Patterson elected NDP president

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This article was published 01/02/2021 (2067 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba NDP has elected Brandon’s own Lonnie Patterson as president.

“I’m very proud to have a strong woman representing Brandon and the Westman as our new party president,” Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew said by phone on Saturday.

“I’ve gotten to know Lonnie over the last few years as someone who wears her heart on her sleeve and really cares about the community in Brandon, and I think she brings a good common-sense perspective.”

Patterson has been a strong advocate for numerous topics, Kinew said, adding she’s always quick to text or phone him when there’s an issue she believes warrants attention.

“We’ve had a good line of communication, so I’m happy she’s going to be stepping into this leadership role.”

Patterson joined the balance of the party’s executive in being acclaimed to their positions during Saturday’s party convention, held virtually due to COVID-19 health concerns.

Contacted by phone on Saturday, Patterson said her work will be a continuation of the efforts of her predecessor, David Woodbury, with “laser-focus” on the next provincial election.

An end-of-year fundraising push has already secured more funding than they had for the 2019 election, she said, adding there’s a great deal of forward momentum she wants to continue building upon.

Patterson is no stranger to the political party, starting out as a student activist during her Brandon University days a couple decades ago.

“The NDP is for the people, and I feel they always have been,” she said. “They want to make sure that government is providing the services they need, whether that be health care or education, and we’re working hard to make life affordable to Manitobans.”

Her mother’s experience as a health-care aide in the 1990s was a major factor in her interest in the New Democrats, as she blames conservative austerity measures of the day for negatively impacting her mother’s workplace and paycheque.

Real-life impacts continue today, she said, pointing to Hydro rate increases in the midst of the pandemic as a prime example.

Patterson previously held the position of vice-president of the Brandon and southwest region, which now falls in the hands of Garnet Boyd.

She also ran under the Manitoba NDP banner in the 2019 election in Brandon East, earning 2,311 votes, which fell short of Progressive Conservative Len Isleifson’s 3,272.

During Saturday’s convention, Kinew received 93 per cent of support in a leadership review from the 288 delegates who voted. A total of 315 registered for the event.

Between the executive and his own acclamation, Kinew said the party’s direction received a “good vote of confidence in the momentum we’ve been building.”

The pandemic has opened up new frustrations, he said, which will continue to be a major component of the party’s role in Opposition moving forward.

“We’ll be giving them a very, very strong alternative to the Pallister government — a common-sense alternative; hard working and one I think can make this province a better place,” Kinew said.

“The government failed to prepare for the second wave and people died. On the economic side, they’ve let businesses really suffer, and livelihoods have taken a hit.”

Patterson said that although her new role is provincial in scope, she intends to continue advocating for Westman issues, such as the need for medical detox beds.

She’s also committed to building support in rural Manitoba. As someone who grew up in Wawanesa, she said she brings a rural perspective to her new role that will prove important while preparing for the next election.

“I am honoured to be taking on this position,” she said. “I’m really excited to work with Wab Kinew on getting ready for the next election and fighting hard to win and just very grateful for the support I’ve had from both members and non-members in my decision to take this on.”

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB