Editing Rod Bruinooge

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Rod E. Bruinooge
| image = Rod Bruinooge.jpg
| caption = Rod Bruinooge 2016
| term_start = January 23, 2006
| term_end = October 19, 2015
| predecessor = [[Reg Alcock]]
| successor = [[Terry Duguid]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|05|06}}
| birth_place = [[Thompson, Manitoba]], Canada
| death_date =
| death_place =
| profession = Entrepreneur, CEO, executive director, film producer
| party = [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]]
| residence = [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]]
| riding = [[Winnipeg South]]
| footnotes =
| term_start2 =
| term_end2 =
| spouse = Chantale Bruinooge
| successor2 =
}}
'''Rod E. Bruinooge''' (born May 6, 1973) is an Indigenous [[Canadians|Canadian]] politician, businessman, and filmmaker.  He was elected as the [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Winnipeg South]] in the [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 federal election]], and was the [[Parliamentary Secretary]] to the [[Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development|Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]] and the [[Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians]] from 2006 until the fall of 2008.

Bruinooge is a member of the [[Conservative Party of Canada]], and is an Indigenous Canadian of [[Métis people (Canada)|Métis]] descent. He retired from parliament at the [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015 federal election]]. Bruinooge became CEO of Eventride in May 2016.  Bruinooge was later appointed the first Indigenous Film Commissioner for Manitoba in 2021.  Later, Bruinooge was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the Manitoba Research Network in 2024.

==Early life and career==
Bruinooge's father originated from [[Wemeldinge]], [[Netherlands]]. After moving to Canada, he married an Indigenous woman. Bruinooge himself was born in [[Thompson, Manitoba|Thompson]], [[Manitoba]], and holds a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in [[political science]] from the [[University of Manitoba]].<ref>{{note|BA}}[http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes2004/riding/226/ Canada Votes 2004, ''Canadian Broadcasting Corporation'', Winnipeg South riding profile]</ref>  He attended the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]]'s 1993 [[1993 Progressive Conservative leadership election|leadership convention]] as a youth delegate, supporting [[Kim Campbell]].<ref>John Douglas, "Campbell slips in Manitoba", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 13 June 1993, Canadian Wire Stories.  His name is erroneously listed as "Ron Bruinooge".</ref>  Bruinooge became chief executive and president of Abject Modernity Internet Creations Ltd. in the late 1990s, and worked as a consultant.<ref>Simon Avery, "Canada's video gamers take 'mature' tack", ''National Post'', 13 May 1999, C01/front.</ref>

Bruinooge has served as a director of the River View Health Centre and the [[Manitoba Children's Museum]], and has done organizational work for the Winnipeg Aboriginal Film and Video Festival and the [[North American Indigenous Games]].

==''The Stone''==

Bruinooge developed an [[internet]] game/mystery entitled ''[[The Stone (online game)|The Stone]]'' in 1995, and launched it as a consumer product in 1997.  The game was strongly influenced by the [[Publius Enigma]], a conceptual mystery involving hidden messages in the cover art of [[Pink Floyd]]'s ''[[The Division Bell]]'' (1994).  ''The Stone'' was profiled by ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine in 1999 and has been featured in other international journals including USA Today and Entertainment weekly.

In February 1999, Bruinooge held a launch event at [[Time Square]] in New York City, where 999 copies of The Stone were handed out to guests.  Significant media coverage of the launch occurred including CNN and other New York based news stations.

The Stone was completed in 2007 and Bruinooge was active in its final deployment.

==Film and television==

In September 2004, Bruinooge and co-director [[Scott Jaworski]] released a film entitled ''Stoners'',<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0432097/ IMDB Entry: Stoners]</ref> covering the activities of an internet gaming community that emerged around ''[[The Stone (video game)|The Stone]]''.<ref>[http://www.thestone.com/ "The Stone", website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051027065117/http://www.thestone.com/ |date=October 27, 2005 }}</ref>  The film features several tracks from ''The Division Bell'' in its soundtrack, used with Pink Floyd's permission.<ref>"Creator of online game", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 21 September 2004, D4.</ref>

Bruinooge started the Winnipeg International Film Festival in 2005, and was its executive director until February 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.winnipegfilmfest.com/ |title=Winnipeg International Film Festival website, 2005 listing. |access-date=2018-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921163916/http://winnipegfilmfest.com/ |archive-date=2017-09-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The festival including a screening of ''Stoners'' during its first year.  Some in Winnipeg's arts community believed it was inappropriate for Bruinooge to screen his own film, although it was screened out of competition.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/winnipeg-film-fest-fuss-1.543764 Winnipeg Film Fest fuss], Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 10 June 2005, 11:37 report, accessed 15 June 2008.{{dead link|date=December 2014}}</ref>

In 2020 Bruinooge appeared in an episode of CBC's [[Burden of Truth (TV series)|Burden of Truth]] alongside [[Kristin Kreuk]] as a First Nation relative of recurring character Cody Chartrand (season 3, episode 4).  Rod Bruinooge is a member of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists union, (ACTRA) since 2019.

