French
DeutschUzoma Asagwara
Uzoma Asagwara | |
|---|---|
| 11th Deputy Premier of Manitoba | |
| Assumed office October 18, 2023 | |
| Premier | Wab Kinew |
| Preceded by | Cliff Cullen |
| Manitoba Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-term Care | |
| Assumed office October 18, 2023 | |
| Premier | Wab Kinew |
| Preceded by | Audrey Gordon |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Union Station | |
| Assumed office September 10, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | first member |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 23, 1984 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Political party | New Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Winnipeg Brandon University (BScPN) |
| Profession | Psychiatric nurse |
Uzoma Asagwara (// ) is a Canadian politician who has served as the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-term Care of Manitoba since October 3, 2023. Prior to politics they were a nurse and basketball player. Since 2019, they have represented the Union Station electoral district in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.[1][2] Asagwara is a member of the Manitoba New Democratic Party.
Early and personal life
[edit]Asagwara was born in Winnipeg to Igbo Nigerian parents.[3] In 2008, Asagwara completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Winnipeg and Brandon University.[4] Asagwara was the University of Winnipeg Female Athlete of the Year in 2005–06. In 2007 they led the Canadian Interuniversity Sport in scoring with 28.05 points per game.[5] Asagwara was a member of the Canada women's national basketball team for two years and was part of the team at the 2007 Pan American Games.[4][6] Prior to their election, Asagwara worked full-time as a registered psychiatric nurse specializing in adult and youth mental health and addictions.[7] They are non-binary.[8]
Asagwara served as a member of the former Premier's Advisory Council on education, poverty, and citizenship,[9] and as a member of the Women's Health Clinic board of directors.[10] In 2014, Asagwara founded Queer People of Colour Winnipeg,[11] a Winnipeg-based project which aims to promote the rights and safety of LGBTQ people of colour in the city.
Political career
[edit]Opposition
[edit]In the 2019 Manitoba general election, Asagwara was elected to represent the Union Station electoral district.[1][2] Asagwara, alongside Jamie Moses and Audrey Gordon, is one of the first three Black Canadian MLAs elected in Manitoba.[2] They are also the first queer black person to win a seat[12] and Manitoba's first gender non-conforming MLA.[13]
While in opposition, Asagwara served as the Manitoba NDP's health critic.[14] During their time in the legislature, Asagwara has advocated for recognition of Manitoba's minority communities, and was able to pass a bill marking Somali Heritage Week.[15] In November 2021, Asagwara was re-nominated to represent the NDP in the Union Station riding.[16]
Minister of Health, Seniors, and Long-term Care
[edit]Following by the victory of the NDP in 2023 Manitoba general election, Asagwara was appointed by Premier Wab Kinew as Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-term Care and Deputy Premier. In August 2024, they announced that going forward, prescription birth control would be fully covered under the Manitoba Pharmacare program at an estimated cost of $11 million dollars.[17]
Electoral record
[edit]| 2023 Manitoba general election: Union Station | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Uzoma Asagwara | 3,714 | 70.78 | +18.16 | $11,910.44 | |||
| Progressive Conservative | Aaron Croning | 917 | 17.48 | +0.32 | $0.00 | |||
| Liberal | Iqra Tariq | 616 | 11.74 | -6.99 | $6,798.42 | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 5,247 | 98.93 | – | $49,273.00 | ||||
| Total rejected and declined ballots | 57 | 1.07 | – | |||||
| Turnout | 5,304 | 42.21 | -1.85 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 12,567 | |||||||
| New Democratic hold | Swing | +8.92 | ||||||
Source(s) | ||||||||
| 2019 Manitoba general election: Union Station | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Uzoma Asagwara | 2,635 | 52.23 | +13.3 | $17,642.20 | |||
| Liberal | Harold Davis | 949 | 18.81 | -4.0 | $4,328.11 | |||
| Progressive Conservative | Tara Fawcett | 908 | 18.00 | -1.6 | $521.28 | |||
| Green | Andrea Shalay | 473 | 9.38 | -4.8 | $2,067.06 | |||
| Communist | Elsa Cubas | 48 | 0.95 | $310.80 | ||||
| Manitoba Forward | James Yau | 32 | 0.63 | $0.00 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 5,045 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | 43.9 | |||||||
| Eligible voters | ||||||||
| New Democratic hold | Swing | +8.2 | ||||||
References
[edit]- ^ a b Ononiwu, Elizabeth (October 3, 2019). "Black, Queer and Making History - Meet Uzoma Asagwara". ByBlacks.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
- ^ a b c Bryce Hoye, "Meet the rookies: Manitobans elect 13 first-time MLAs". CBC News Manitoba, September 11, 2019.
- ^ "I didn't know I'd make history in Canada –Uzoma Asagwara, Canadian lawmaker". Punch Newspapers. October 12, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ a b Henderson, Rob (September 2020). "Career in Motion: Uzoma Asagwara channels experience as psychatric nurse into new calling as Manitoba MLA" (PDF). Brandon University Magazine. Summer 2020: 14–17.
- ^ "Asagwara Named Canada West All-Star". Basketball Manitoba. February 28, 2007. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ "02 - Uzoma Asagwara - Basketball Manitoba Podcast - Basketball Manitoba Podcast". iHeart. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ Wasney, Eva (January 25, 2019). "Asagwara hopes to fill Minto seat". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Kives, Bartley (October 18, 2023). "Gender, ethnocultural representation strong in Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew's 1st cabinet". CBC. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
- ^ "Announcing: Four New Board Members". Plug In ICA. December 31, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ "WOMEN'S HEALTH CLINIC INC. — Charity Data". www.charitydata.ca. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ "Meet a Future 40 finalist building relationships — while he builds houses and a new Cree language app". CBC News. November 19, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Hatherly, Dana (September 10, 2019). "Trio of black MLAs make history by winning seats in Manitoba Legislature". CBC News. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "MLA diversity improves, but more needed". Winnipeg Free Press. October 4, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
- ^ "Critics blast province for lack of preparation as COVID-19's fourth wave looms". winnipegsun. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ "MLA Uzoma Asagwara Passes First Bill Marking Somali Heritage Week". Your Manitoba. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ "NDP's Uzoma Asagwara re-nominated to run in Union Station riding - Winnipeg | Globalnews.ca". CJOB. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ Lukes, Milan (September 4, 2024). "Universal birth control coverage to start in Manitoba". The Manitoban. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ "Summary of Votes Received" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ "CANDIDATE ELECTION RETURNS GENERAL ELECTION 2023". Elections Manitoba. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ "2023 GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE AND REGISTERED PARTY ELECTION EXPENSE LIMITS - FINAL EXPENSE LIMIT" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
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