The Manitoba CoR was founded in 1984, as a result of public controversy over New Democratic Party Premier Howard Pawley's attempts to entrench francophone services in the province.
The national CoR Party polled surprisingly well in the 1984 federal election in Manitoba, placing second to the Progressive Conservatives in three rural anglophone ridings.
The party ran 15 candidates in 1986, and managed to place second in four rural ridings (Arthur, Gladstone, Pembina and Rhineland).
None of the CoR's candidates came close to victory; Dennis Heeney, who had replaced Edmondson as leader, placed third in Minnedosa.
The Court of Appeals in Manitoba determined in 1991 that party's use of the word "Reform" at the provincial level was legal.
In February 1992, the Manitoba Reform Party ejected four "rebels" who had accused the national leadership of having lost touch with the grassroots membership.