Cameron Friesen

{{short description|Canadian politician}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}

{{use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = Cfriesen.1.jpg

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Cameron Friesen

| honorific-suffix =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Morden, Manitoba

| residence = Morden, Manitoba

| alt =

| caption =

| order =

| office = Manitoba Minister of Finance

| term_start = January 18, 2022

| term_end = January 30, 2023

| premier = Heather Stefanson

| predecessor = Scott Fielding

| successor = Cliff Cullen

| term_start1 = May 3, 2016

| term_end1 = August 1, 2018

| premier1 = Brian Pallister

| predecessor1 = Greg Dewar

| successor1 = Scott Fielding

| office2 = Manitoba Minister of Justice and Attorney General

| term_start2 = January 5, 2021

| term_end2 = January 18, 2022

| premier2 = Brian Pallister
Kelvin Goertzen
Heather Stefanson

| predecessor2 = Cliff Cullen

| successor2 = Kelvin Goertzen

| office3 = Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living

| term_start3 = August 1, 2018

| term_end3 = January 5, 2021

| premier3 = Brian Pallister

| predecessor3 = Kelvin Goertzen

| successor3 = Heather Stefanson

| office4 = Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Morden-Winkler

| term_start4 = October 4, 2011

| term_end4 = February 3, 2023

| predecessor4 = First Member

| successor4 = Carrie Hiebert

| party = Progressive Conservative

| occupation = Teacher

| alma_mater = Canadian Mennonite University
University of Manitoba
University of British Columbia
University of Winnipeg

}}

Cameron Scott Friesen is a Canadian politician and was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Morden-Winkler.{{cite web|url=https://winnipegsun.com/news/provincial/ministers-change-duties-one-new-face-after-tories-shuffle-cabinet|title=Ministers change duties, one new face after Tory cabinet shuffle|work=Winnipeg Sun|date=August 1, 2018|accessdate=October 25, 2018|archive-date=October 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025190250/https://winnipegsun.com/news/provincial/ministers-change-duties-one-new-face-after-tories-shuffle-cabinet|url-status=live}} A member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, he was first elected in the 2011 provincial election,[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitobavotes2011/ridings/029/ Manitoba Votes 2011: Morden-Winkler]. CBC News, October 4, 2011. and re-elected in 2016 and 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/members/mla_bio_living.html#g |title=MLA Biographies - Living |publisher=Legislative Assembly of Manitoba |access-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-date=April 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414011909/https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/members/mla_bio_living.html#g |url-status=live }}

Friesen was the Manitoba Minister of Finance from May 3, 2016 until August 1, 2018 and served a second term from January 18, 2022 until January 30, 2023.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-brian-pallister-progressive-conservatives-sworn-in-1.3564106|title=Brian Pallister sworn in as Manitoba premier|publisher=CBC News|date=May 3, 2016|accessdate=May 16, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220131417/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-brian-pallister-progressive-conservatives-sworn-in-1.3564106|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-government-cabinet-members-1.3564176|title=Meet Manitoba's new government cabinet members|publisher=CBC News|date=May 3, 2016|accessdate=2016-05-16|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220131327/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-government-cabinet-members-1.3564176|url-status=live}} He was appointed Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living on August 1, 2018. During his tenure as Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living, Friesen has faced several criticisms for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/doctors-slam-friesen-care-homes-1.5770467 |title=Toronto doctors slam Manitoba's health minister for saying care home deaths are unavoidable |publisher=CBC News |date=October 21, 2020 |accessdate=November 13, 2020 |archive-date=November 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105013025/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/doctors-slam-friesen-care-homes-1.5770467 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-manitoba-health-minister-faces-criticism-after-questioning-motivation/ |title=Manitoba health minister faces criticism after questioning motivation behind doctors' letter on COVID-19 |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=November 4, 2020 |accessdate=November 13, 2020 |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111034243/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-manitoba-health-minister-faces-criticism-after-questioning-motivation/ |url-status=live }} He was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General on January 5, 2021.

Friesen announced his resignation as Minister of Finance in January 2023, and shortly thereafter on February 3, 2023 he resigned his seat as MLA for Morden-Winkler to seek the federal nomination in Portage—Lisgar after Candice Bergen announced the previous fall that she would not be seeking reelection in the 45th Canadian federal election.{{Cite news |last=Raycraft |first=Richard |date=February 1, 2023 |title=Former interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen steps down as MP |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bergen-step-down-mp-1.6733250 |access-date=February 1, 2023 |archive-date=February 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201190332/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bergen-step-down-mp-1.6733250 |url-status=live }} He lost the nomination to Branden Leslie.