Audrey Gordon
Manitoba Minister of Health
In office
January 18, 2022 – October 17, 2023
PremierHeather Stefanson
Preceded byPortfolio Renamed
Succeeded byUzoma Asagwara
Manitoba Minister of Health and Seniors Care
In office
August 18, 2021 – January 18, 2022
PremierBrian Pallister
Kelvin Goertzen
Heather Stefanson
Preceded byHeather Stefanson
Succeeded byportfolio renamed
Minister of Mental health, Wellness and Recovery
In office
January 5, 2021 – January 18, 2022
PremierBrian Pallister
Kelvin Goertzen
Heather Stefanson
Preceded byPortfolio Created
Succeeded bySarah Guillemard
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Southdale
In office
September 10, 2019 – September 5, 2023
Preceded byAndrew Smith
Succeeded byRenée Cable
Personal details
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Residence(s)Winnipeg, Manitoba

Audrey Gordon is a Canadian politician who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 2019 to 2023, representing the electoral district of Southdale as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba.[1] Alongside Jamie Moses and Uzoma Asagwara, she was one of the first three Black Canadian MLAs elected in the 2019 Manitoba general election.[1]

Political career

At the 2016 general election, Gordon stood in the central Winnipeg constituency of Fort Rouge. She came in second place to Wab Kinew, who later became leader of the Manitoba NDP, narrowing the NDP majority in the district; Manitoba Liberal Party leader Rana Bokhari, who did not have a seat at the time of the election, ran third in this riding.

At the 2019 general election, Gordon was elected in the southeastern Winnipeg constituency of Southdale.[2]

In August 2020, Gordon was victim of a racist attack when a bench with her image on it was defaced with graffiti.[3][4][5]

In May 2021 Springs Church, of which Gordon is a member, held an in-person graduation event. This was in defiance of restrictions meant to curb the spread of COVID-19. Gordon eventually commented on the event in a Facebook post, adding: "I have read several posts stating that I was present at the Springs graduation ceremony. To my knowledge, no evidence has been provided to substantiate this claim."[6] Her Facebook page was later deactivated.

In November 2021, Gordon was criticized for offering "thoughts and prayers" to Manitobans who had their surgeries cancelled and placed on a waitlist of over 130,000 postponed procedures.[7] As of December 7, the delayed procedure backlog has surpassed 152,000[8] and on December 8 health officials announced that they would look at cancelling additional surgical procedures as ICU beds are required for new COVID-19 patients that are being admitted to hospitals.[9]

Gordon received further criticism from the opposition and in the media after a third of the nurses in the sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program resigned in March 2023.[10] When confronted by the opposition, Gordon shifted the blame to "health system leaders" in the bureaucracy despite this being under her portfolio, bringing on more outcry over her leadership.[11]

Electoral record

2019 Manitoba general election: Southdale
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
Progressive ConservativeAudrey Gordon4,49342.40-9.2$24,558.56
New DemocraticKaren Myshkowsky4,01037.84+6.9$14,122.65
LiberalSpencer Duncanson1,42713.47-3.3$137.10
GreenKatherine Quinton5955.62+4.8$0.00
Manitoba ForwardRobert Cairns710.67New$0.00
Total valid votes 10,59699.33
Total rejected ballots 720.67
Turnout 10,66861.66
Eligible voters 17,301
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -8.1
Source: STATEMENT OF OFFICIAL RESULTS BY VOTING AREA (PDF) (Report). Elections Manitoba. 2019.
2016 Manitoba general election: Fort Rouge
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticWab Kinew3,36037.63–13.32
Progressive ConservativeAudrey Gordon2,57128.80+8.76
LiberalRana Bokhari1,79220.07–2.92
GreenGrant Sharp98311.01+5.60
ManitobaMatthew Ostrove1751.96–
CommunistPaula Ducharme470.53–
Total valid votes 8,928100.0  
Total rejected and declined ballots 1251.38
Turnout 9,05365.15
Eligible voters 13,896
New Democratic hold Swing –11.04
Source: Elections Manitoba[12][13]

References

  1. 1 2 Bryce Hoye, "Meet the rookies: Manitobans elect 13 first-time MLAs". CBC News Manitoba, September 11, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Manitoba Electoral Riding: Southdale". Global News. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  3. ↑ Hoye, Bryce (Aug 10, 2020). "Manitoba MLA 'saddened' but undeterred by racist graffiti on bus bench with her image". CBC News - Manitoba. Archived from the original on 2020-08-11.
  4. ↑ McKendrick, Devon (2020-08-10). "Winnipeg MLA has bus bench defaced with racist graffiti". Winnipeg. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  5. ↑ Racial slur found on bus bench of Winnipeg MLA, retrieved 2020-10-28
  6. ↑ "Winnipeg's Springs Church faces backlash for maskless graduation photos, pastor says they followed rules". CBC News. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  7. ↑ "Manitoba health minister offers 'thoughts and prayers' to those affected by postponed surgeries". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  8. ↑ "Surgical, diagnostic backlog surpasses 152,000 cases in Manitoba, doctors' group says". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2021-12-07. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  9. ↑ "Health officials look at cancelling more surgeries as Manitoba ICUs face continued strain". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2021-12-08. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  10. ↑ "NDP calls for Manitoba health minister to resign after more nurses quit program for sex assault victims". CBC Manitoba. March 22, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Health minister wrong to pass the buck". Winnipeg Free Press. March 24, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Candidates: 41st General Election". Elections Manitoba. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  13. ↑ "41st General Election Official Results" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
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