Bruinooge was appointed Interim-CEO for the provincial crown agency Manitoba Film and Music in 2021 and became Canada's first Indigenous Film Commissioner at that time. During his career as Film Commissioner Bruinooge led a delegation of film industry and government officials on a mission to Los Angeles on the maiden voyage of Winnipeg's first direct flight.<ref>[https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/arts/2022/10/31/hooray-for-winnipeg-to-hollywood Hooray for (Winnipeg to) Hollywood], Winnipeg Free Press, 31 October 2022, Gabriel Piché}</ref>

==Politician==

=== Candidate ===
Bruinooge was a frequent candidate for public office before his election in 2006.  He first sought the provincial [[Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba|Progressive Conservative]] nomination for [[Riel (electoral district)|Riel]] in 2002, but withdrew when it became clear that the nomination date would be in flux for some time.<ref>Mia Rabson, "Tories look for answers in membership dispute", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 2 November 2002, A6.</ref>

He later campaigned as the Conservative candidate for Winnipeg South in the [[2004 Canadian federal election|2004 federal election]].  One of his more creative campaign advertisements was a self-directed, fifteen-second promotional film entitled "Big Tobacco", which compared [[Paul Martin]]'s efforts at government renewal to misleading tobacco advertising.  The spot ran as a preview for [[Shrek 2]] in some Winnipeg theatres.<ref>Frank Landry, "Campaign trailers", ''Winnipeg Sun'', 26 May 2004.</ref>

Bruinooge was one of only three aboriginal candidates to run for the Conservative Party in the 2004 election.  The Conservative Party has sometimes been depicted as hostile to aboriginal interests, and at one point in the campaign Bruinooge and party leader [[Stephen Harper]] were the targets of a protest by aboriginal activists, including [[David Chartrand]] of the [[Manitoba Métis Federation]].<ref>Len Kruzenga, "Listen to natives, not just their leaders", ''National Post'', 15 July 2004, A18.</ref>  Bruinooge finished second in the election against [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] incumbent [[Reg Alcock]].

Bruinooge sought the Conservative nomination for Winnipeg South for a second time in the spring of 2005, but lost to rival candidate [[Hugh McFadyen]] by a narrow margin.<ref>Bill Redekop, "Tory stronghold claimed by mayor's former aide", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 19 October 2005, B3.</ref>  A few months later, he was defeated by McFadyen a second time in a contest for the provincial Progressive Conservative nomination in [[Fort Whyte]].<ref>[http://winnipeg.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=mb_fort-whyte-20051019 "McFadyen to represent Tories in Fort Whyte", CBC Manitoba, 19 October 2005, 07:55 report.] </ref>  Once again, McFadyen won by a very narrow margin.

McFadyen resigned his federal nomination when he chose to run provincially, and Bruinooge was chosen as the Conservative candidate in his place.  His candidacy was endorsed on January 18, 2006 by [[Vote Marriage Canada]], a group which opposes [[Same-sex marriage in Canada|same-sex marriage]].<ref>"Vote Marriage Canada announces fifty pro-marriage candidates in the Prairie Provinces and the N.W.T." (official press release), ''Canada NewsWire'', 08:40 report, 18 January 2006.</ref>  Although Bruinooge is a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation, that organization endorsed Reg Alcock.<ref>Leah Janzen, "Alcock the target for years", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 25 January 2005, A12.</ref>

Bruinooge defeated Alcock by 111 votes on election day,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/alcock-unseated-by-conservative-in-winnipeg-south-1.573428|title=Alcock unseated by Conservative in Winnipeg South|work=CBC News|date=24 January 2006|accessdate=2014-12-12}}</ref> in what most political observers described as a significant upset.<ref>The ''[[Winnipeg Sun]]'' later described Bruinooge's victory as "the biggest political upset of the decade". Kevin Engstrom, "Top 50 Stories of the Decade". "Winnipeg Sun", 24 December 2009.</ref>  Bruinooge was aided by a national trend toward his party, as well as by Alcock's decision to spend most of his time canvassing with Liberal candidates in other ridings.<ref>Daniel Lett, "Winnipeg South/Reg Alcock", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 24 January 2006, B7.</ref>

