| | Green | Betty Kehler | 379 | 4.95 | 0.54 | $423.06 |
| | Liberal | Jerald Funk | 257 | 3.35 | -2.81 | $1,578.68 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,664 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 19 | – |
| Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | 13,451 | 57.12 | -0.52 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2011). Statement of Votes for the 40th Provincial General Election, October 4, 2011 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. "Election Returns: 40th General Election". Elections Manitoba. 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2018. |||||||
vte2007 Manitoba general election: Lakeside :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ralph Eichler | 4,448 | 56.19 | 3.23 | $25,444.44 |
| | New Democratic | Mitch Obach | 2,631 | 33.24 | -5.61 | $5,039.43 |
| | Liberal | Ian Band | 488 | 6.16 | -2.03 | $340.29 |
| | Green | David Carey | 349 | 4.41 | – | $39.55 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,916 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 37 | – |
| Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | 13,798 | 57.64 | 1.25 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2007). Statement of Votes for the 39th Provincial General Election, May 22, 2007 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||
2003 Manitoba general election: Lakeside :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ralph Eichler | 4,110 | 52.96 | 4.21 |
| | New Democratic | Robert B. Marshall | 3,015 | 38.85 | 8.17 |
| | Liberal | Louis Allain | 636 | 8.19 | -9.93 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,761 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 36 | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 13,828 | 56.39 | -11.60 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2003). Statement of Votes for the 38th Provincial General Election, June 3, 2003 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||