About Tracy Schmidt
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 currently work as a Labour Relations Officer for the Winnipeg Association of Public Services Officers, where we represent professional employees that work at the City of Winnipeg. This includes city planners, engineers, accountants and transit supervisors.
I am also a proud member of the Manitoba Bar, and have practiced as labour and employment lawyer.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, I worked for Canada Post as both a letter carrier and a mail clerk. During my time at Canada Post I was active in the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
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?
I am a life long resident of Fraser's Grove where I live with my husband and our three children.
What is the biggest challenge facing your constituency, and how would you address it?
I think the biggest challenge facing Rossmere is the cuts to our health care system. Our community deserves local and reliable health care services. In 2019 we lost the Concordia ER, in 2020 the Concordia CancerCare Clinic was shuttered, and the cuts have only continued since then. I’ve heard countless stories about how these cuts have impacted not only patients but also health care workers in our community.
Resetting the relationship with health care workers and recruiting new health care workers is the first step we’ll take, with the goal of re-opening the Concordia ER.
If elected, what will be your first priority?
Rossmere constituents have been clear – health care is their number one priority. There is a lot of work to be done and damage to repair, but we have an NDP team that is working together with our frontline workers to find solutions that are sustainable.
Who are your role models in politics, and why?
I have the great fortune to have the support and encouragement of many of my politic role models. Daniel Blaikie, Erna Braun, Harry Schellenberg, and Matt Wiebe are just a few of the people who inspired this campaign, and I’ve had the great fortune of receiving their mentorship. I’m so proud to live in a province that has been represented by these hard-working New Democrats.
Tell us something about yourself that voters might find surprising.
I was born in the maternity ward of the Concordia Hospital.
Other candidates in constituency:
Andrew Micklefield (Progressive Conservative)
Devlin Hinchey (Green)
Mike Chapin (Liberal)