=== Parliamentarian ===
The Conservatives won a [[minority government]] in the 2006 election.  In early February 2006, Bruinooge was appointed parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians.  He was the only Aboriginal member of the Government benches until [[Rob Clarke]] was elected on the byelections of March 17, 2008. In January 2007, he represented his government in signing a deal with [[Siemens]] that was designed to increase aboriginal employment.<ref>"Canada's new government signs agreement with Siemens to increase Aboriginal employment and economic opportunities" [Government press release], ''Canada NewsWire'', 24 January 2007, 12:05 report.</ref>
[[File:Rod and Phil Fontaine.jpg|thumb|Rod Bruinooge and Phil Fontaine in the House of Commons]]

During his tenure as Parliamentary Secretary Bruinooge was tasked with managing the enabling legislation for both the [[Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement]] and the [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada]] through the House of Commons and Committee.  On June 11, 2008 during Canada's official apology to the victims of Residential Schools, Bruinooge had the honour of being part of the official delegation walking into the House of Commons with the four Indigenous leaders and the Prime Minister.<ref>"The Commons: The Apology" [Article by Aaron Wherry], ''Maclean's Magazine'', 12 June 2008.</ref>

At the Assembly of First Nations General Assembly in Nova Scotia in July 2007, Bruinooge described the [[Paul Martin]] government's [[Kelowna Accord]] on aboriginal investment as nothing more than an "expensive press release".  This statement was strongly criticized by [[Assembly of First Nations]] leader [[Phil Fontaine]].<ref>"Tory comments on Kelowna anger First Nations leaders", ''Kitchener-Waterloo Record'', 13 July 2007, D10.</ref>  In the same month, Bruinooge vocally supported the Harper government's efforts to place Canada's [[Indian Act]] under the provisions of the [[Canadian Human Rights Act]].  Some native groups have argued that the Human Rights Act's focus on individual rights will undermine the communal rights of aboriginal communities.<ref>Juliet O'Neill, "Opposition parties team up to block Native bill", ''National Post'', 26 July 2007, A4; Meagan Fitzpatrick And Juliet O'Neill, "Opposition MPs delay Tory plan for native rights", ''National Post'', 27 July 2007, A4.</ref>

Bruinooge was then tasked with managing the legislation providing First Nation reserves with access to the Canadian Human Rights Act.  Though this Act started controversially, in the end Bruinooge was able to successfully negotiate with opposition parties and First Nation leaders to pass Bill C-21.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/native-law-loophole-to-be-closed/article17986682/ |title = Native Law Loophole to be Closed - Globe and Mail, May 26th 2008| newspaper=The Globe and Mail | date=26 May 2008 }}</ref> First Nations child welfare advocate, [[Cindy Blackstock]], then filed a claim on behalf of First Nations children to the [[Canadian Human Rights Tribunal]] which only became valid after the passing of C-21.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lawjournal.mcgill.ca/article/the-complainant-the-canadian-human-rights-case-on-first-nations-child-welfare/ |title = The Complainant: The Canadian Human Rights Case on First Nations Child Welfare -McGill Law Journal, 2016 62:2 McGill LJ 285 }}</ref> On April 3, 2023, after nearly 2 decades of effort, Blackstock would settle with the federal government for 23 Billion dollars on behalf on First Nations children impacted by the child welfare system, all due to her initial claim.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/afn-blackstock-announce-23b-child-welfare-compensation-deal/#:~:text=AFN%2C%20Blackstock%20announce%20revised%20%2423B%20child%20welfare%20compensation%20deal&text=The%20Assembly%20of%20First%20Nations,government%20run%20child%20welfare%20system. |title =AFN, Blackstock announce revised $23B child welfare compensation deal- APTN, April 3 2023 }}</ref>

In January 2008, Bruinooge said that the Harper government was considering adapting provincial funding models in [[British Columbia]] and [[Alberta]] to address education and child-welfare programs in Manitoba.<ref>Mia Rabson, "MP offers options for children on welfare", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 19 January 2008, A9.</ref>

