Jennifer Howard (Canadian politician)

Jennifer Howard is a Canadian politician and political staffer. She is currently chief of staff to Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the federal New Democratic Party.[2] She was previously a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, first elected in the 2007 provincial election in the electoral district of Fort Rouge.[3] Howard is a member of the New Democratic Party.[3]

Jennifer Howard
Manitoba Minister of Finance
In office
October 18, 2013 – November 3, 2014
PremierGreg Selinger
Preceded byStan Struthers
Succeeded byGreg Dewar
Manitoba Minister of Family Services and Labour
In office
January 13, 2012 – October 18, 2013
PremierGreg Selinger
Preceded bynew portfolio
Succeeded byportfolio abolished
Manitoba Government House Leader
In office
January 13, 2012 – October 18, 2013
PremierGreg Selinger
Manitoba Minister of Labour and Immigration
In office
November 3, 2009 – January 13, 2012
PremierGreg Selinger
Preceded byNancy Allan
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Fort Rouge
In office
May 22, 2007 – April 19, 2016
Preceded byTim Sale
Succeeded byWab Kinew
Personal details
BornBrandon, Manitoba, Canada
Political partyNew Democratic Party
SpouseTara Peel[1]
Alma materBrandon University
Websitewww.jenniferhoward.ca

Howard was born and raised in Brandon, where she graduated from Brandon University; she was the federal New Democratic Party candidate in Brandon—Souris in the 1997 election,[4] coming fourth; Progressive Conservative candidate Rick Borotsik won. She moved to Winnipeg in 1998.

Prior to her election to the Legislative Assembly, Howard was employed as policy advisor to Premier of Manitoba Gary Doer on health care issues and as executive director of the Women's Health Clinic. She has also served on the boards of the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (Manitoba), the Rainbow Resource Centre and the University of Winnipeg's Board of Regents. She was named a Woman of Distinction in 1999 by the Brandon YWCA. She has also received a Community Builder Award from the Lambda Business and Professional Club of Winnipeg, an organization of gay and lesbian businesses and professionals.

Howard was elected as MLA for Fort Rouge in 2007. She served as vice-chair of the Public Accounts Committee. In November 2009, she was appointed the Minister of Labour and Immigration, Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities and the Status of Women, and Minister charged with the administration of The Workers Compensation Act.

Howard resigned her cabinet position on November 3, 2014, along with Theresa Oswald, Erin Selby, Stan Struthers, and Andrew Swan due to concerns about Premier Greg Selinger's leadership.[5] She remained an NDP MLA after her resignation from cabinet but did not seek re-election in 2016.

Electoral record

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2007 Manitoba general election: Fort Rouge
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Jennifer Howard 3,828 46.97 -10.67 $25.968.04
Liberal Paul Hesse 2,488 30.53 13.56 $23,866.84
Progressive Conservative Christine Waddell 1,202 14.75 -4.97 $11,369.89
Green Gerald H. Enns 511 6.27 1.30 $905.51
Independent Ron Nash 92 1.13 $261.98
Communist Frank Komarniski 29 0.36
Total valid votes 8,150
Rejected 53
Eligible voters / turnout 13,169 62.29 7.64
Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2007). Statement of Votes for the 39th Provincial General Election, May 22, 2007 (PDF) (Report). Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba.
1997 Canadian federal election: Brandon—Souris
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Rick Borotsik 13,216 35.59 +13.18 $51,629
Reform Ed Agnew 11,883 32.00 +1.63 $52,341
Liberal Glen McKinnon 6,583 17.73 -15.27 $33,249
New Democratic Jennifer Howard 4,983 13.42 +1.56 $12,213
Independent Geoff Gorf Borden 244 0.66 $19
Christian Heritage Colin Atkins 229 0.62 -0.3 $34
Total valid votes 37,138 100.00
Total rejected ballots 135
Turnout 37,273 66.88
Electors on the lists 55,735
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada.

References

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  1. ^ "Jennifer Howard's plan to raise up a struggling federal NDP in Election 2019". 8 August 2019.
  2. ^ Taylor-Vaisey, Nick; Forrest, Maura (21 April 2022). "The rise of the NDP's prairie pragmatists". POLITICO. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  3. ^ a b "MLA Biographies - Living". Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. 4 August 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Dyke running in Manitoba [Jennifer Howard running for NDP in federal election in Brandon-Souris constituency]." Perceptions, June 4, 1997.
  5. ^ "Premier Greg Selinger replaces 5 cabinet ministers in government revolt". CBC News. Retrieved November 4, 2014.