Abe Kovnats

Abe Kovnats (March 22, 1928 in St. Boniface, Manitoba – March 6, 1996) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1977 to 1988, serving as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party.

The son of Michael Kovnats and Mary Silverman, he was educated at the University of Manitoba. Before entering political life, he ran a company in the parking business and worked as a referee in the Canadian Football League. In 1956, he married Donna Catherine Maloney.

Kovnats first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1973, losing to New Democrat Harry Shafransky in the riding of Radisson by about 600 votes. In the provincial election of 1977, he defeated Shafransky by about 800 votes as the Progressive Conservatives formed a majority government under Sterling Lyon. Kovnats was not called to become a member of cabinet, but was named Deputy Speaker in 1978.

In the 1981 provincial election, Kovnats was re-elected over NDP candidate Lloyd Schreyer by about 700 votes in the redistributed riding of Niakwa. In 1983, he supported Gary Filmon's bid to become party leader.

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