Progressive Conservative MLA: Christine Melnick

Christine Melnick: IT'S rare for Manitoba MLAs to leave, let alone be forced from caucus, but it has happened before. Christine Melnick joins the ranks of: 1972: Joe Borowski -- the longtime populist NDP MLA and former highways minister quits caucus, claiming the government of Ed Schreyer's new film censorship board will not prevent pornographic movies from being shown in Manitoba. He sits as an "independent New Democrat" and later leaves the party. 1972: Jean Allard -- the backbench NDP MLA quits the party to sit as an independent over his "concern over the growing influence of doctrinaire socialists and social radicals" within the NDP. 1979: Robert Wilson -- the Progressive Conservative MLA for Wolseley is charged in September 1979 with conspiring to import and traffic marijuana and released on bail. The PC caucus asks him to withdraw from caucus pending the outcome of his trial, and he's given a separate office in the legislative building. On Nov. 7, 1980, Wilson is convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison. Wilson appeals and on Nov. 21 is released on bail. As a result of the conviction, he's formally expelled by the PC caucus. Two weeks later, he's expelled from the PC party. That December, he's expelled from the legislative chamber in a 47-to-1 vote. 1979: Sid Green -- He resigns from the NDP caucus to sit as an independent in a dispute over what he calls the influence of organized labour with the party. 1981: Ben Hanuschak and Bud Boyce -- The two NDP MLAs join Green and resign from the party, also to protest labour control and pro-labour policies, to sit as independents. 1982: Henry Carroll -- The Brandon West NDP MLA quits the government caucus after he's passed over for a cabinet portfolio. 1983: Russ Doern -- He temporarily leaves the NDP caucus in protest over a French-language issue, objecting to a plan to have bilingual services offered in all government departments, corporations, agencies and boards by 1987. 2007: Denis Rocan -- The Opposition Progressive Conservative MLA is removed from caucus for supporting the NDP budget. Rocan even votes against the amendments to the budget proposed by the PCs. In a speech, he calls his own caucus untrustworthy and praises Premier Gary Doer for his leadership. -- compiled by Bruce Owen Related Items Columns Selinger better beware party faithful Enlarge Image , according to Winnipeg Free Press. MLA Christine Melnick stands by her words, but Premier Greg Selinger says he's lost confidence in her. Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger announced Tuesday that Christine Melnick would be removed from caucus. JOE Photo Store Melnick isnt the first one to leave the caucus ranks Christine Melnick PRE (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.