Provincial politics
Maguire sought the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba nomination for Arthur-Virden in April 1999,but lost to rival candidate Gary Nestibo. [9] Nestibo forfeited his nomination following allegations of dubious land sales and vote-stacking,however,and a new nomination meeting was scheduled for August. [10] Maguire finished second on the first ballot,behind Gary's wife Lorna Nestibo,but won on the second count with support from third-place candidate Grant Fotheringham. [11] He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in the 1999 provincial election,as the New Democratic Party won a majority government under Gary Doer. He entered the legislature as a member of the opposition.
Maguire was appointed as the Progressive Conservative critic for the environment,and lobbied for improvements to the provincial Water Rights Act. [12] He represented the PCs in an all-party delegation to Ottawa to advocate increased funding for farmers, [13] and served on an all-party provincial committee on agriculture. [14]
There were rumours that Maguire would campaign to succeed Gary Filmon as Progressive Conservative Party leader in 2000,although nothing came of this. [15] In 2001,he was reassigned as PC critic for rural development. [16] Shortly thereafter,he recommended conducting research into the possibility of selling large quantities of water to the United States. [17] In 2002,he participated in an all-party mission to the United States to oppose that country's farm subsidy policies. [18] He was promoted to finance critic later in the year. [19]
Maguire decided not to open a constituency office following his 1999 election,saying that he could communicate with his constituents by telephone and e-mail. [20] In 2002,he was one of five PC MLAs to support a government motion granting pension,alimony and death benefits to gay and lesbian spouses. [21]
He was re-elected in the 2003 provincial election,as the NDP won an increased majority across the province. After the election,he served as his party's critic for transportation,conservation and intergovernmental affairs. [22] In 2004,he opposed a proposal to introduce photo radar in rural Manitoba. [23] Hugh McFadyen was elected as the Progressive Conservative Party's new leader in 2006,and chose Maguire as his deputy leader and Infrastructure Critic. [24]
Maguire was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election,in which the New Democratic Party won a third consecutive majority government. In September 2007,he was replaced as deputy leader by Myrna Driedger [25] and was appointed Critic for Infrastructure and Transportation,Government Services,and Competitiveness,Training and Trade. [26]
Federal politics
In June 1993,Maguire upset provincial cabinet minister Jim McCrae to win the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada nomination for Brandon—Souris in the 1993 federal election. [27] The final vote among party members was 1,520 to 1,194. Maguire emphasized farming issues in his nomination speech,and argued that he would be successful in bringing Reform Party supporters back to the Progressive Conservatives. [28]
The Brandon—Souris riding had been held by the PCs since 1953,and had long been considered a safe seat for the party. The party's support base in western Canada collapsed,however,with most of that support transferring to the Reform Party. Maguire was pushed into third place behind the Reform candidate and Liberal Party of Canada Glen McKinnon. He planned to seek the PC nomination again for the 1997 election,but withdrew in favour of Brandon Mayor Rick Borotsik. [29]
On August 12,2013,Merv Tweed,Borotsik's successor,announced his resignation from the House of Commons. The following week,Maguire announced his intention to seek the Conservative Party of Canada's nomination in the electoral district.
Maguire was re-elected in the 2015 and 2019 Canadian federal elections. In the lead up to the 2019 election,Maguire was one of 27 candidates with a strong environmental track record from across the political spectrum to be endorsed by GreenPAC. GreenPAC is a non-profit,non-partisan organization that works to elect and support environmental leaders. Maguire's endorsement is a recognition of his efforts to protect water and wetlands as an MLA and an MP. This includes securing funding for water management and wetland restoration projects such as the Assiniboine River Basin Initiative.
During the 43rd Canadian Parliament Maguire's Private member's bill,Bill C-208,was adopted. Introduced on February 19,2020,Bill C-208:An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (transfer of small business or family farm or fishing corporation) applies the capital gains tax and its exemptions,instead of the dividend tax,to inter-generational transfers of corporations classified as small businesses,family farms,and family fishing corporations so that they are taxed at the same rate as they would when selling to a third party. Previously,it was more financially advantageous for an owner to sell their operation to a third-party than to a family member from a taxation perspective. [30]
On March 23,2025,Maguire announced that he would not run for re-election in the 2025 federal election. [31]
