# Ron Schuler

Ronald Reinhold Schuler is a Canadian politician. He is currently a member of the Manitoba Legislature and a representative of the Progressive Conservative Party (PCs). He was first elected in the 1999 provincial election. and was re-elected in the 2003, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2019 and 2023 elections.
After the PCs won control of the Manitoba government in the 2016 election, Premier of Manitoba Brian Pallister appointed Schuler Minister of Crown Services. On August 17, 2017 he was named Minister of Infrastructure. On December 30, 2021, Premier Heather Stefanson removed Schuler from cabinet for persistently refusing to reveal whether he was vaccinated against COVID-19.

## Personal life and education

Schuler was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He attended John M. King Elementary School, before moving to Benton Harbor, Michigan, where he attended Millburg Elementary School in Berrien County. In 1976, he moved back to Winnipeg, where he attended Elmwood Junior High and graduated from Elmwood High School in 1981. He is the youngest son of Wanda and Reinhold Schuler, with four sisters and one brother.
Schuler obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba in 1987, with a major in international relations and a minor in sociology. He was a junior executive at the T. Eaton Company from 1979 to 1984. Schuler went on to become a small business owner, co-owning Christmas Traditions, Espresso Junction Inc., and Gingerbread World Inc. He also served as Chair of the Manitoba Intercultural Council from 1991 to 1993.

## School board service

On October 25, 1995, Schuler began his political career when he was elected as a school trustee for Ward Three in the River East School Division.
1995 River East School Division Ward Three school trustee results
| Candidate | Total Votes | Result |
| Ron Schuler | 5745 | Elected |
| Brian Olynik | 4525 | Elected |
| Peter Kotyk | 3957 | Elected |
| Bill Dueck | 3726 | |
| Leni Hamm-Lousier | 2591 | |
In his first term on the River East School Board, Schuler served as Chairman of the Education and Policy Committee. He advocated a zero violence tolerance policy on issues affecting the safety of students and staff. Schuler strongly supported increased technology funding and division-wide upgrades to classroom computers and also strongly supported heritage language programs offered in the divisions.
He was re-elected on October 28 as a school trustee for the River East School Division, Ward Three in the 1998 election. Schuler’s re-election led him to being appointed to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees in November 1998. He resigned from his position as school trustee on September 23, 1999 to pursue his career in provincial politics with the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba.
1998 River East School Division Ward Three school trustee results
| Candidate | Total Votes | Result |
| Ron Schuler | 5772 | Elected |
| Peter Kotyk | 5173 | Elected |
| Brian Olynik | 5136 | Elected |
| Con Lynch | 4416 | |
| Al Penner | 4005 | |

