The son of Gaston Joseph Rondeau and Dorothy Jean Finch,[1] he was born in Winnipeg, and was educated at John Taylor Collegiate.
Rondeau helped establish several learning centres and libraries throughout the province,[3] and founded a school-to-work transition program for young people from northern Manitoba.
Rondeau's narrow victory in 1999 made his seat a key Progressive Conservative target in the 2003 election, but he was re-elected with 63% of the vote, winning every poll but one.
He became a strong advocate for public awareness and preventative medicine,[17] and indicated that the Doer government would consider removing the provincial sales tax from nutritional supplements and alternative foods.
[21] In March 2004, Rondeau announced that the Doer government had signed a $2.5-million contract to create a Prostate Centre at CancerCare Manitoba.
[23] Despite some initial reluctance, he announced in July 2004 that the government would fully fund abortions at Jane's Clinic, once owned by Henry Morgentaler.
He indicated that Manitoba had the potential for strong economic growth in the mining sector, particularly in light of the need for raw materials in countries such as India and China.
[34] Rondeau later indicated that he would support a ban on bulk exports to America, but added that government intervention appeared to be unnecessary in any event.
Rondeau supports a proposed east-west Canadian power grid,[40] and has endorsed the federal government's plan for a national ban on inefficient incandescent light bulbs by 2012.
Rondeau has said that Manitoba would neither raise Hydro rates nor implement a carbon tax to promote conservation, arguing that the goal could be achieved by other means.
[43] He announced a "pause" on further uranium exploration permits the following month, after health and environmental concerns were raised by the Northlands Dene First Nation.
[44] He has also indicated that the provincial and federal governments will spend over half a million dollars to expand a biodiesel testing laboratory in Manitoba Hydro's East Selkirk plant,[45] and has announced legislation to encourage further growth within the sector.
[46] In late 2007, he wrote an editorial piece in support of a government policy requiring that 8.5% of the total volume of gasoline sold in Manitoba is to be ethanol.