Fontaine to seek nomination for NDP in St. Johns

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This article was published 05/02/2016 (3531 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Clutching an eagle feather, Nahanni Fontaine, a nationally recognized advocate for indigenous women, became the fourth candidate to seek the NDP nomination in the North End constituency of St. Johns today.

Fontaine, a special advisor to the province on indigenous women’s issues, formally launched her campaign before about three dozen supporters at Ralph Brown Community Centre on Andrews Street.

“This riding has a storied history of sending strong NDP representatives to the legislature,” she said, listing such “strong champions of social justice” as David Orlikow, Saul Cherniak and Judy Wasylycia-Leis.

The nomination in the traditionally safe seat for the New Democrats came open when longtime MLA and cabinet minister Gord Mackintosh unexpectedly announced last week that he would not seek re-election. He had been nominated as the party’s candidate last year.

Since Mackintosh announced he would step down, three other candidates have emerged, including nurse and former school board trustee Suzanne Hrynyk, Aaron McDowell, executive assistant to Coun. Ross Eadie in Mynarski, and Tyler Pearce, director of communications for the Winnipeg branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association.

A single mother of two sons, Fontaine said she is proud of the number of high-profile indigenous candidates that have come forward to seek election provincially, singling out Wab Kinew, an activist and former broadcaster who has let his name stand for the NDP nomination in Fort Rouge.

I think it’s a reflection of where we are in this province in respect of recognizing the role that indigenous people have to play in provincial politics,” she told reporters.

“I think it’s also a reflection of the work in reclaiming our culture and our space — economically, politically, socially, culturally in this territory — across Manitoba.”

No NDP MLAs attended Fontaine’s event, although a few of Mackintosh’s political staff were there.

The MLA has not declared his support as yet for any of the candidates.