# Cameron Friesen

Cameron Scott Friesen, is a Canadian politician and was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Morden-Winkler. A member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, he was first elected in the 2011 provincial election, and re-elected in 2016 and 2019.
Friesen was the Manitoba Minister of Finance from May 3, 2016 until August 1, 2018 and served a second term from January 18, 2022 until January 30, 2023 He was appointed Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living on August 1, 2018. During his tenure as Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living, Friesen has faced several criticisms for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General on January 5, 2021.
Friesen announced his resignation as Minister of Finance in January 2023, and shortly thereafter on February 3, 2023 he resigned his seat as MLA for Morden-Winkler to seek the federal nomination in Portage—Lisgar after Candice Bergen announced the previous fall that she would not be seeking reelection in the 45th Canadian federal election. He lost the nomination to Branden Leslie.

## Health minister

In November 2020 he questioned the motivation of more than 200 experts who raised concerns regarding the seriousness of COVID-19. At the time, he claimed he had things under control. After he refused to apologize, opposition MLAs including New Democratic Party health critic Uzoma Asagwara and Liberal Party leader Dougald Lamont called on him to resign.

## Electoral record

vte2019 Manitoba general election: Morden-Winkler :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Cameron Friesen | 6,109 | 80.86 | -2.2 | $12,339.21 |
| | Green | Mike Urichuk | 804 | 10.64 | +0.8 | $129.20 |
| | New Democratic | Robin Dalloo | 365 | 4.83 | +1.7 | $0.00 |
| | Liberal | David Mintz | 277 | 3.67 | -0.3 | $0.00 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,555 | 99.63 | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 28 | 0.37 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,583 | 51.19 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 14,813 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | -1.5 |
| 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: Morden-Winkler :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Cameron Friesen | 6,598 | 85.04 | -0.49 | $14,748.12 |
| | Green | Mike Urichuk | 667 | 8.60 | – | $979.50 |
| | Liberal | Benjamin Bawdon | 279 | 3.60 | 0.59 | $41.45 |
| | New Democratic | Elizabeth Lynch | 215 | 2.77 | -8.69 | $793.14 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,759 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 34 | – |
| Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | 15,006 | 51.93 | 11.15 |
| 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: Morden-Winkler :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Cameron Friesen | 4,918 | 85.53 | $20,100.34 |
| | New Democratic | Aaron McDowell | 659 | 11.46 | $0.00 |
| | Liberal | Daniel Woldeyohanis | 173 | 3.01 | $0.00 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 5,750 | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 39 | – |
| Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | 14,195 | 40.78 |
| 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. |||||||