Diversity on display: meet Manitoba’s new cabinet ministers

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/10/2023 (727 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An Anishinaabe premier. A Black, queer health minister and deputy premier. Two First Nations women in leading roles. A gender-balanced cabinet.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew officially became Manitoba’s 25th premier Wednesday, and he introduced one of the most diverse executive councils in the province’s history.

He also assembled a front bench that draws on the experience of 10 incumbent MLAs, and uses the fresh perspectives of four newly elected lawmakers.

Here’s is a look at Manitoba’s 14 new cabinet ministers:

Uzoma Asagwara

Health, seniors, long-term care; deputy premier

Union Station MLA Uzoma Asagwara is a first-generation Nigerian-Canadian, registered psychiatric nurse, and former university and national-level basketball player.

Asagwara (who uses they/them pronouns) was the first non-binary member elected to the Manitoba legislature and one of its first Black MLAs (first elected in September 2019, health critic while in Opposition).

“My roles and responsibility are to ensure that I’m doing my part as part of a really strong team in government to carry on premier Kinew’s message to get to doing the hard work and important work of fixing health care and making life more affordable for Manitobans.”

Adrien Sala

Finance; responsible for Manitoba Hydro, public service

St. James MLA Adrien Sala was first elected in September 2019, and served as finance and Hydro critic while in Opposition. Prior to becoming an MLA, Sala worked in the financial sector, as strategy and operations director with Assiniboine Credit Union.

Sala said Manitoba Hydro will be essential to his party’s commitments to growing the economy and making life more affordable for Manitobans. He is charged with keeping the NDP promise to achieve a balanced budget within one term.

“It’s a great honour to be part of this team that Wab has assembled. (It) really is an incredibly strong group of folks, and I’m just so proud to have been asked to join and work with that team to work on the priorities of Manitobans.”

Matt Wiebe

Justice/attorney general; responsible for Manitoba Public Insurance

Concordia MLA Matt Wiebe was first elected in a byelection in March 2010, and served as backbencher in premier Greg Selinger’s government. Before being elected, he was premier Gary Doer’s executive assistant.

In Opposition, Wiebe was most recently the NDP’s critic for justice and MPI.

Bernadette Smith

Housing, addictions, homelessness; responsible for mental health

Point Douglas MLA Bernadette Smith is one of two First Nations women appointed to cabinet in a historic first for Manitoba.

Smith was first elected in a June 2017 byelection, and was the NDP’s mental health and community wellness critic. Smith said she has family members who have used the shelter system or have been homeless in the past, while she has experience living in social housing.

She will be responsible for following through on the commitment to end chronic homelessness within two terms.

“We need to look at the books, what’s there, what can we do, and what organizations are doing, and what we can do collaboratively with them.”

Nahanni Fontaine

Families; responsible for accessibility, gender equity

St. Johns MLA Nahanni Fontaine also made history as one of two First Nations women appointed to executive council. She is a member of Sagkeeng First Nation.

Fontaine was first elected in April 2016, and has held multiple roles in Opposition, including house leader, justice and families critic. She was also the NDP’s MMIWG2s and veterans affairs spokesperson.

Prior to being elected, she was director of justice for the Southern Chiefs’ Organization and Manitoba special adviser on Indigenous women’s issues for the Selinger government.

Jamie Moses

Economic development, investment, trade, natural resources

St. Vital MLA Jamie Moses is one two Black lawmakers appointed to Kinew’s inner circle. He was first elected in September 2019, and most recently served as critic for advanced education and training.

Prior to politics, he was a senior workforce management analyst with IG Wealth Management. Moses said the NDP will take a team approach to grow the economy.

“We know that we can do so much more by working together, by collectively finding ways to help Manitobans from all walks of life feel included in this economy.”

Nello Altomare

Education, early childhood learning

Transcona MLA Nello Altomare is a former principal and career educator who was first elected in September 2019.

He takes over the portfolio after working in public schools for much of his professional life and serving as education critic while in Opposition. Altomare said the NDP government’s priority is establishing a new education funding formula.

“That’s going to be our challenge and we’re up for it.”

Ian Bushie

Municipal, northern relations; Indigenous economic development

Keewatinook MLA Ian Bushie was first elected to the Manitoba Legislative Assembly in September 2019 to represent the sprawling northern constituency. He previously served as chief of Hollow Water First Nation.

Most recently, he was the NDP’s transportation and infrastructure critic and deputy house leader.

Malaya Marcelino

Labour, immigration; responsible for Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba

Notre Dame MLA Malaya Marcelino takes over the labour and immigration portfolio after serving as the NDP’s critic on the file.

The lawmaker was first elected in September 2019. She immigrated to Canada from the Philippines with her family as a child. Prior to entering politics, she was a stay-at-home mom and researcher for an agribusiness firm.

She is the daughter of former NDP cabinet minister Flor Marcelino.

Lisa Naylor

Transportation, infrastructure; consumer protection, government services

Naylor was first elected in Wolseley in 2019. She has served as NDP critic for liquor and lotteries, environment and climate change, municipal relations, as party spokesperson on LGBTTQ+ issues, and as deputy caucus chair.

During the election campaign, she promised rebates for new and used electric and hybrid vehicles and to reverse PC government cuts to environmental organizations.

The former Winnipeg School Division trustee and counsellor at the Women’s Health Clinic has lived with her family in Wolseley for more than 25 years.

Renée Cable

Advanced education, training

Rookie MLA for Southdale Renée Cable will take over the advanced education and training portfolio, after working in human resource management and with non-profits and unions on project management and advocacy.

She is a self-described “community organizer” and one of four newly-elected MLAs appointed to cabinet.

“Top of mind for this portfolio and across government is really repairing the broken relationships. Folks are really looking for a listening government and a collaborative government. That’s what we’ve committed to and that’s what we’re going to deliver.”

Glen Simard

Sport, culture, heritage, tourism; responsible for francophone affairs, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries

Brandon East MLA Glen Simard is another fresh face at the legislature. The rookie minister comes to politics from the education system, where he was a teacher at École Harrison in Brandon.

Simard said the City of Brandon and western Manitoba are of significant importance to the NDP government, and described himself as a link between the government and the region.

“I’m extremely honoured to be that western envoy, that western outpost, if you will… I’m extremely confident that we’ll be surrounded by good people who understand their portfolios well and will catch us up to speed very quickly.”

Tracy Schmidt

Environment, climate change; responsible for Efficiency Manitoba

Rossmere MLA Tracy Schmidt will bring her perspective as a lawyer, labour relations officer and 42-year-old mother of three to cabinet.

The rookie minister was elected for the first time Oct. 3. She is a former postal worker and was most recently employed by the Winnipeg Association of Public Service Officers. She was also a regular volunteer for Elmwood—Transcona MP Daniel Blaikie’s office.

She was called to the bar in Manitoba in 2020.

Ron Kostyshyn

Agriculture

Dauphin MLA Ron Kostyshyn is one newly-elected MLA who joins Kinew’s cabinet with past experience on executive council.

Kostyshyn represented the constituency of Swan River from 2011-16 in the Selinger government. He lost his seat in 2016 to former Tory MLA Rick Wowchuk.

While in government, Kostyshyn served as infrastructure and transportation minister, minister responsible for emergency measures, and minister of agriculture, food and rural development.

He was formerly reeve of Mossey River Municipality.

— with files from Carol Sanders and Maggie Macintosh

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca