MLA: HON. FLOR MARCELINO - LOGAN

Heavenly Father, we pray for Flor Marcelino today and ask that she will be an individual of integrity, grace and conviction in the position of trust that she has been elected to. May she serve the province willingly and with a strong vision for the future and benefit of all Manitobans. We ask that you will give her the strength to endure all the pressure of her responsibilities, and that you would bless her with wisdom and discernment in all the decisions she is to make. Also, we pray Flor would have a strong and healthy family life and the courage to do what is right and beneficial for all Manitobans and the grace in doing it. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen. 

Minister of multiculturalism and literacy

"I want a more vibrant Logan -- where culture brings people together, where recreation options give at-risk youth a constructive outlet for their energy, where day care and schools help families nurture children and where the presence of
police gives people confidence in their neighbourhood."

• First appointed to cabinet in 2009
• First elected in 2007

Flor was first elected in 2007, making history as the first woman of colour elected to the Manitoba Legislative Assembly, and was re-elected as the MLA for Logan on October 4, 2011. In 2009 Flor was appointed Minister for Culture, Heritage, and Tourism, and on October 18, 2013 she was appointed by Premier Greg Selinger as Minister for Multiculturalism and Literacy.
Flor was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Canada in 1982 where she and her family have since made Winnipeg home. They first settled in the Weston community, one of the many vibrant neighbourhoods located in the Tyndall Park constituency.
Previously a small business owner and editor of The Philippine Times, she has also been an active community leader, having served with the Premier's Economic Advisory Council, Project Peacemakers, St. Stephen's-Broadway Foundation, and the Broadway Disciples United Church and its international affiliate, the Global Ministries Board. Flor was also a support staff member at Red River College for 17 years.
Flor is determined to work for and with her constituents to help build a brighter future for the residents of Logan.

MLA: JIM MALOWAY - ELMWOOD

It is with gratitude that we bring before you heavenly Father our MLA for Elmwood, Jim Maloway. As he represents the people of his riding may he be given a glimpse of your heart for your people. May Jim respond not just to their temporal needs but like Joseph have the wisdom to see beyond the immediate and make plans and provisions for the future generations. In every aspect of his life may he become aware of your hand guiding him and your heart guarding him. We ask these mercies in the name of Jesus our Lord, Amen

“Manitoba is a better place to live, work and raise a family than it’s ever been. Working together, we can keep building.”

Jim Maloway has represented the people of Elmwood every year since 1986, as both an MLA and a member of Parliament.
As an MLA, Jim fought locally to stop the 18-month closure of the Disraeli Bridge while it was being renovated and now it is being replaced without any significant closure.
A small business owner since 1978, Jim led the development of Manitoba’s Bill 31, the most comprehensive consumer protection legislation of its kind in Canada, which focuses on protections for consumers making online purchases. Jim also acted as vice-chair of the Manitoba Legislature’s public accounts committee and in this role he helped to adopt the best ideas from other jurisdictions to make government more efficient and reduce costs.
As an MP, he introduced Canada’s first air-passenger bill of rights, which protects airline passengers who have been subject to unnecessary delays.
Jim continues the legacy of Bill Blaikie in fighting to ensure that jobs remain in our community, that health care, education and a strong public hydro are defended, and that the constituents of Elmwood are well represented.

More About Jim

• Holds a degree in political science from the University of Manitoba;
• Owns Maloway and Eliason Insurance and Travel Centre, and
• Is a 27-year resident of Elmwood and is married with three children. Jim’s eldest son serves in the Canadian Forces.

MLA: HON. GORDON MACINTOSH - ST. JOHNS

It is with gratitude that we thank you, Lord, for men such as Hon. Gordon Mackintosh as he seeks to offer himself in a life of service to the people of St. Johns and Manitoba. With Gord's passion to protect the most vulnerable, our children, we pray for success in his efforts. May you grant him peace and fulfillment. Bless his home and his family with safety and courage. Your peace be upon him. Amen
 

Minister of conservation and water stewardship

“Manitoba is a better place to live, work and raise a family than it’s ever been and, working together, we can keep building.”

Gord was first elected the MLA for St. Johns in 1993 and re-elected in five straight elections. He has served as the government house leader, minister of Justice and attorney general, minister of Family Services and Housing and minister of Family Services and Consumer Affairs. In January 2011, Premier Greg Selinger appointed Gord minister of Conservation.
In addition to crime fighting focused on auto theft and organized crime, Gord has accomplished much on behalf of children and families. His focus on children has helped produce child victim-friendly court facilities and strict new child support laws. He has helped lead successful provincial and national efforts to strengthen child protection laws and fight sexual exploitation, launched the historic Family Choices five-year expansion of child care and an overhaul of child welfare called Changes for Children. He co-chairs the province’s AllAboard poverty reduction strategy. Gord also introduced “Let’s Make a Better Deal - Manitoba’s Plan for Stronger Consumer Protection”.

