▁Assembly ▁of ▁Man it oba ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 6 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 7 . ▁From ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 7 , ▁Ernst ▁was ▁a ▁Cab inet ▁minister ▁in ▁the ▁government ▁of ▁Premier ▁Gary ▁Fil mon . ▁ ▁The ▁son ▁of ▁Frank ▁Luther ▁Ernst ▁and ▁St ella ▁Sarah ▁Bry son , ▁he ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁W inn ip eg ▁and ▁was ▁educated ▁at ▁St . ▁Paul ' s ▁College ▁( aff ili ated ▁with ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Man it oba ). ▁He ▁worked ▁as ▁a ▁real ▁estate ▁and ▁ins urance ▁bro ker ▁before ▁entering ▁public ▁life . ▁Ernst ▁was ▁elected ▁as ▁a ▁coun c ill or ▁in ▁the ▁am alg am ated ▁City ▁of ▁W inn ip eg ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 3 , ▁and ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁city ' s ▁deput y ▁mayor ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 1 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 6 . ▁During ▁his ▁time ▁in ▁municipal ▁politics , ▁Ernst ▁was ▁associated ▁with ▁the ▁Independent ▁Cit iz ens ' ▁E lection ▁Committee , ▁an ▁uno fficial ▁al liance ▁of ▁right - wing ▁business ▁interests ▁in ▁the ▁city . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 6 7 , ▁he ▁married ▁Dor othy ▁Lyn n ▁Bl om . ▁ ▁Ernst ▁left ▁municipal ▁politics ▁to ▁run ▁for ▁the ▁provincial ▁legisl ature ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 6 ▁Man it oba ▁general ▁election . ▁He ▁was ▁elected ▁in ▁the ▁south west ▁W inn ip eg ▁r iding ▁of ▁Charles wood ▁as ▁a