▁the ▁Legisl ative ▁Assembly ▁of ▁Man it oba ▁between ▁ 1 9 5 8 ▁and ▁ 1 9 6 2 , ▁and ▁ran ▁for ▁the ▁leadership ▁of ▁the ▁Man it oba ▁Liberal ▁Party ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 1 . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁later ▁involved ▁with ▁the ▁Liberal ▁Party ▁of ▁Canada , ▁and ▁was ▁a ▁found ing ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Reform ▁Party ▁of ▁Canada . ▁ ▁Early ▁years ▁Roberts ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁St . ▁Ad ol phe , ▁Man it oba , ▁later ▁far ming ▁there , ▁and ▁received ▁of ▁Bach elor ▁of ▁Science ▁degree ▁from ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Man it oba ▁and ▁an ▁M BA ▁from ▁Western ▁University . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁first ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁Man it oba ▁legisl ature ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 8 , ▁as ▁a ▁Liberal - Progress ive ▁candidate ▁in ▁the ▁franc oph one ▁r iding ▁of ▁La ▁Ver end ry e ▁( R ober ts ▁was ▁himself ▁b iling ual ). ▁ ▁Although ▁D uffer in ▁Rob lin ' s ▁Progress ive ▁Conserv ative ▁( PC ) ▁Party ▁won ▁the ▁general ▁election , ▁Roberts ▁defeated ▁his ▁T ory ▁oppon ent ▁Stan ▁B isson ▁by ▁ 1 5 6 5 ▁votes ▁to ▁ 1 3 9 5 . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁re - elect ed ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 9 , ▁defe ating ▁PC ▁candidate ▁Ed mond ▁Gu ert in . ▁ ▁When ▁Douglas ▁Campbell ▁res igned ▁as ▁Liberal - Progress ive ▁leader ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 1 , ▁Roberts ▁ran ▁to ▁succeed ▁him