Nason hopes to represent Transcona in legislature

Transcona

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This article was published 12/03/2025 (525 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Shawn Nason intends to take his experience representing Transcona on city council all the way back to Broadway.

Nason, 56, is the Progressive Conservative candidate in the upcoming provincial Transcona byelection, to be held March 18. The seat was previously held by NDP cabinet minister Nello Altomare, who died on Jan. 14.

Nason represented Transcona as city councillor from 2018 to 2022. Before that, he worked in the provincial government, as special assistant to the minister of families, then later with the minister of Indigenous and northern relations, after working as constituency manager for Elmwood-Transcona MP Lawrence Toet.

“I’ve had a taste of life at the legislature,” Nason said. “I’m still looking at NDP and challenges we have at the province, and I want to lend my voice. I think I was a good voice for Transcona at the civic level. I still have a thirst to serve.”

Nason identified affordability as the No. 1 issue affecting voters, along with public safety.

“We’ve seen time and time again how taxpayers, ratepayers are getting slammed. Hardworking families in Transcona need to have more dollars in their pockets to have a good quality life,” he said.

“We need more boots on the street, police continue to have challenges with drug supplies and drug addictions, as well as homelessness challenges. I’ve fought long and hard at the civic level for ways to improve that, but we still have challenges. I don’t know if it’s getting any better.”

A Transcona-resident for the past 20 years, Nason and his wife have two children, and he remains a regular volunteer in the community, having served on the boards of the Transcona Historical Museum, Rotary Club of Winnipeg East, Oxford Heights Community Club, and FC Northwest Soccer Club, among other volunteer contributions at the grassroots level.

“I hear from parents time and time again of the challenges they face, regardless of who is in government,” he said. “I want to give back and help wherever. I’ll be going door-to-door to hear from the ratepayers. I’m meeting with seniors, meeting with veterans, meeting with business. I want to hear their concerns. They appreciate what I did as councillor. I hope I can bring that level of accountability to the legislature if, hopefully, I’m successful on March 18.”

Also running in the byelection are NDP candidate Shannon Corbett and Liberal Brad Boudreau, while Susan Auch is running as an independent. Visit electionsmanitoba.ca for more information.