3 Fil-Cans win MLA seats

3 Fil-Cans win MLA seats

MANITOBA ELECTIONS (CBC MB VOTES 2016)

By Mila Astorga-Garcia

Three Filipino Canadians will now be serving as Members of Legislative Assembly in Manitoba after winning in their respective constituencies during the April 19, 2016 elections.
This is the highest number of Filipino-Canadian politicians serving in a provincial legislature in Canadian political history.

Flor Marcelino, who served as cabinet minister in various portfolios under the New Democratic Party government that ruled Manitoba for 17 years until its significant defeat in the recent elections, was re-elected in Logan. She won by 476 votes, or 40.4%, over Liberal candidate Peter Koroma, who got 24.6 per cent.

Incumbent Ted Marcelino, NDP, was re-elected in Tyndall Park, winning by 483 votes or 39.4 percent. He defeated Filipino-Canadian Liberal candidate Aida Champagne, who got 29.4 per cent of the votes.

Newly elected Jon Reyes, Progressive Conservative, won in St. Norbert by 1,614 votes, or 51.1 per cent. He defeated the incumbent Dave Gaudreau, NDP, who got 33.4 per cent of the votes.

Until its defeat in this election, the NDP was Manitoba’s ruling party. Premier Greg Selinger has resigned as leader of the NDP. Selinger, however, won in his constituency St. Boniface, which he has been representing since 1999.

The Progressive Conservatives, under their leader, Brian Pallister, won a commanding victory, winning more than half of the popular vote. There were only 14 NDP and 3 Liberals elected, while the PCs won 40 seats.