About Kathy Majowski
When were you born?
Between 1981 and 1996 (Millennial)
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'm a nurse living in Tyndall, MB. I work in a community program that supports older adults living in Winnipeg’s core area. I began my career in health care as a Health Care Aide while completing my nursing degree.
From there I worked as a front-line hospital nurse, a clinical/classroom instructor, an educational program developer/coordinator, an employment specialist, a long-term care staff educator, an infection control professional, and a community case coordinator.
I also worked at a nursing station in a remote Indigenous community in northern Manitoba, where I was able to develop additional skills and a greater understanding of the importance of reconciliation.
What's the highest level of education you've attained?
Bachelor'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?
My family and I moved to the constituency in 2015. My childhood was full of outdoor activities and friends who lived close by. I was looking to provide a similar childhood for my daughter and living in Tyndall has absolutely provided that.
What is the biggest challenge facing your constituency, and how would you address it?
The median age for the Lac du Bonnet constituency is almost 14 years older than the provincial median age and 27% of our constituents are 65 and older. I will work to bring accessible and timely primary care services to the area and advocate for more community supports. Access to urgent and emergency medical supports is key.
I will work with Wab Kinew and an NDP government to ensure that we recruit and retain health professionals in our area. Yes, we will reinstate the rural doctor recruitment fund that Pallister cut, but health care services are not just about doctors and nurses. We will have incentives for lab techs, nurse practitioners and others to make certain trained health professionals are in support positions, allied health, and diagnostic services to ensure the availability of urgent/emergency services.
My experience, knowledge and skills from years of working as a nurse and an advocate for older adults will transfer well to the role as MLA. I will be open and eager to learn and listen to the constituents in Lac du Bonnet and hear about their priorities.
If elected, what will be your first priority?
I will work with Wab Kinew and an NDP government to fix our healthcare. No matter where you live in the Lac du Bonnet riding, you should have access to health care close to home.
It’s imperative for me to build relationships with constituents and municipal governments in my constituency. I will approach my duties as the MLA the same way I approach getting to know a new client as a nurse; by listening and working to understand their needs and working to address those needs.
During the last year I've attended municipal council meetings for all 10 local governments in my constituency at least once, attended meetings of the two school boards in my area, attended public hearings, AGMs, committee meetings, community events, and visited with constituents in their homes or other community spaces.
I would let people know that I'm available, accountable, and ready to work for them.
Who are your role models in politics, and why?
Malaya Marcelino, MLA for Notre Dame. Working with Malaya in her constituency showed me I had misconceptions about politicians and the work that they do. I'm endlessly impressed with Malaya’s constituency work. It's similar to the work that I do in the community with the clients I work with. Malaya helped me see I could take my passion and voice to a different level - to continue helping people, but in a different way.
Uzoma Asagwara, MLA for Union Station. Similar to Malaya, Uzoma showed me a direct path from nursing to politics. Uzoma showed me how the values and ethics that we carry with us in health care are absolutely transferrable to the Legislature.
The Right Hon. Ed Schreyer. Ed Schreyer was a trailblazer. He moved forward with determination to accomplish many firsts: the youngest person to be elected to the MB Legislative Assembly, the first Manitoba NDP premier, the first Governor General from MB. I hope to become the first woman elected MLA of Lac du Bonnet.
Tommy Douglas: the father of universal health care in Canada! As a nurse, I so appreciate Tommy Douglas and the work that he did and his determination to provide full health insurance to the people of Saskatchewan, which led to the Medical Care Act federally.
Tell us something about yourself that voters might find surprising.
Prior to 2019 the most political thing that I did was vote! I don't consider myself a "politician"; I consider myself a nurse, a mother, a first-generation Canadian with Polish roots, an advocate, and someone who has always been passionate about helping others in my career and volunteer work. I see the role of MLA as an opportunity to continue helping people by working to improve the systems that are not working for all of us, and to take my lived experience of working in these systems to a place where meaningful and much-needed change can happen.