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Theresa Oswald is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. She was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 2003 to 2016 and a cabinet minister from 2004 until she stepped down in 2014 to unsuccessfully challenge Premier Greg Selinger for the party's leadership.

Early life

Oswald was born and raised in the St. Vital neighbourhood of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was a teacher and school administrator for fifteen years before entering politics. She initially taught English, later serving as vice-principal at Victor Mager School, Winnipeg in the Louis Riel Division. In the latter capacity, she frequently worked with children and families who arrived in Canada from war-ravaged countries. Oswald has also been involved in local groups such as the Victoria Hospital, the Zoological Society of Manitoba and Take Pride Winnipeg!.

Political career

Oswald was part of the NDP's historic breakthrough in south-end Winnipeg in the provincial election of 2003, defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative Louise Dacquay in the riding of Seine River, 4,314 votes to 3,582. The NDP had never won this riding before. Oswald's campaign focused on greater access to post-secondary education and a tuition freeze for university students.

In August 2004, Oswald was appointed to lead a task-force committee looking for ways to encourage physical activity in the province's youth.

Oswald was appointed as a cabinet minister in Gary Doer's government on October 12, 2004, serving as the Minister responsible for Healthy Living, Seniors and Healthy Child Manitoba. In 2006, she was promoted to Minister of Health, where she introduced bold new initiatives such as making a family doctor available to every Manitoban, new investments in women's and maternal health, promoted organ donation and introduced groundbreaking legislation to require life-saving heart defibrillators in public places. Her work to improve cancer care, including making all cancer drugs available to patients at no charge, was celebrated by the Canadian Cancer Society with a Diamond Jubilee medal.

She was re-elected with an increased majority in the 2007 provincial election.

In 2013 she was again promoted to lead the government's new flagship department of Jobs and the Economy, where she has since focused on expanding access to training programs to help increase the supply of skilled workers, expanded supports for start-ups and young entrepreneurs and introduced a boost to housing benefits for those on social assistance and the working poor.

Challenge to Selinger's leadership

Oswald resigned her cabinet position on November 3, 2014, along with Jennifer Howard, Erin Selby, Stan Struthers, and Andrew Swan due to concerns about Premier Selinger's leadership. On December 21, 2014, Oswald declared her candidacy for the party leadership. Oswald was defeated by a margin of 33 votes on the second ballot at the leadership convention on March 8, 2015, by Selinger. Oswald remained an MLA after her defeat but did not run for re-election as an MLA in the 2016 provincial election.

Electoral results

References

1. "Doer unveils his pre-election cabinet shuffle". The Globe and Mail. 22 September 2006. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
2. "Premier Greg Selinger replaces 5 cabinet ministers in government revolt". CBC News. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
3. "Theresa Oswald launches Manitoba NDP leadership campaign". CBC News. 21 December 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
4. "Manitoba NDP leadership: Greg Selinger re-elected, remains premier". CBC News. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
5. Turner, Randy (19 April 2016). "'Time for a change': Tory victor in Seine River". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
6. "Election Returns: 40th General Election". Elections Manitoba. 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
7. {{cite web |url=http://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/en/Results/39_division_results/39_seine-river_summary_results.html - 2007 Results
8. "Seine River — Official Results — 2007 Provincial Election". Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2010. - 2007 Results

v t e Cabinet of Premier of Manitoba Greg Selinger (2009–2016)
Greg Selinger
Nancy Allan James Allum Steve Ashton Peter Bjornson Sharon Blady Bill Blaikie Erna Braun Drew Caldwell Kevin Chief Dave Chomiak Deanne Crothers Greg Dewar Jennifer Howard Kerri Irvin-Ross Ron Kostyshyn Ron Lemieux Gord Mackintosh Flor Marcelino Diane McGifford Christine Melnick Thomas Nevakshonoff Theresa Oswald Eric Robinson Jim Rondeau Erin Selby Stan Struthers Andrew Swan Melanie Wight Rosann Wowchuk

v t e Cabinet of Premier of Manitoba Gary Doer (1999–2009)
Gary Doer
Nancy Allan Steve Ashton Becky Barrett Peter Bjornson Drew Caldwell Dave Chomiak Jean Friesen Kerri Irvin-Ross Oscar Lathlin Ron Lemieux Gord Mackintosh Diane McGifford Christine Melnick MaryAnn Mihychuk Theresa Oswald Eric Robinson Jim Rondeau Tim Sale Greg Selinger Scott Smith Stan Struthers Andrew Swan Rosann Wowchuk

• New Democratic Party of Manitoba MLAs
• Canadian people of German descent
• Women MLAs in Manitoba
• Living people
• Members of the Executive Council of Manitoba
• Politicians from Winnipeg
• Women government ministers of Canada
• 21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
• 21st-century Canadian women politicians