Wes Penner

Wes Penner (born February 23, 1939) is a businessman, religious organizer, and politician in the Canadian province of Manitoba.

Penner was raised on a farm in Landmark, Manitoba. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. John's College and a Bachelor of Education degree and Teaching Certificate from the University of Manitoba. He worked as a teacher for ten years before becoming a full-time entrepreneur.

After starting his business career in agricultural machinery sales, Penner founded Powerland Computers in 1985 with his son Kevin and nephew Mark Penner. The Winnipeg-based business grew into a success, and had generated sales of $8 million by 1993. In 2008, it was the largest computer service company in Manitoba. In 1999, Penner and his partners purchased the Pinawa Resort and Conference Centre (later renamed as the Wilderness Edge Retreat and Conference Centre).

As of 2008, Penner was the president of David Penner Development, a partner in the construction firm Woodmaster, an active member of the Historica Foundation of Canada and the Professional Development and Education Committee, and a founding director of The Technology Consortium.

Penner is a member of the Mennonite Central Committee and has been involved in refugee assistance and anti-war causes through its Peace and Social Concerns Committee. In 2003, he tried to mobilize international support for an initiative to prevent the American-led invasion of Iraq. Under this plan, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein would have turned over his weapons in return for protection by Russia, France, and Germany. The international contacts never materialized, however, and the plan ultimately came to nothing.

During the 2006 election, Penner opposed Conservative leader Stephen Harper's plans to revisit the issue of same-sex marriage (which is legal in Canada). He was quoted as saying, "Gay Canadians have suffered a lot. All they want is some respect and (Harper) has to make a big deal out of it."

Penner has been a Liberal candidate in three elections and was a candidate for Mel Hurtig's National Party of Canada in 1993.