Abe Kovnats (March 22, 1928
Early life and career
The son of Michael Kovnats and Mary Silverman, In 1956, he married Donna Catherine Maloney.
Political career
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 1983, he supported Gary Filmon's bid to become party leader.
He was an opponent of the legal retrenchment of French language services in Manitoba in 1984, and was re-elected with an increased majority in the 1986 provincial election.