## Legislative service

Schuler was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in the provincial election held on September 21, 1999, defeating New Democrat Leonard Kimakovich by 4969 votes to 4058 in the constituency of Springfield.
vte1999 Manitoba general election: Springfield :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Schuler | 4,969 | 49.69 | -2.46 | $25,718.76 |
| | New Democratic | Leonard Kimacovich | 4,058 | 40.58 | 5.50 | $26,227.00 |
| | Liberal | Patricia Aitken | 771 | 7.71 | -4.28 | $13,962.00 |
| | Manitoba | Roger Woloshyn | 203 | 2.03 | – | $2,703.08 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 10,001 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 44 | – |
| Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | 13,026 | 77.12 | -0.29 |
| Source(s) Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (1999). Statement of Votes for the 37th Provincial General Election, September 21, 1999 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. |||||||
During Schuler’s first term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Gary Filmon, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, appointed Schuler as the PC Caucus Labour & Immigration Critic.
The voters of Springfield re-elected Schuler as their MLA on June 3, 2003 by a much greater margin, though the PCs incurred a net loss of four seats across Manitoba. Stuart Murray appointed Schuler as the PC Caucus Critic for Energy, Science and Technology, and the Chief Critic for the Kyoto Accord, the Civil Service Commission, and Lotteries and Gaming.
2003 Manitoba provincial election: Springfield
| Candidate Name | Party | Votes |
| Ron Schuler | PC | 4,917 – 60.3% |
| Georgine Spooner | NDP | 2,512 – 30.8% |
| Vince Boileau | Lib | 682 – 8.9% |
| rejected | | 20 |
| declined | | 14 |
| total votes cast | | 8,145 |
| registered voters | | 14,599 |
| turnout | | 55.79% |
On February 24, 2006, Schuler announced that he would seek the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba. Hugh McFadyen won the leadership election on April 29, 2006.
2006 Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba leadership election
| Candidate Votes | Votes | Vote % |
| Hugh McFadyen | 6,091 | 67% |
| Ron Schuler | 1,953 | 21% |
| Ken Waddell | 1099 | 12% |
For a third consecutive term, Schuler was re-elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Springfield on May 22, 2007.
vte2007 Manitoba general election: Springfield :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Schuler | 5,165 | 58.46 | -2.16 | $25,538.14 |
| | New Democratic | Ernest Muswagon | 2,656 | 30.06 | -0.91 | $7,505.06 |
| | Liberal | James Johnston | 1,014 | 11.48 | 3.07 | $4,606.05 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,835 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 46 | – |
| Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | 15,641 | 56.78 | 0.99 |
| 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. |||||||
In September 2007, Schuler was appointed Critic for Education, Citizenship and Youth, as well as Caucus Whip by Leader Hugh McFadyen. As of February 4, 2010, Schuler is the Critic for Housing and Community Development and Sports.
Schuler held several critic portfolios during his time in Opposition, including Labour and Immigration, Energy, Science and Technology, Kyoto Accord, the Civil Service Commission, Lotteries and Gaming, Education, Citizenship & Youth, Community Economic Development Fund, Housing and Community Development and Sports, as well as Caucus Whip.
Schuler was re-nominated to represent the Progressive Conservative Party in the 2011 Manitoba provincial election, held on October 4, in the newly created constituency of St. Paul and won re-election.
vte2011 Manitoba general election: St. Paul :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Schuler | 5,554 | 59.59 | $31,993.34 |
| | New Democratic | Cynthia Ryan | 3,491 | 37.45 | $18,456.72 |
| | Liberal | Ludolf R. Grolle | 276 | 2.96 | $462.91 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 9,321 | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 48 | – |
| Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | 16,075 | 58.28 |
| 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 12 September 2018. |||||||
vte2016 Manitoba general election: St. Paul :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Schuler | 7,091 | 71.60 | 12.02 | $26,021.09 |
| | New Democratic | Andrew Podolecki | 1,757 | 17.74 | -19.71 | $5,710.34 |
| | Liberal | Pete Sanderson | 1,055 | 10.65 | 7.69 | $8,519.18 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 9,903 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 203 | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 16,536 | 61.12 | 2.83 |
| 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 10 September 2018. |||||||
vte2019 Manitoba general election: Springfield-Ritchot :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Schuler | 5,670 | 59.48 | -7.2 | $44,481.26 |
| | New Democratic | Sam Okoi | 1,982 | 20.79 | +5.6 | $1,451.32 |
| | Green | Garrett Hawgood | 1,066 | 11.18 | +10.1 | $672.14 |
| | Liberal | Sara Mirwaldt | 814 | 8.54 | -6.3 | $0.00 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 9,532 | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 50 | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 15,822 | 60.56 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | -6.4 |
| 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 2 March 2020. |||||||
vte2023 Manitoba general election: Springfield-Ritchot :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ron Schuler | 5,752 | 54.89 | -4.59 | $32,727.68 |
| | New Democratic | Tammy Ivanco | 3,827 | 36.52 | +15.73 | $5,175.20 |
| | Liberal | Trevor Kirczenow | 900 | 8.59 | +0.05 | $285.00 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 10,479 | 99.37 | – | $70,572.00 |
| Total rejected and declined ballots | Total rejected and declined ballots | Total rejected and declined ballots | 66 | 0.63 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,545 | 58.30 | -2.27 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 18,089 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | -10.16 |
| Source(s) Source: Elections Manitoba |||||||