Uzoma Asagwara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Uzoma Asagwara
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| 11th Deputy Premier of Manitoba | |
| Assumed office October 18, 2023 |
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| Premier | Wab Kinew |
| Preceded by | Cliff Cullen |
| Manitoba Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-term Care | |
| Assumed office October 18, 2023 |
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| Premier | Wab Kinew |
| Preceded by | Portfolio Renamed |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Union Station | |
| Assumed office September 10, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | first member |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 23, 1984 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Political party | New Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Winnipeg Brandon University (BScPN) |
| Profession | Psychiatric nurse |
Uzoma Asagwara (
i//; born September 23, 1984) is a Canadian politician who has served as the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-term Care of Manitoba since October 3rd 2023. Prior to politics they were a nurse and basketball player. Since 2019, they have represented the Union Station electoral district in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Asagwara is a member of the Manitoba New Democratic Party.
Biography
Asagwara was born in Winnipeg to Igbo Nigerian parents. In 2008, Asagwara completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Winnipeg and Brandon University. Asagwara was the University of Winnipeg Female Athlete of the Year in 2005–06. In 2007 they led the Canadian Interuniversity Sport in scoring with 28.05 points per game. Asagwara was a member of the Canada women's national basketball team for two years and was part of the team at the 2007 Pan American Games. Prior to their election, Asagwara worked full-time as a registered psychiatric nurse specializing in adult and youth mental health and addictions. They are non-binary.
Asagwara served as a member of the former Premier's Advisory Council on education, poverty, and citizenship, and as a member of the Women's Health Clinic board of directors. In 2014, Asagwara founded Queer People of Colour Winnipeg, a Winnipeg-based project which aims to promote the rights and safety of LGBTQ people of colour in the city.
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
In the 2019 Manitoba general election, Asagwara was elected to represent the Union Station electoral district. Asagwara, alongside Jamie Moses and Audrey Gordon, is one of the first three Black Canadian MLAs elected in Manitoba. They are also the first queer black person to win a seat and Manitoba's first gender non-conforming MLA.
Asagwara currently serves as the Manitoba NDP's health critic. During their time in the legislature, Asagwara has advocated for recognition of Manitoba's minority communities, and was able to pass a bill marking Somali Heritage Week. In November 2021, Asagwara was re-nominated to represent the NDP in the Union Station riding.
Electoral record
| Manitoba general election, 2023: Union Station | ||||||||
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| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Uzoma Asagwara | 3,681 | 70.67 | +18.44 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Aaron Croning | 909 | 17.45 | -0.55 | ||||
| Liberal | Iqra Tariq | 619 | 11.88 | -6.93 | ||||
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | 5,209 | 99.14 | ||||||
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 45 | 0.86 | ||||||
| Turnout | 5,254 | 42.12 | -1.78 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 12,473 | |||||||
| New Democratic hold | Swing | +9.50 | ||||||
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Source(s)
Source: Elections Manitoba |
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| Manitoba general election, 2019 | ||||||||
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| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Uzoma Asagwara | 2,635 | 52.23 | +13.3 | $17,642.20 | |||
| Liberal | Harold Davis | 949 | 18.81 | -4.0 | $4,328.11 | |||
| Progressive Conservative | Tara Fawcett | 908 | 18.00 | -1.6 | $521.28 | |||
| Green | Andrea Shalay | 473 | 9.38 | -4.8 | $2,067.06 | |||
| Communist | Elsa Cubas | 48 | 0.95 | $310.80 | ||||
| Manitoba Forward | James Yau | 32 | 0.63 | $0.00 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 5,045 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | 43.9 | |||||||
| Eligible voters | ||||||||
| New Democratic hold | Swing | +8.2
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See also
In Spanish: Uzoma Asagwara para niños
