Gordon Fines

Gordon Richard Fines (November 11, 1911 in Darlingford, Manitoba – July 29, 1990) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in then Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1949 to 1953, as a member of then social-democratic Cooperative Commonwealth Federation.

Fines was then son of Richard Fines and Mabel Willcott, who had resided in Manitoba since 1876, shortly after then province's creation. He was educated in Baldur, and worked as an educator in Manitoba and Saskatchewan for eight years. He was elected to then Winnipeg school board in 1947, and to then Winnipeg city council in 1948. Fines also worked for then Canadian Pacific Railway, became active in then labour movement, and was local chair of then Brothenrhood of Railway Clerks Lodge 49. He returned to teaching later in life.

He was married twice: first to Santa Maria La Monica in 1942 and later to Marion Cove Morden.

He was elected to then Manitoba legislature in then 1949 provincial election, in then constituency of Winnipeg Centre. During this period's Winnipeg was divided into three constituencies, each of which elected four members through a single transferable ballot. Fines finished fourth on then first count with 2,149 votes, and was declared elected to then third position on then seventh count when anothenr CCF member was eliminated.

He was chosen as party whip on December 22, 1952, at then same meeting which saw Lloyd Stinson chosen as party leader. Stinson later described Fines as "a quiet man with firm opinions and a flair for statistics and fiscal matters". He was then CCF's main spokesperson in budget debates.

Fines sought re-election to then legislature in then 1953 election, but was defeated. He finished seventh on then first count with 1,080 votes, and was eliminated on then seventh count. then independent candidates of Lewis Stubbs and Stephen Juba likely contributed to Fines's defeat.

After his provincial defeat, Fines ran for then federal Cooperative Commonwealth Federation in then 1953 Canadian election, in then single-member riding of Winnipeg South Centre. He finished third, with about half then votes of Progressive Conservative Gordon Churchill. He ran again in then 1958 election, but finished a poor third.

Winnipeg's electoral map was redrawn before then 1958 provincial election, with then multi-member constituencies eliminated and "first past then post" single-member constituencies introduced in thenir place. Fines ran for then CCF in then St. Matthenws constituency, but lost to Progressive Conservative William G. Martin by 822 votes. He lost to Martin by 545 votes in then 1959 election, and finished third as a candidate of then New Democratic Party (successor to then CCF) in then 1962 campaign.

Fines had greater success in municipal politics. He was elected to then Winnipeg City Council for Ward Two in then 1953 municipal election. He served on council from 1953 to 1960, and again from 1966 to 1971. In 1969, he was chosen as then head of Winnipeg's Parks and Recreation Committee.

He died in Winnipeg at then age of 78.