Bernadette Smith

The Honourable
Bernadette Smith
OM MLA
Minister of Housing, Addictions, and Homelessness
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 18, 2023
PremierWab Kinew
Preceded byPortfilio established
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Point Douglas
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 13, 2017
Preceded byKevin Chief
Personal details
Political partyNew Democratic
Residence(s)Winnipeg, Manitoba

Bernadette Smith OM MLA is a Canadian First Nations politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in a by-election on June 13, 2017.[1] She represents the electoral district of Point Douglas as a member of the Manitoba New Democratic Party.[2][3] In November 2023, Smith was named to the BBC's 100 Women list.[4]

Personal life and education

Smith was born and raised in Winnipeg.[5] She left school in Grade 11, completing her high school education at age 22.[5] She subsequently obtained a Child and Youth Care Certificate from Red River Community College.[5]

Smith is Anishinaabe and Métis.[5] Her sister, Claudette Priscilla June Osborne-Tyo, has been missing from Winnipeg since 2008.[5][2][6] She has three children: Aron, Matthew and Makena.[5][6]

She was awarded the Order of Manitoba in 2016.[3][7]

Career

She was a teacher at Maples Collegiate and the Assistant Director of WayFinders Program at the Seven Oaks School Division.[8][2][6] She is the co-founder of the Manitoba Coalition of Families of Missing and Murdered Women in Manitoba (CFMMWM) and the Drag the Red Initiative.[6][2]

Politics

Smith was the only candidate to submit her name in order to qualify as the New Democratic Party's candidate for Point Douglas in the 2017 by-election.[9] During the campaign, the opposing Progressive Conservative Party filed a complaint with Elections Manitoba alleging that Smith had improperly campaigned at polling stations.[10][11] Smith won the seat with 44% of the vote.[12][13]

She was re-elected in the 2019 provincial election and the 2023 Manitoba general election.

Smith has advocated for some form of government investment in order to preserve the Neechi Commons grocery store and arts centre.[14]

Electoral history

2023 Manitoba general election: Point Douglas
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Bernadette Smith 3,367 73.31 +11.18 $22,793.24
Progressive Conservative Najiha Ali 742 16.16 +0.49 $0.00
Liberal Jerald Funk 484 10.54 -1.16 $311.30
Total valid votes/expense limit 4,593 99.46 – $55,071.00
Total rejected and declined ballots 25 0.54 –
Turnout 4,618 32.76 -3.24
Eligible voters 14,097
New Democratic hold Swing +5.35
Source(s)
Source: Elections Manitoba[15][16][17]
2019 Manitoba general election: Point Douglas
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Bernadette Smith 3,002 62.13 +17.78 $19,767.20
Progressive Conservative Michelle Redmond 757 15.67 -0.58 $521.28
Liberal Richard Sanderson 565 11.69 -17.39 $0.00
Green Jenn Kess 398 8.24 3.99 $0.00
Manitoba Forward Michael Wenuik 66 1.37 $0.00
Communist Fagie Fainman 44 0.91 +0.07 $310.80
Total valid votes 4,832 100.0  
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Manitoba provincial by-election, 13 June 2017: Point Douglas
Resignation of Kevin Chief
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Bernadette Smith 1,568 44.35 -13.46 $35,313.48
Liberal John Cacayuran 1,006 29.08 +9.62 $19,478.56
Progressive Conservative Jodi Moskal 562 16.25 -0.27 $35,068.27
Manitoba Gary Marshall 181 5.23 $5,528.56
Green Sabrina Koehn Binesi 147 4.25 -0.78 $2,230.86
Communist Frank Komarniski 27 0.84 -0.34 $9.44
Total valid votes/Expense limit 3,491 100.00 - $37,179.00
Total rejected and declines votes 23 0.72 -0.45
Turnout 3,514 32.38 -10.16
Electors on the lists 11,207
New Democratic hold Swing -11.54
Source: Elections Manitoba[18]

References

  1. ^ "NDP's Bernadette Smith wins Point Douglas byelection". CBC News Manitoba, June 13, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d DePape, Keila (May 14, 2017). "'I wanted to give back:' Bernadette Smith running for NDP in Point Douglas". Metro News. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Manitoba byelection for Point Douglas set for June 13". CBC News. May 12, 2017. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2017. Smith helped push for an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and co-founded Drag the Red, a group that searches the Red River for clues in missing persons cases. She is also a recent recipient of the Order of Manitoba.
  4. ^ "BBC 100 Women 2023: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. November 23, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Bernadette Smith". Government of Manitoba. May 2014. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d Manitoba New Democratic Party (March 3, 2017). "Bernadette Smith". Archived from the original on May 17, 2017.
  7. ^ "Wanda Koop, Bernadette Smith among 11 to get Order of Manitoba in 2016". CBC News. May 12, 2016. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Bernadette Smith is best known for her dedication to pursuing justice for Canada's missing and murdered Indigenous girls and women. She is a leader in her community and across Canada.
  8. ^ Dabee, Derek (August 6, 2015). "Teacher works to eradicate violence". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. The popular teacher at Maples Collegiate is one of the new wave of young,vibrant indigenous leaders in Manitoba.
  9. ^ MacLean, Cameron (January 22, 2017). "Point Douglas activist slams NDP over nomination process". CTV News. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Indigenous activist Bernadette Smith was the only candidate to submit her name before the party's deadline and her nomination is to be made official Jan. 31.
  10. ^ Orle, George J. (June 8, 2017). "PC's letter to Elections Manitoba". Scribd. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  11. ^ Ryczak, Catherine (June 8, 2017). "Manitoba Tories say NDP getting political at polling station". CTV News. Archived from the original on June 14, 2017. Manitoba's Progressive Conservatives are accusing the Opposition New Democrats of breaking election rules that ban political activities at polling stations. [...] The Tories said NDP candidate Bernadette Smith has taken photographs of herself with voters in front of the polling station.
  12. ^ "Polls close in Point Douglas; Bernadette Smith retains seat for NDP". CBC News. June 13, 2017. Archived from the original on June 14, 2017. A byelection in Point Douglas ended with NDP candidate Bernadette Smith celebrating a victory Tuesday night.
  13. ^ Lambert, Steve. "Manitoba NDP retains Point Douglas riding in provincial byelection". CTV News. Retrieved June 14, 2017. When all poll results were in, New Democrat candidate Bernadette Smith had captured 44 per cent of the vote in a seat where the NDP had never previously scored less than 52 per cent.
  14. ^ Hoye, Bryce; Ketcheson, Meaghan (June 28, 2017). "'A vital community meeting space': Neechi Commons building to be auctioned off". CBC News. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. This is a vital community meeting place. It's not just a grocery store," Bernadette Smith, the newly minted NDP MLA for Point Douglas, said Wednesday morning, surrounded by organizers from the community." We definitely should be asking the government to put in some funds.
  15. ^ "Summary of Votes Received" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  16. ^ "CANDIDATE ELECTION RETURNS GENERAL ELECTION 2023". Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  17. ^ "2023 GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE AND REGISTERED PARTY ELECTION EXPENSE LIMITS - FINAL EXPENSE LIMIT" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  18. ^ "Election Returns: By-Election". Elections Manitoba. 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2018.