More About Gord

• Worked for the Manitoba and Canadian Human Rights Commissions and was later Deputy Clerk of the Manitoba Legislature.
• As a lawyer with the Winnipeg law firm Thompson Dorfman Sweatman, was involved in environmental issues and notably was advisor to Elijah Harper during the Meech Lake constitutional crisis.
• Has degrees in political studies and law.
• Lives in Winnipeg’s North End with his wife Margaret and their children.

MLA: HON RON LEMIEUX - DAWSON TRAIL * MINISTER OF TOURISM, CULTURE, SPORT AND CONSUMER PROTECTION, MINISTER CHARGED WITH ADMINISTRATION OF THE LIQUOR CONTROL ACT, MINISTER CHARGED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE MANITOBA LOTTERIES CORPORATION ACT

Thank you, Lord, for our MLA Hon Ron Lemieux. Bless him as he serves the constitution of Dawson Trail. May you give Ron wisdom as he carries out his duties in government. Bless and protect his family. In Jesus Name, Amen.

"I’m proud of my record of delivering funding that our communities can invest in new infrastructure, education and health care programs – so we can keep moving forward on the right track."

• First appointed to cabinet in 1999
• First elected in 1999

Ron Lemieux was an educator for over 14 years prior to his 1999 election to the Manitoba Legislature as the MLA for La Verendrye. He was re-elected on October 4, 2011 as the MLA for Dawson Trail. His experience in cabinet includes posts in Infrastructure and Transportation, Education and Youth, Culture, Heritage, Tourism, and Sport, as well as Consumer and Corporate Affairs. In November, 2009, Premier Greg Selinger appointed Ron the Minister of Local Government and he maintained this portfolio after the 2011 election. On October 18, 2013, Ron was appointed Minister of Tourism, Culture, Sport and Consumer Protection, Minister charged with the administration of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act and Minister charged with the administration of the Liquor Control Act.
Ron earned his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Winnipeg. He also completed post-baccalaureate certification in education from the University of Manitoba.
Ron’s community involvement has included coaching and serving as volunteer Vice-President of the Lorette Sports Centre. As a teacher advocate he held a number of positions in his teachers’ association.
Ron and his wife Val have lived near Lorette for more than 34 years. They have three children.

MLA: HON. RON KOSTYSHYN - SWAN RIVER

Thank you Lord for Hon. Ron Kostyshyn as he serves in Manitoba. May you give him discernment in each decision he makes. May you bless Ron and his family as he invests his time each day - Amen.

 Minister of agriculture, food and rural development

 “If you’re active in your community, you can make a difference.  Manitoba is thriving, let’s keep the momentum going!”

• First appointed to cabinet in 2012
• First elected in 2011

Ron was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Swan River on October 4, 2011. He was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives in 2012 and re-appointed to the same department under its new name, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, in 2013. Ron also served as Reeve of the RM of Mossey River and on council for two decades.
For the past 26 years, Ron has worked on the family farm consisting of a 200 cow/calf operation with 2560 acres. Born and raised in rural Manitoba, Ron knows that a strong rural economy is key to Manitoba’s success.
He is looking forward to working hard for families and for farmers in the Swan River constituency, and ensuring that Manitobans continue to benefit from a strong government that values the importance of agriculture, health care, education, jobs and infrastructure.

More about Ron

• Lives in the Ethelbert area
• Graduated from Ethelbert High School in 1974, his children also attended the same school
• Served on various boards, including: Association of Manitoba Municipalities, Manitoba Conservation Commission, Intermountain Conservation District, Ethelbert District Veterinary Board, Farm Stewardship Association of Manitoba, and the Ethelbert Curling Club and Skating Rink
• Married to wife Judy for 35 years with two adult daughters and one grandson

MLA: BIDHU JHA - RADISSON

Heavenly Father, we pray for Bidhu Jha today and that he would know your great blessing for his life and work today. I ask that he would have the strength and determination to continue to do the work that must be done not only in his riding but also all that which affects all the people of the province of Manitoba. I pray that Bidhu would experience God’s blessing upon himself and his family. We pray he would been given wisdom and discernment in his daily duties and decisions that that he would experience a peace and prosperity that only comes from You, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

"I encourage young people to obtain highest possible training and education so that they are empowered to succeed. By investing in education and training, we create opportunities for positive economic growth, and build on Manitoba’s entrepreneurial spirit."

Bidhu Jha, a Winnipeg resident since 1970, was elected as Radisson's NDP MLA in 2003, 2007 and 2011. He has been legislative assistant to the premier and minister of Energy, Science and Technology and was recently appointed as Manitoba's special envoy for international trade. Bidhu participates in several legislative committees on such issues as public accounts and finances, Crown corporations, social services, justice, and community economic development.
He has also received the prestigious Asia Pacific Award of Entrepreneurship from the Asper School of Business (University of Manitoba) and an honourable distinguished community service award by ICHHA, an organization set up to serve humanity. Bidhu is a published poet and writer of short stories and articles. A tireless worker in uniting Canada's diverse communities, Bidhu is a strong voice for equal rights for all.

More about Bidhu

• Holds a degree in mechanical engineering and is trained in industrial engineering management;
• Former business owner and CEO of Optimum Trading Corporation;
• Past board member of major private and public enterprises including Manitoba Telephone Systems, Deer Lodge Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society and Crown corporations council;
• Past member of the faculty of engineering advisory committee at University of Manitoba and Red River College, and
• Member of the International Trade Council, Manitoba working with chamber of commerce and other economic development agencies in Manitoba.

MLA: HON. KERRI IRVIN-ROSS - FORT RICHMOND

Our Heavenly Father, we come in the name of Jesus to invoke your presence and power to be imparted to our Honourable member from Fort Richmond, Kerri Irvin-Ross. She has been given a very significant responsibility in caring for Family Services and Housing and Community Development. Grant Kerri wisdom as she wades through the often messy and misplaced people of our province. May she experience the anointing of your Spirit to break through the bondages that often oppress the innocent, abused, neglected and homeless. We ask this in Jesus name, Amen.


Minister of family services
Minister of housing and community development
Minister responsible for persons with disabilities
Minister responsible for the status of women

"My job is to help people in our community imagine the possibilities – to keep looking ahead and finding new ways of building a better future for Manitobans."

• MLA for Fort Garry 2003–2011
• Re-elected as MLA for Fort Richmond in 2011

First elected as MLA for Fort Garry in 2003, she has served as Minister of Healthy Living, Minister responsible for Healthy Child Manitoba and Seniors, Minister of Housing and Community Development and was appointed Minister of Family Services by Premier Greg Selinger on October 18, 2013.
Raised in a small farming community in southern Saskatchewan, Kerri and her family moved to Winnipeg over 15 years ago. They established roots in Winnipeg and become a part of many community and school organizations. Kerri accepted a position at the Winnipeg Child Guidance Clinic and through her work as a school social worker she grew increasingly aware of the importance of providing positive opportunities in order to create and maintain healthy communities.
As a community builder Kerri has been recognized for her role in developing crime prevention initiatives and spearheading efforts to improve community recreation facilities. She regularly works with community clubs, parent councils, child care centres, schools, seniors groups such as the Fort Garry Seniors Resource Council and Pembina Active Living 55+, as well as other community initiatives. Kerri is also a strong supporter of groups such as the Fort Garry Historical Society and the Fort Garry Community Network. Her constituency office has become a meeting place for many such groups.
During her three years as Minister of Healthy Living Kerri was responsible for introducing Healthy Child Legislation, implementing Age-Friendly Manitoba, establishing nutrition guidelines for schools, designing new suicide prevention initiatives, expanding the diabetes prevention programs in the North, introducing a new eating disorders program, providing children with low-cost bike helmets, and building on our anti-smoking initiatives.
As Minister of Housing and Community Development, Kerri prioritized a positive experience for tenants, which has led to customer service training for staff, improved security services, and a bed bug remediation strategy for Manitoba Housing properties. She has worked to meet housing needs in Manitoba through a variety of initiatives, which has resulted in hundreds of new units of affordable housing tailored to families, seniors, students and people with disabilities.
A strong supporter of community economic development, she has championed the department’s partnership with Warm Up Winnipeg/BUILD and other community based employment training programs which has resulted in reduced energy and water costs for Manitoba Housing Properties and job experience for hundreds of worker with barriers to employment. She believes in the power of Co-op Development for Manitoba, and champions grassroots empowerment and neighbourhood revitalization through Neighbourhoods Alive!.
Kerri enjoys working with government departments, community groups, and citizens to support vibrant, healthy communities across Manitoba.

MLA: JENNIFER HOWARD - FORT ROUGE

Lord, thank you for the sense of calling you placed on our MLA Jennifer Howard in service of her community and fellow citizens of Manitoba. As she seeks to fulfill her passion in the areas of poverty, healthcare, safety and equality for women, may she filled with your grace and wisdom for the fulfilment of these noble values. Give her courage and strength to continue to serve her constituents of Fort Rouge. Amen.

