NDP members pick Transcona BIZ head as candidate for Elmwood-Transcona byelection

The federal NDP will fight a byelection in Elmwood-Transcona with a business leader as its candidate, rather than a member of the Blaikie family.

Party members voted Wednesday night to select Leila Dance as the next NDP candidate for Elmwood-Transcona, succeeding Daniel Blaikie, who heldthe seat for nearly a decade, and his late father Bill, an MP for almost 30 years before that.

Dance,theexecutive director of the Transcona BIZ, fought back tears as she addressed the crowd at HolyEucharist Parish Centre after winning the contested nomination. Around 100 people cast their ballot.

"I really hope that I can represent you how you need me to represent you. And I promise to be a strong voice for you in Ottawa so the NDP can keep this seat we're not giving it up; we're going to keep it; it's ours."

"The blue can take their ball and go home," she added with a smile,alludingto the upcoming byelection challenge from the Conservatives.

The seat was left vacant after DanielBlaikieresigned earlier this year for a role advising the government of Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew.

A date for the byelection hasn't been called.

Family synonymous withElmwood-Transcona

The riding of Elmwood-Transconahas predominantly belonged to the NDP, and specifically the Blaikie family, from the beginning.

Bill Blaikie was first elected in 1979, as the member of Parliament forWinnipeg-Birds Hill. Afterthat electoral districtwas dissolved in 1987, Blaikie won four elections in the new seat ofWinnipeg-Transcona, and two more afterit was renamed Elmwood-Transconain 2004.

Heresigned in 2008 and a year later began a brief foray into provincial politics.

Bill died in 2022.

His son, Daniel Blaikie,took over as MPin 2015.

The Conservatives only held the seat from 2011 to 2015, but the party is currently riding high in polls across the country and hoping to carry that momentuminto a byelection victory in Elmwood-Transcona.

Neither the Conservatives or governing Liberals have named their candidate.

Daniel Blaikie said Dance is already known throughout the community. She's grown up in the area, advocated for businesses and worked at various non-profits including the Children's Wish Foundation and ALS Society of Manitoba.

He drew parallels between Dance's burgeoning political career with that ofNDP MP Taylor Bachrach, who earned voters' trust after the resignation of a well-known NDP MP in Nathan Cullen.

"Taylorwasn't as well known when he started, but he's well known now and he's doing fantastic work in Ottawa," Blaikie said.

"I have every confidence that it won't be long after Leilagets into the House of Commons that her name is on the tipof people's tongue."

Dance said she's gone through struggles herself as a single mother. She knows she's not alone, she said.

"I think we're all struggling right nowwith the cost of living and I'm hoping that we can do something and help make it affordable for all Canadians," Dance said.

Federal NDPLeader Jagmeet Singh will attend Dance's campaign office opening on Saturday.

Dance was vying for the nomination against LeilaniVillarba,the executive director of the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation.