Harry Shafransky (September 4, 1930 – September 10, 1986) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as a New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1969 to 1977.^[1]

Born in Poland, he came to Canada while still young and grew up on a farm near Roblin, Manitoba.^[2] Shafransky was educated at the University of Manitoba. He worked as a teacher in northern British Columbia and then Winnipeg before entering politics.^[3] He ran for the House of Commons of Canada in the federal election of 1965, finishing a relatively strong third in the Winnipeg riding of St. Boniface.^[4] His first venture into provincial politics was not as successful; he challenged Liberal leader Gildas Molgat in Ste. Rose in the 1966 election, and finished a distant fourth with only 86 votes.

He ran for federal office again in the 1968 election, and placed a more respectable second while still finishing well behind Liberal Joseph-Philippe Guay, the winner.^[4]

Shafransky was finally elected to office in the 1969 provincial election, scoring a fairly easy victory in the northeast Winnipeg riding of Radisson. He was re-elected over Progressive Conservative challenge Abe Kovnats in the 1973 election.^[5]

Shafransky did not serve in the cabinet of Edward Schreyer. He was defeated by Kovnats in the 1977 election,^[5] and did not seek a political comeback thereafter.^[1]

After leaving politics, he worked in the Manitoba departments of Highways and Transportation, Environment and Natural Resources. Shafransky died in Winnipeg at the age of 56 of a heart attack.^[3]

Electoral history

References