Charles "Bud" Wildman (born 1952) is a Canadian politician. Wildman was first elected to the Ontario legislature as an NDPMPP in the 1975 Ontario election representing the riding of Algoma. In Opposition he was a leading member of the NDP's front bench and, when the party unexepectedly won the 1990 Ontario election under Bob Rae, Wildman joined the cabinet as Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for Native Affairs. In 1993 he was promoted to Minister of Energy and the Environment while keeping the Native Affairs portfolio.
As Environment minister, Wildman initiated the first public audit of Ontario’s forest resources and promoted an ecosystem management approach for sustainability. Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights was also approved during his tenure.
As Minster responsible for Native Affairs during the entire tenure of the Rae government, Wildman instituted a regime of dealing with First Nations on a government to government basis and conluded a number of land claims settlements. He also estabished the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy which sought to address health problems among native peoples in a culturally sensitive manner.
Wildman was first elected to the legislature in the provincial election of 1975, defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative Bernt Gilbertson by 398 votes.
Wildman's victory was regarded by many as an upset; he received support from NDP bastions such as Wawa, but also from more traditionally Conservative areas on the north shore of Lake Huron.
The NDP unexpectedly won the 1990 provincial election, and Wildman was appointed to cabinet as Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for Native Affairs on October 1, 1990.
BudWildman, the popular former MPP and Cabinet Minister is indeed the NDP candidate in Sault Ste.
Given that Wildman retired from his provincial seat undefeated and that Sault Ste Marie was won by the provincial NDP with 43% of the vote last year, Wildman has an excellent chance of taking this seat federally.
BudWildman decided not to seek reelection provincially, either because he feeled he is too old, or that he could not beat Michael Brown in Algoma.