Audrey Gordon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Audrey Gordon
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|---|---|
| Manitoba Minister of Health | |
| In office January 18, 2022 – October 18, 2023 |
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| Premier | Heather Stefanson |
| Preceded by | Portfolio renamed |
| Succeeded by | Uzoma Asagwara |
| Manitoba Minister of Health and Seniors Care | |
| In office August 18, 2021 – January 18, 2022 |
|
| Premier | Brian Pallister Kelvin Goertzen Heather Stefanson |
| Preceded by | Heather Stefanson |
| Succeeded by | Portfolio renamed |
| Minister of Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery | |
| In office January 5, 2021 – January 18, 2022 |
|
| Premier | Brian Pallister Kelvin Goertzen Heather Stefanson |
| Preceded by | Portfolio established |
| Succeeded by | Sarah Guillemard |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Southdale | |
| In office September 10, 2019 – September 5, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Andrew Smith |
| Succeeded by | Renée Cable |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba |
| Residences | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Education | University of Manitoba (BA, MBA) |
Audrey Gordon is a Canadian politician. From 2019 to 2023, she served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. She represented the area, or electoral district, of Southdale. Gordon was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba.
In the 2019 Manitoba general election, she made history. Along with Jamie Moses and Uzoma Asagwara, she became one of the first three Black Canadians ever elected to Manitoba's legislature.
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Early Life and Education
Audrey Gordon was born in Jamaica. She was the seventh of eight children in her family. When she was five years old, her family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
For her higher education, Gordon went to the University of Manitoba. She earned two degrees there: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Before she became a politician, Gordon worked for the government of Manitoba for 25 years. She also worked as the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
Political Journey
First Election Attempt
Gordon first ran for office in the 2016 election. She tried to win the Fort Rouge district in Winnipeg. She came in second place to Wab Kinew, who would later become the leader of the Manitoba NDP.
Election to the Legislature
In the 2019 election, Gordon ran again, this time in the Southdale district. She won the election and became the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for that area.
Time in Government
As an MLA, Gordon was given important government jobs called portfolios. She served as the Minister of Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery. Later, she became the Minister of Health.
During her time as a politician, Gordon faced some challenges.
- In August 2020, a bench with her picture on it was damaged with racist graffiti. This was considered a hate crime.
- In May 2021, her church held a large event that went against public health rules for COVID-19. Gordon stated that she was not at the event.
- In November 2021, as Minister of Health, she was criticized for her response to a large number of cancelled surgeries in the province.
- In March 2023, she faced more criticism after several nurses in a specialized program resigned.
In the 2023 election, Gordon was not re-elected. She lost to Renée Cable in the Southdale district.
Personal Life
Gordon is married and has two sons.
Electoral Record
| Manitoba general election, 2023: Southdale | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Renée Cable | 5,569 | 48.48 | +10.64 | $44,447.54 | |||
| Progressive Conservative | Audrey Gordon | 3,922 | 34.14 | -8.26 | $54,014.50 | |||
| Liberal | Robert Falcon Ouellette | 1,861 | 16.20 | +2.73 | $21,685.59 | |||
| Independent | Amarjit Singh | 135 | 1.18 | – | $5,835.09 | |||
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | 11,487 | 99.65 | – | $69,403.00 | ||||
| Total rejected and declined ballots | 40 | 0.35 | – | |||||
| Turnout | 11,527 | 64.72 | +3.06 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 17,810 | |||||||
| New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative | Swing | +9.45 | ||||||
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Source(s)
Source: Elections Manitoba |
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| Manitoba general election, 2019: Southdale | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Progressive Conservative | Audrey Gordon | 4,493 | 42.40 | -9.2 | $24,558.56 | |||
| New Democratic | Karen Myshkowsky | 4,010 | 37.84 | +6.9 | $14,122.65 | |||
| Liberal | Spencer Duncanson | 1,427 | 13.47 | -3.3 | $137.10 | |||
| Green | Katherine Quinton | 595 | 5.62 | +4.8 | $0.00 | |||
| Manitoba Forward | Robert Cairns | 71 | 0.67 | New | $0.00 | |||
| Total valid votes | 10,596 | 99.33 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 72 | 0.67 | ||||||
| Turnout | 10,668 | 61.66 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 17,301 | |||||||
| Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | -8.1 | ||||||
| Source: (2019) STATEMENT OF OFFICIAL RESULTS BY VOTING AREA: https://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/downloads/GE2019/EMB_SOV_2019_Southdale_to_Wolseley.pdf
. Elections Manitoba. Report. |
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| Manitoba general election, 2016: Fort Rouge | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Wab Kinew | 3,360 | 37.63 | -13.63 | $39,199.49 | |||
| Progressive Conservative | Audrey Gordon | 2,571 | 28.80 | 8.64 | $42,245.54 | |||
| Liberal | Rana Bokhari | 1,792 | 20.07 | -3.06 | $30,238.82 | |||
| Green | Grant Sharp | 983 | 11.01 | 5.57 | $322.90 | |||
| Manitoba | Matthew Ostrove | 175 | 1.96 | – | $945.26 | |||
| Communist | Paula Ducharme | 47 | 0.53 | – | $33.67 | |||
| Total valid votes / expense limit | 8,928 | – | – | $44,855.00 | ||||
| Rejected | 125 | – | ||||||
| Eligible voters / Turnout | 13,896 | 65.15 | 3.92 | |||||
| New Democratic hold | Swing | –11.04 | ||||||
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Source(s)
Source: Manitoba. Chief Electoral Officer (2016) Statement of Votes for the 41st Provincial General Election, April 19, 2016 . Winnipeg: Elections Manitoba. Report. |
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