# Cliff Cullen

Clifford James Cullen (born November 8, 1962) is a Canadian politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Spruce Woods. He was first elected in a by-election held in the summer of 2004, and was re-elected in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2019.

## Early life and education

Cullen was raised on a farm near Wawanesa, Manitoba, and subsequently attended the University of Manitoba, where he received a Diploma in Agriculture. He worked in the agricultural and environmental sectors, and also has experience as an insurance broker.

## Political career

When Turtle Mountain MLA Mervin Tweed resigned from the provincial legislature in 2004 to run as a candidate in the 2004 Canadian federal election, Cullen sought and won the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba nomination to succeed him. Cullen was elected with about 60% of the popular vote on June 29, 2004.
The Turtle Mountain constituency was abolished for the 2011 provincial election, and Cullen sought election in Spruce Woods, which absorbed the western portion of Turtle Mountain. He won easily with 66 percent of the vote.
On May 3, 2016, Cullen was appointed to the Executive Council of Manitoba as Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade.
Cullen was named Minister of Crown Services and Government House Leader as part of a cabinet shuffle on August 17, 2017.
On August 1, 2018, Cullen was named Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
On January 5, 2021, Cullen was named Minister of Education.
On January 18, 2022 Cullen was named Deputy Premier of Manitoba and Minister of Economic Development, Investment and trade.
On January 30, 2023 after Cameron Friesen resigned as Finance Minister and MLA, Cullen was named Finance Minister.

## Personal life

Cullen makes his home in the Glenboro area with his wife Marilyn and three sons.

## Electoral record

vte2019 Manitoba general election: Spruce Woods :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Cliff Cullen | 5,665 | 68.06 | -3.3 | $12,334.55 |
| | New Democratic | Justin Shannon | 1,321 | 15.87 | +2.3 | $1,211.77 |
| | Green | Gordon Beddome | 820 | 9.85 | +8.2 | $0.00 |
| | Liberal | Jennifer Harcus | 517 | 6.21 | -1.2 | $0.00 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,323 | 99.46 | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 45 | 0.54 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,368 | 56.75 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 14,746 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | -2.8 |
| 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 2 March 2020. |||||||
vte2016 Manitoba general election: Spruce Woods :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Cliff Cullen | 5,210 | 73.12 | 6.47 | $13,262.74 |
| | Manitoba | Malcolm McKellar | 738 | 10.36 | – | $3,614.69 |
| | New Democratic | Amanda Chmelyk | 665 | 9.33 | -19.28 | $146.90 |
| | Liberal | Jaron Hart | 512 | 7.19 | 2.46 | $5.84 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,125 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 103 | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 13,904 | 51.99 | 3.35 |
| 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. |||||||
vte2011 Manitoba general election: Spruce Woods :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Cliff Cullen | 4,495 | 66.65 | $14,786.56 |
| | New Democratic | Cory Szczepanski | 1,930 | 28.62 | $5,104.39 |
| | Liberal | Trenton Zazalak | 319 | 4.73 | $2,227.13 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 6,744 | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 36 | – |
| Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | 13,940 | 48.64 |
| 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. |||||||
vte2007 Manitoba general election: Turtle Mountain :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Cliff Cullen | 4,318 | 66.10 | 3.08 | $15,425.52 |
| | New Democratic | Faron Douglas | 1,476 | 22.59 | 4.41 | $3,785.64 |
| | Liberal | Allen Hunter | 739 | 11.31 | -7.49 | $3,458.77 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 6,533 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 42 | – |
| Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | Eligible voters / turnout | 12,089 | 54.39 | 7.29 |
| 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. |||||||
vteManitoba provincial by-election, July 2, 2004: Turtle Mountain :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Progressive Conservative | Cliff Cullen | 3,632 | 63.01 | 3.00 | $11,273.31 |
| | Liberal | Bev Leadbeater | 1,084 | 18.81 | 7.54 | $2,256.63 |
| | New Democratic | Betty Storie | 1,048 | 18.18 | -10.53 | $12,037.72 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 5,764 | – | – |
| Rejected | Rejected | Rejected | 12 | – |
| Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | Eligible voters / Turnout | 12,267 | 47.10 | – |
| Source(s) Source: |||||||