In the minutes after it was announced that the Order of Canada was being presented to abortion provider and pro-choice advocate Henry Morgentaler on Canada Day 2008, Rod Bruinooge called the award "Reprehensible".<ref>Kevin Engstrom, "'Reprehensible' Naming, Local MP derides choice of Morgentaler", ''Winnipeg Sun'', 2 July 2008, A3</ref>

He was re-elected over Liberal candidate [[John Loewen]] in the [[2008 Canadian federal election|2008 federal election]].  Immediately after the election, Bruinooge turned down an offer to become Parliamentary Secretary for INAC, citing a desire to focus his attention on the riding and spend more time with his family.<ref>Winnipeg Free Press, November 2008</ref>

In December 2008, Rod Bruinooge was elected Chair of the Parliamentary Pro Life Caucus and was reported by the Canadian Press as stating that unborn children had less legal value in Canada than a human kidney.<ref>Canadian Press, December 28th 2008, "New Chairman of pro life caucus pushing to reopen Abortion debate" [https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iktzecQbZvvytpNGyIO7zmLsFN-Q]{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In February 2009, Bruinooge founded the Conservative Post-Secondary Education Caucus to which he was elected chair.<ref name="The Hill Times, February 2009">The Hill Times, February 2009</ref> In April 2013, Bruinooge led a Post-Secondary Education Caucus Delegation to Washington D.C., to meet with American leaders in Post-Secondary Education, including a visit to Georgetown University.<ref name="CJOB News, Bruinooge Leads Post-Secondary Education Delegation">{{cite web |url=http://www.cjob.com/news/winnipeg/story.aspx?ID=1927829 |title = 680 CJOB - Winnipeg's News & Information Leader}}</ref> Bruinooge is also vice-chair of the Canada-U.S. Interparliamentary Group and the Canada-Holland Friendship Group.<ref name="The Hill Times, February 2009"/> He is also a member of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.parl.gc.ca/CommitteeBusiness/CommitteeMembership.aspx?Cmte=CHPC&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=2 |title = CHPC - Members - House of Commons of Canada}}</ref>

In May 2011, Bruinooge wrote an op-ed that ran nationally celebrating the renewal of Winnipeg in conjunction with the return of the [[Winnipeg Jets]].  Bruinooge argued that Winnipeg was North America's best kept secret with new attractions such as the [[Canadian Museum for Human Rights]] and updated infrastructure like the [[Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nationalpost.com/full-comment/rod-bruinooge-winnipeg-reclaims-its-place-among-the-first-rate/ |title = Winnipeg Reclaims Its Place among the First Rate - National Post}}</ref>

In May 2011 Bruinooge defeated his Liberal opponent in the spring election with a plurality over 50%.  In the fall of 2011 there was some speculation that Bruinooge would seek the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party of Manitoba.  On January 4, 2012 the Winnipeg Free Press reported that Bruinooge would remain in Ottawa and not seek the leadership.

Bruinooge held a consultation in Winnipeg with industry and business leaders from across Manitoba to discuss a renewal of the government's Global Commerce Strategy.<ref name="The Ottawa Business Journal">{{cite web|title=The Ottawa Business Journal - Eye on the Hill: Feds funding business accessibility projects|url=http://www.obj.ca/Local/2012-08-29/article-3063312/Eye-on-the-Hill%3A-Feds-funding-business-accessibility-projects/1|work=The Ottawa Business Journal|accessdate=September 12, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025071041/http://www.obj.ca/Local/2012-08-29/article-3063312/Eye-on-the-Hill%3A-Feds-funding-business-accessibility-projects/1|archivedate=October 25, 2012}}</ref>

Bruinooge announced his plans to not seek re-election in January 2015.

==Electoral record (Winnipeg South)==
{{2011 Canadian federal election/Winnipeg South}}
{{2008 Canadian federal election/Winnipeg South}}
{{2006 Canadian federal election/Winnipeg South}}
{{2004 Canadian federal election/Winnipeg South}}
All electoral information is taken from [[Elections Canada]].  Italicized expenditures refer to submitted totals, and are presented when the final reviewed totals are not available.

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=11362}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050924032517/http://www.bruinooge.ca/ Rod Bruinooge]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bruinooge, Rod}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Conservative Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:Film festival founders]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Manitoba]]
[[Category:Métis filmmakers]]
[[Category:Métis politicians]]
[[Category:People from Thompson, Manitoba]]
[[Category:University of Manitoba alumni]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Dutch descent]]
[[Category:Indigenous Members of the House of Commons of Canada]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]
[[Category:Manitoba Métis Federation people]]