James McCrae (politician)

James Collus McCrae (born September 19, 1948) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1986 to 1999, in the Progressive Conservative Party caucus. From 1988 to 1999, McCrae was a cabinet minister in the government of Premier Gary Filmon.

McCrae was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He was educated at Vincent Massey High School in Brandon, Manitoba and the Bryan College of Court Reporting in Los Angeles, California. He served as a court reporter for a number of years, and was a Hansard reporter for the House of Commons of Canada from 1975 to 1982. McCrae served as a city councillor for Brandon City Council from 1983 to 1986.

McCrae was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1986 provincial election, defeating New Democratic Party candidate Arnold Grambo by 1409 votes in the riding of Brandon West. The NDP under Howard Pawley narrowly won the election, and McCrae joined 25 other Progressive Conservatives in the opposition.

In 1988, the Pawley government was brought down by disgruntled NDP backbencher Jim Walding. The Progressive Conservatives won a minority government in the election that followed; McCrae was re-elected over Liberal candidate John Worley by 1421 votes, with the NDP falling to third place. On May 9, 1988, McCrae was appointed Attorney General (renamed Minister of Justice and Attorney General) in 1990, Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs and Minister of Cooperative Development, with responsibility for Constitutional Affairs and the Liquor Control Act. On April 21, 1989, he was relieved of all his ministries and responsibilities except for the primary portfolio of Attorney-General.