Ralph Eichler

{{Short description|Canadian politician}} {{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ralph Eichler | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_size = | caption = | office = Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development | term_start = July 15, 2021 | term_end = January 18, 2022 | premier = Brian Pallister<br>Kelvin Goertzen<br>Heather Stefanson | predecessor = Blaine Pedersen | successor = Derek Johnson | office1 = Minister of Economic Development and Jobs | term_start1 = January 5, 2021 | term_end1 = July 15, 2021 | premier1 = Brian Pallister | predecessor1 = Portfolio Renamed | successor1 = Jon Reyes | office2 = Minister of Economic Development and Training | term_start2 = October 23, 2019 | term_end2 = January 5, 2021 | premier2 = Brian Pallister | predecessor2 = Blaine Pedersen | successor2 = Portfolio Renamed | office3 = Minister of Agriculture | term_start3 = May 3, 2016 | term_end3 = October 23, 2019 | premier3 = Brian Pallister | predecessor3 = Ron Kostyshyn | successor3 = Blaine Pedersen | office4 = Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Lakeside | term_start4 = June 3, 2003 | term_end4 = September 5, 2023 | predecessor4 = Harry Enns | successor4 = Trevor King | party = Progressive Conservative | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|3|23}} | birth_place = | occupation = Businessperson, school administrator }} '''Ralph Eichler''' (born March 23, 1950) is a retired Canadian politician. From 2003 until 2023, he was the member of Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for the riding of Lakeside.<ref name="PC Manitoba">{{cite web |url=http://www.pcmanitoba.com/Our-Team/ralpheichler.html |title=Ralph Eichler - Our Team |author=Goy |work=Progressive Conservative Caucus of Manitoba web site |publisher=PC Manitoba |location=Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |accessdate=February 9, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Early life and career == Before entering provincial politics, Eichler served for eight years as the administrator of the Interlake School Division. He also owned and operated Prairie Farm Ranch Supply, an exporter of livestock handling equipment. In the latter capacity, he oversaw the invention of a device known as "The Stockdoctor", now used internationally. Eichler has also served as a director of the Prairie Implements Manufacturers Association and the Teulon Golf and Country Club, as well as serving as president of the Interlake Riding Club.<ref name="PC Manitoba" />

== Political career == In the 2003 Manitoba general election, Eichler was elected to the Manitoba legislature as a Progressive Conservative, defeating New Democrat Robert Marshall by 4,102 votes to 3,012.<ref name="CBC2003">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/manitobavotes2003/riding/023/ |title=Manitoba Votes 2003 - Lakeside |work=Manitoba Votes 2003 |publisher=CBC News |location= Toronto |accessdate=February 9, 2011 }}</ref> He was only the third person to hold the riding in 81 years. For the first 47 years after the creation of the district, Douglas Lloyd Campbell had represented it, and following Campbell's retirement, Harry Enns represented it for 34 years. Eichler himself was nominated and elected following Enns' retirement.

The NDP government was re-elected in 2003, and Eichler sat in opposition until 2016.

He was re-elected in the 2007,<ref name=CBC2007>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/manitobavotes2007/riding/023 |title=Manitoba Votes 2007 - Riding Profiles - Lakeside |work=Manitoba Votes 2007 |publisher=CBC News |location= Toronto |accessdate=February 9, 2011 }}</ref> 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interlaketoday.ca/2011/10/12/its-eichler-all-around-in-lakeside-vote|title=It's Eichler all around in Lakeside vote|work=The Interlake Spectator|date=October 12, 2011|accessdate=May 20, 2016}}</ref> and 2016 provincial elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/headliner/Local-PC-candidates-part-of-provincial-sweep-376993701.html|title=Local PC candidates part of provincial sweep|work=The Headliner|publisher=Winnipeg Free Press|date=April 25, 2016|accessdate=May 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interlaketoday.ca/2016/04/21/eichler-wins-fourth-term-says-health-care-at-top-of-list|title=Eichler wins fourth term, says health care at top of list|work=The Stonewall Argus|date=April 21, 2016|accessdate=May 20, 2016}}</ref>

On May 3, 2016, after the new Progressive Conservative government under the leadership of Brian Pallister was sworn in, Eichler was appointed to the Executive Council of Manitoba as Minister of Agriculture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-brian-pallister-progressive-conservatives-sworn-in-1.3564106|title=Brian Pallister sworn in as Manitoba premier|publisher=CBC News|date=May 3, 2016|accessdate=May 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-government-cabinet-members-1.3564176|title=Meet Manitoba's new government cabinet members|publisher=CBC News|date=May 3, 2016|accessdate=May 20, 2016}}</ref>

He was re-elected in the 2019 election.

On October 4, 2022 he announced he would not seek re-election in the 43rd provincial election and would serve the rest of his term.<ref name="wfp">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-10-04 |title=Oct 2022: Former Manitoba cabinet minister Ralph Eichler won't seek re-election |url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/uncategorized/2022/10/04/manitoba-cabinet-minister-ralph-eichler-wont-seek-re-election |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Winnipeg Free Press |language=en-US |agency=The Canadian Press}}</ref> He retired with the call of the 2023 election.

== Electoral record == {{2019 Manitoba general election/Lakeside}}{{2016 Manitoba general election/Lakeside}}{{2011 Manitoba general election/Lakeside}}{{2007 Manitoba general election/Lakeside}}{{CANelec/top|MB|2003|Lakeside (electoral district)|Lakeside|percent=yes|change=yes}} {{CANelec|MB|PC|Ralph Eichler|4,110|52.96|4.21}} {{CANelec|MB|NDP|Robert B. Marshall|3,015|38.85|8.17}} {{CANelec|MB|Liberal|Louis Allain|636|8.19|-9.93}} {{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|7,761|–|–}} {{CANelec/total|Rejected|36|–}} {{CANelec/total|Eligible voters / Turnout|13,828|56.39|-11.60}} {{CANelec/source|hide=Source: {{Cite report|date=2003|author=Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer|location=Winnipeg|publisher=Elections Manitoba|title=Statement of Votes for the 38th Provincial General Election, June 3, 2003|url=https://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/downloads/2003_statvotes_foreward.pdf}}}} {{end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{cite web |url=http://www.ralpheichler.com/ |title=Ralph Eichler MLA - HOME |location=Stonewall, MB |accessdate=February 9, 2011}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eichler, Ralph}} Category:1950 births Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba Category:Canadian academic administrators Category:Canadian people of German descent Category:Living people Category:Members of the Executive Council of Manitoba Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba MLAs