Treaty 1 Territory, Homeland of the Métis Nation, Winnipeg, Manitoba - The Manitoba Liberal Party is opening up applications for candidates today, with lower application fees to lower barrier to entry for women, 2SLGBTQ+ and BIPOC candidates.
“The people whose perspective and voices most need to be heard in the legislature also face greater hurdles to entry,” said Lamont. “This is about making democracy more accessible.”
The application fee can be covered by selling memberships. The regular application fee is $500, while the lower fee will be $350.
Manitoba Liberals have a proud tradition of democratic firsts.
In 1916, a Manitoba Liberal Government introduced suffrage for women. In 1920, the Manitoba Liberals elected the first woman MLA in Manitoba, Edith McTavish Rogers, who was also Métis. In 1953, a Manitoba Liberal Government expanded the vote to all First Nations in Manitoba.
In 1984, Sharon Carstairs was elected the first ever female party leader and first ever female leader of the opposition. The Manitoba Liberals went on to elect two more women as party leaders - Ginny Hasselfield and Rana Bokhari, the first-ever woman of colour, as well as appointing the first ever First Nations female leader, Judy Klassen.
In the 2019 election, The Manitoba Liberals had half the vote of the NDP, and one-third the vote of the PCs - but the number of people who didn’t vote at all exceeded every vote cast for the PCs.
Lamont said at a time when Manitoba’s democratic institutions are under attack, Manitobans need to understand and embrace the power of their vote.
“We want to build a team that represents Manitoba and will add to a broad, centrist, progressive vision - committed to justice, renewal and jobs,” said Lamont.
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