About Adrien Sala
When were you born?
Between 1966 and 1980 (Generation X)
Tell our readers a bit about your professional life. What do you do for a living? If you're an incumbent candidate, what did you do before you entered politics?
I was elected as the MLA for St. James in 2019 and have since served as the Official Opposition critic for Finance and Manitoba Hydro. During my time as MLA here in St. James, I have worked on numerous projects around the constituency including establishing two community associations, bringing free Art City programming to our neighbourhood, assisting in organizing the successful Bourkevale 30 initiative, and establishing a community garden.
Prior to being elected, I worked as the Director of Strategy and Operations for Assiniboine Credit Union.
What's the highest level of education you've attained?
Master's degree
How long have you lived in the constituency? If you don't currently live there, what led you to run there instead of where you live?
I have lived in the St. James constituency for 12 years with my wife and our two children, who attend school in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division.
What is the biggest challenge facing your constituency, and how would you address it?
Every day, I hear from families in St. James concerned about the state of health care in west Winnipeg. Wait times at the Grace Hospital are higher than ever before, and health care workers are feeling burnt out.
Years of Conservative cuts have led directly to the current crisis Manitoba’s health care system is facing today. Instead of investing in the care that families need, Brian Pallister and Heather Stefanson sent millions of dollars to out-of-province corporations like Loblaws, Walmart, and Cadillac Fairview. It’s time for a government that will make different choices and invest in the care west Winnipeg deserves.
A Manitoba NDP government will launch the biggest health care recruitment campaign in our province’s history and hire 400 more doctors, 200 more paramedics, and bring back the 300 nurses fired by the Conservatives. Meanwhile, we will improve working conditions for health care professionals, including by ending mandatory overtime for nurses, investing in continuing education for nurse practitioners, and working towards safer nurse/patient ratios. We will also bolster our capacity to train health care workers right here in Manitoba by expanding the University of Manitoba’s Bannatyne Campus.
If elected, what will be your first priority?
An NDP government will work alongside doctors, nurses, paramedics and health care professionals. We will stop the Conservatives’ cuts to health care and reinvest in what matters—care at the bedside in our hospitals, care close to home in our communities, and preventative care measures to keep Manitobans healthy.
This will include strengthening access to same day care by opening five neighbourhood health clinics across Manitoba staffed by doctors, nurses and technologists, and re-opening the four emergency rooms in Manitoba that the Conservatives cut—beginning with the Victoria Hospital to take the strain off the Grace ER.
We will also take immediate action to address the rising cost of living, including by implementing a Hydro rate freeze to save Manitobans on their monthly bills. In addition, we will put more money into renters’ pockets by restoring the renters’ tax credit cut by the Conservatives to $700 and strengthening rent controls.
Who are your role models in politics, and why?
Here in St. James, I’m proud to follow in the footsteps of previous NDP MLAs like Bonnie Korzeniowski, a dedicated community representative who worked alongside Gary Doer to make responsible investments in health care and education while balancing the books.
Tell us something about yourself that voters might find surprising.
I am a musician and songwriter who has performed at major local venues and festivals. Prior to entering politics, I released two solo albums and continue to enjoy performing for friends and family today.