Mr. Kostyra concluded employment as the Secretary to the Community and Economic Development Committee of Cabinet (CEDC), Government of Manitoba, where he worked on major community and economic initiatives from January 2000 to September 2006. He reported to Premier Gary Doer and Cabinet as well he worked closely with line departments and the community to coordinate major government initiatives.

From 1966 to 1973 Eugene was employed by Winnipeg Hydro as a Clerk – Typist and then progressed to the position of Journeyman Electrician.   From 1973 – 1981, and 1988 – 1999, he was a National Representative in the Winnipeg and Brandon offices and was then promoted to the position of Regional Director for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (C.U.P.E.).  He was seconded for a two year term to work as Executive Assistant to the National President of C.U.P.E. in the National Office, Ottawa. Eugene finished his career with C.U.P.E. as Regional Director for Manitoba.

In 1981, he was elected to the Manitoba Legislative Assembly, representing the Seven Oaks Constituency for the New Democratic Party (NDP) for the period to 1988.  As a member of the Executive Council (Cabinet Minister), he held a number of portfolios including Finance, Industry, Trade and Technology, Urban Affairs, Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Minister Responsible for Housing and Culture, Heritage and Recreation as well as Chairperson of Treasury Board.  He has also worked as Transition advisor to the Mayor of the City of Winnipeg (1998), Government of Manitoba (1999) and Government of Nova Scotia (2009).

He was also seconded to work in South Africa under a C.I.D.A. sponsored project, prior to the first post apartheid South African election.  He also worked as an advisor to the President of Montenegro, Yugoslavia, a number of Ministers of the Government of Yugoslavia, a number of Ministers of the Serbian Government and the Mayor of Belgrade, on volunteer assignments with the Democratic National Institute of Washington, DC. In addition he was a volunteer advisor to the Government of Uganda under a C.I.D.A. and Institute of Public administration of Canada (I.P.A.C.) sponsored project.