Editing Gerald Hawranik (section)

{{Short description|Canadian lawyer and politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{BLP sources|date=April 2011}} 
'''Gerald Hawranik''' is a lawyer and former politician in [[Manitoba]], Canada.  He was a member of the [[Manitoba legislature]] from 2002 to 2011.<ref name=living>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/members/mla_bio_living.html#h |title=MLA Biographies - Living |publisher=Legislative Assembly of Manitoba}}</ref>
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = 
| name                = Gerald Hawranik
| honorific-prefix    = 
| honorific-suffix    = 
| caption             = 
| birth_date          = 
| birth_place         = 
| residence           = 
| office2             = Member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Manitoba]] for [[Lac du Bonnet (electoral district)|Lac du Bonnet]]
| term_start2         = March 12, 2002
| term_end2           = March 25, 2011
| predecessor2        = [[Darren Praznik]]
| successor2          = [[Wayne Ewasko]]
| party               = [[Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party|Progressive Conservative]]
| occupation          = Lawyer, politician
| alma_mater          = [[University of Manitoba]]
}}
Hawranik studied at the [[University of Manitoba]], earning degrees in law, education and physical education.<ref name=parole/> He was a long-time resident of northeastern Manitoba.  He has been a practicing lawyer for over 30 years,<ref name=lcb/> and has also been the co-owner of a general insurance agency and an automobile dealership in the area.  During the early 1990s, he and his wife were responsible for opening the first rural [[food bank]] in Canada in the region.<ref name=lcb/>  Hawranik is also the founder of ''Beauserve Homes, Inc.'', a learning facility for mentally challenged adults.

In 1993, he was named [[Queen's Counsel]].<ref name=lcb/>

Hawranik was first elected to the legislature in a 2002 by-election in the riding of [[Lac du Bonnet (Manitoba riding)|Lac du Bonnet]] (following the resignation of [[Darren Praznik]]).  A [[Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba|Progressive Conservative]], Hawranik narrowly defeated [[New Democratic Party of Manitoba|New Democrat]] [[Michael Hameluck]] by 3,398 votes to 3,234.  He defeated Hameluck again by a slightly wider margin in the [[2003 Manitoba general election|provincial election of 2003]].<ref name=votes>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/manitobavotes2007/riding/022 |title=Lac du Bonnet |work=Manitoba Votes 2007 |publisher=CBC News}}</ref>

Hawranik maintains a personal web page, through which he has outlined his views on a variety of issues.  He has spoken out in favour of reforming Canada's legal system, particularly in light of efforts by the [[Hells Angels]] to hire high-priced lawyers at public expense.

He was re-elected in the [[2007 Manitoba general election|2007 provincial election]].<ref name=votes/>

In February 2011, Hawranik announced that he would not run for reelection to the assembly later that year.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/provincial-politics-tory-mla-hawranik-says-hes-leaving-the-legislature-116525318.html |title=Tory MLA Hawranik says he's leaving the legislature |newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press |date=February 19, 2011}}</ref> Later in 2011, he moved to Alberta to join his wife who had been serving as dean of the faculty of graduate studies at [[Athabasca University]] for the previous two years. Also in 2011, he was named to the [[Parole Board of Canada]].<ref name=parole>{{cite news |url=http://eedition.lacdubonnetleader.com/doc/Lac-du-Bonnet-Leader/LacduBonnetLeader/2011110401/3.html |title=Hawranik appointed to Parole Board |publisher=Lac du Bonnet Leader |date=November 3, 2011}}</ref> In July 2013, he was named chair and CEO of the Alberta Surface Rights and Land Compensation Board.<ref name=lcb>{{cite web |url=http://www.landcompensation.gov.ab.ca/aboutus/boardbiographies.aspx?id=1277 |title=Board Structure |publisher=Land Compensation Board |accessdate=2014-07-15}}</ref>