Robbins sworn in as Spruce Woods MLA

Spruce Woods Conservative MLA Colleen Robbins has been sworn in as the newest member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly.

Robbins was sworn in at the legislature in Winnipeg on Monday afternoon in front of friends, family and new colleagues.

“It’s just all really surreal — it’s just like, ‘Wow,’” Robbins told the Sun less than an hour after the ceremony. “Some days you just want to pinch yourself.”

Robbins said she already has meetings lined up for this week in Brandon.

“I am honoured and humbled, and I’m just excited to represent the people of Spruce Woods,” said the former nurse. “I will never take this for granted.

“It’s a big responsibility, but I’m up for it.”

Robbins said the first thing she will do as a sitting MLA is to make sure Premier Wab Kinew keeps the funding promises he made ahead of the Aug. 26 byelection.

Kinew announced about $300 million in spending for the riding before he called the byelection in July.

“I’m already hearing from constituents about the infrastructure projects, saying to me, ‘You better make sure (Kinew) comes through with all those promises that he did,’” Robbins said. “I am going to make sure that $300 million worth of promises for the byelection — that every one of them — are met.”

Robbins also said she will be working with Tory agriculture critic Jeff Bereza, the MLA for Portage la Prairie, to get Kinew and the NDP moving on responding to Chinese canola tariffs.

China placed a 75.8 per cent tariff on Canada last month.

“These Chinese tariffs are devastating and we need to have solutions,” she said. “So far, this government, the only thing they’ve done is to ask Ottawa for solutions.”

Robbins pointed to the premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan as examples of what Kinew should be doing.

“Danielle Smith is looking for new markets. Saskatchewan is going to China to appeal to Beijing … In Manitoba, nothing — no solution for canola farmers beyond looking to Ottawa,” she said.

“I represent a lot of canola farmers, and I will be at that table asking for results.”

In the long term, health care, affordability, infrastructure and crime are issues Robbins said she will work on as one of the province’s 57 MLAs.

She said her Aug. 26 byelection victory is “a win” no matter how much she won by.

Robbins defeated NDP candidate Ray Berthelette by 70 votes, receiving 2,805 votes compared to Berthelette’s 2,735. Liberal candidate Stephen Reid finished third with 445 votes.

Grant Jackson won the seat in 2023 by 3,050 votes over his NDP rival, with 2,121 more people voting in the general election compared to the byelection last month.

“It’s a win. It doesn’t matter if you win by 70 votes, 700 or 7,000, it’s still a win,” Robbins said, adding she heard back from people who said they hadn’t voted because they were working on their farms while polls were open.

“I am going to prove to Spruce Woods that I’m the right person … and I’m going to be that person for them.”

PC Leader Obby Khan wasn’t available for an interview on Tuesday, but in a press release said he has no doubt Robbins will “be there for her community.”

“Colleen’s passion to help others, to be a voice, and to drive change is exactly what we need for our new PC era,” Khan said. “Her background speaks for itself — she has experience in business, health care, public safety, veteran services, rural development, and much more.”

Robbins’ win gives the opposing PCs 21 seats in the legislature, compared to the governing NDP’s 34. The Liberals currently hold one seat and there is one independent. Independent MLA Mark Wasyliw was elected as a member of the NDP before being ejected from caucus a year ago.

» alambert@brandonsun.com