Judy Wasylycia-Leis , MA / 78

Judy Wasylycia-Leis, has been the Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North since 1997. Chair of the federal NDP caucus, she has been the spokesperson on health, immigration and status of women and is currently the spokesperson for finance, financial institutions and Revenue Canada.

Wasylycia-Leis held numerous positions with federal and provincial politicians before running for office. She was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for the constituency of St. Johns. She was appointed to the Provincial Cabinet in 1986, serving as Minister of Culture, Heritage and Recreation, with responsibility for the Manitoba Lotteries Foundation and the Status of Women. In 1990 she served as the NDP Health Critic and NDP Deputy Leader before resigning as an MLA to run in the federal election.

A former coordinator of the Women’s Directorate in the Manitoba government and former co-chair of Cho!ces, Manitoba’s social justice coalition, Wasylycia-Leis is active in community organizations including Local Investment Towards Employment, the Coalition for Children To Live in the Community, the Manitoba Coalition to Save Home Care, and the Medicare Alert Coalition.