“Life isn’t easy, but if we work together we can make a difference. I was born with a disability. I have a leg that’s a little shorter than the other, fewer fingers than probably most of you. When I was young, and getting fitted for special shoes, I asked my mom how do we pay for this? She told me not to worry about it because we lived in a province where people cared about each other, where the government, the NDP government, had made sure that my shoes were paid for by everybody in the province, not just my family. That made a deep impression on me as a child about the power of government to do good in people’s lives.”

• First appointed to cabinet in 2009
• First elected in 2007

Jennifer was elected MLA for Fort Rouge in 2007, later serving as the Vice-Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee. In November 2009, she was appointed the Minister of Labour and Immigration and Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities, Workers Compensation Board and the Status of Women.
Jennifer was re-elected on October 4, 2011 and was appointed Minister of Family Services and Labour. On October 18, 2013, Premier Greg Selinger appointed Jennifer the Minister of Finance, as well as Minister responsible for the Civil Service Commission, Minister charged with the administration of the Crown Corporations Public Review and Accountability Act and Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities.
Jennifer Howard is a well-known and credible advocate who has worked in the community and government on issues such as poverty, health care, neighbourhood safety and equality for women.
Prior to her appointment, Jennifer held a number of public positions, including:

• Executive Director of the Women’s Health Clinic
• Chairperson of the Manitoba NDP Status of Women Committee
• Positions with the Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence and the Manitoba Action Committee on the Status of Women
• Policy advisor to Premier Gary Doer on health care issues
• Founding Member, South Osborne Neighbourhood Safety Association

Jennifer is a life-long Manitoban—born and raised in Brandon where she graduated from Brandon University. She moved to Winnipeg in 1998.
Jennifer has served on the Boards of numerous organizations, including the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (Manitoba), the Rainbow Resource Centre and the University of Winnipeg’s Board of Regents.
Jennifer was named a Woman of Distinction in 1999 by the Brandon YWCA. She has also received a Community Builder Award from LAMBDA, the gay and lesbian business and professional organization.
Jennifer is a keen reader, theatre-goer and singer with a community choir - the Rainbow Harmony Project.

MLA: REG HELWER - BRANDON - WEST

Lord, thank you for our MLA Reg Helwer. As we enter into a new year, may you bless him with great wisdom in his role in our parliament. May you give Reg insight into how to use his position to better our communities. Please bless his family and protect them this yeatr. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Reg’s vision is for a government that gets tough on crime, controls spending, makes investments in education and creates opportunities for young people.  Reg  is very committed to his community and has spent many hours volunteering and serving in the following roles:

- 30 years coaching community sports
- YMCA Campaign Co-Chair
- Past President, Brandon Chamber of Commerce
- Past Vice Chair, Brandon University Board of Governors
- Past President, Brandon University Students’ Union

Reg has a very strong commitment to Business and Education:

- Past President, Canadian Association of Agri Retailers                
- Partner, Shur Gro Farm Services    
- M.Sc. Agricultural Economics, Purdue University               
- B.A. Political Science, Brandon University

Reg Helwer’s values are – family, hard work and integrity.  Reg & Anysley have been married for twenty-five plus years and have four children – Jessica, Andrew, Carolyn and Adam.

Reg was first elected to the Manitoba Legislature as the member for Brandon West in the Provincial Election October 4, 2011. In his first session as an MLA he was critic for Manitoba Hydro, MPI and active member of Public Accounts.

With the newly elected Leader Brian Pallister, Reg will be the critic for Justice and Attorney General; Constitutional Affairs & MPI.  He will also be the Chair for the Public Accounts Committee.

MLA: CLIFF GRAYDON - EMERSON

Today, we ask for a special blessing on MLA Cliff Graydon. We pray for him as he focuses on the people of Manitoba. May Cliff receive wisdom from you God as he makes decisions to move the province forward. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Cliff Graydon was born and raised in Arnaud and has spent the past 30 years farming grain and purebred Charolais cattle. Cliff has held various critic portfolios during his time in office including: MPI; Liquor Control; Lotteries; Gaming and Agriculture as well as Entrepreneurship Training and Trade.

He was a founding member of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association and served on its board of directors. He has also served as a member of the Stuartburn Piney Agricultural Development Association and the Prairies East Sustainable Agricultural Initiative.

Cliff and his wife, Rose Ellen, live in the Woodmore area and have two children, Amy and Warren, a daughter-in-law Venessa and three lovely grandchildren, Bailey, Colby and Reneé.