Brian Pallister feels 'awesome, humbled' by election win

Brian Pallister says he is feeling both"awesome"and"humbled"by his election win in Fort Whyteand his party's surge to majorityin Manitoba.

The leader of the Progressive Conservative Party willbe Manitoba's next premier.

"The only thing better than tonight in Manitoba is tomorrow," saidpremier-designate Pallisteron Tuesday.

"All Manitobansare going to walk out into a beautiful spring morning and they're going to look up and the sky's going to be blue."

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In his victory speech, Pallister promised to lead a government for everyone,not just Progressive Conservative voters.

"After years of division we now have an opportunityto build a better future for all Manitobans together," said Pallister.

Polling numbers consistently showed the Progressive Conservatives in the lead throughout the campaign. Pallister was only put onthe defensive last week when CBCrevealedhe had spent 240 days travelling to or in Costa Rica where heowns a vacation property since he was elected in 2012.

After being challenged on why he had not disclosed his 15 trips to the Central American country, Pallisterdefended his family's right to privacy and said he frequently workswhile away.

Throughout the 2016 election campaign,Pallisterfought to project a warmer, kinder image. His approval ratings have been consistently lower than the popularity of the PC Partyamong voters;however, Vote Compassdataanalyzedfor CBC foundPallisterwas seen as more trustworthy and competent than the other leaders in the race.

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Pallister'spath to politics

Pallister, 61, is aveteranof the insuranceand financial industry and a long-time federal and provincial politician.

He first entered politics in 1992 running with the Manitoba Progressive Conservatives and winning a seat in the Manitoba Legislature for Portage la Prairie. Heserved as minister of government services under former premierGary Filmon. Pallister left provincial politics for Ottawain 1997.

Pallister ran for leader of thefederal Progressive Conservatives in 1998, losing toJoe Clark.

Pallisterwent on to beelected to the House of Commonsa total of three times to representthe riding Portage-Lisgar. As a member ofParliament, Pallister served as aparliamentary secretary to both the minister of international trade and the minister of international cooperation.

In July 2012, Pallisterwas chosento take over the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from former leader,Hugh McFadyen. He won by acclamation.

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In September of that year,Pallister was elected to the Manitoba Legislature to represent Fort Whyte in a byelection.

Humble beginnings in rural Manitoba

He grew up with two siblings in the small village of Edwin, Man. Pallister's father, Bill Pallister, was a farmer and local politician and his mother, Anne Pallister, was a school teacher.

Money was tight,Pallisterhas said, and often times his family relied on his mother's meagre income as a teacher to put food on the table.

Pallisterwas bullied growing upbecause of crooked teeth, which have sincebeen fixed, and his height.Pallisterstands a towering 6' 8".

When he started university,Pallistersaid hehitchhiked to Brandon to attend classes. He earned degrees in arts and education at Brandon University.

His first job was as a teacher at William Morton Collegiate in Gladstone, Man., according to theProgressive Conservative Party.

In 1980, he foundedPallisterFinancial, an insurance and investment business still operating in Portage la Prairie.

Pallisteris married to Esther Johnson and has two daughters.

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