Sharon Blady

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Sharon Blady

| image = Minister Blady (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Blady in 2014

| office = Manitoba Minister of Health

| term_start = November 3, 2014

| term_end = May 3, 2016

| premier = Greg Selinger

| predecessor = Erin Selby

| successor = Kelvin Goertzen

| office2 = Manitoba Minister of Healthy Living and Seniors

| term_start2 = October 18, 2013

| term_end2 = November 3, 2014

| premier2 = Greg Selinger

| predecessor2 = new portfolio

| successor2 = Deanne Crothers

| office3 = Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Kirkfield Park

| term_start3 = May 22, 2007

| term_end3 = April 19, 2016

| predecessor3 = Stuart Murray

| successor3 = Scott Fielding

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| nationality = Canadian

| party = New Democratic Party

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| alma_mater = University of Manitoba (BA)
University of Victoria (MA)

| occupation = University instructor

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| website = {{url|sharonblady.ca}}

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Sharon Anne Blady {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|l|eɪ|d|i}} is a former provincial politician in the Canadian province of Manitoba.{{cite news |title=NDP gains 2 Winnipeg seats |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/ndp-gains-2-winnipeg-seats-1.663874 |work=CBC News |date=May 22, 2007 |access-date=October 11, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070826062314/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitobavotes2007/story/2007/05/22/mbv-ndp-gains.html |archive-date=August 26, 2007 |url-status=live}} She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in the 2007 provincial election in the constituency of Kirkfield Park. She was defeated in the 2016 provincial election. Blady is a member of the New Democratic Party.{{cite web |title=MLA Biographies - Living |url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/members/mla_bio_living.html#b |publisher=Legislative Assembly of Manitoba |date=August 4, 2009 |access-date=October 11, 2009}} Prior to her election, she was an instructor of social work and native studies at the University of Manitoba.

Early life and career

Blady grew up in the neighbourhood of St. James-Assiniboia in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she attended Buchanan School, Hedges Junior High School, and Collège Silver Heights Collegiate.{{cite hansard | jurisdiction=Manitoba | url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_1st/hansardpdf/19.pdf | format=PDF |title=Legislative Assembly | house=Legislative Assembly | date=October 15, 2007 | column=1309 | speaker=Bonnie Korzeniowski | position=St. James | accessdate=June 27, 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072446/http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_1st/hansardpdf/19.pdf | archivedate=April 7, 2014 }}{{cite web |url=http://yourmanitoba.ca/caucus2010/biography?constituency=Kirkfield%20Park&page=bio |title=Sharon Blady: Biography |publisher=New Democratic Caucus of Manitoba |access-date=June 27, 2011 }} She received a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology, art history, and architecture from the University of Manitoba in 1991.{{cite web |url=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharon-Blady-MLA-Kirkfield-Park/237031784170?sk=info |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121217080241/http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharon-Blady-MLA-Kirkfield-Park/237031784170?sk=info |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 17, 2012 |title=Sharon Blady, MLA Kirkfield Park |first=Sharon |last=Blady |publisher=Facebook |access-date=June 27, 2011}}{{cite journal |date=June 2007 |title=Manitoba Election Results |journal=Hansard: A Report from the Government Relations Office |page=3 |location=Winnipeg |publisher=University of Manitoba |access-date=June 27, 2011 |url=http://umanitoba.ca/admin/vp_external/gov_relations/media/June_07.pdf }} She received a Master of Arts in history in art and native studies from the University of Victoria in 1995 with her thesis entitled The Flower Beadwork People: Factors Contributing to the Emergence of Distinctive Métis Cultural Artistic Style at Red River from 1844 to 1869.{{cite web |url=http://finearts.uvic.ca/historyinart/current/journals_n_symposium/_PDF/Completed%20MA%20Thesis%202012.pdf |title=Completed MA Thesis (1973–Present) |year=2012 |publisher=University of Victoria (Faculty of Fine Arts) |access-date=October 23, 2013}}{{dead link|date=September 2016|bot=medic}} In 1996 and 1997, two papers of hers about Métis culture and history were published by the Canadian Circumpolar Institute at the University of Alberta as part of Issues in the North.{{cite book |last1=Blady |first1=Sharon |editor1-first=Jill |editor1-last=Oakes |editor2-first=Rick |editor2-last=Riewe |title=Issues in the North, Volume I |year=1996 |publisher=Canadian Circumpolar Institute |location=Edmonton |isbn=978-0-919058-78-1 |issn=0068-0303 |contribution=Beadwork As an Expression of Métis Cultural Identity}}{{cite book |last1=Blady |first1=Sharon |editor1-first=Jill |editor1-last=Oakes |editor2-first=Rick |editor2-last=Riewe |title=Issues in the North, Volume II |year=1997 |publisher=Canadian Circumpolar Institute |location=Edmonton |isbn=978-0-919058-87-3 |issn=0068-0303 |contribution=Les Métissess: Towards a Feminist History of Red River}}

Blady designed and taught introductory courses in gender and women's studies and visual and Aboriginal art studies at Brandon University. She later taught at the University of Manitoba in its Joint Baccalaureate Nursing program and its Inner City Social Work program.

Political career

Sharon Blady was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in the 2007 provincial election on May 22, 2007. As the New Democratic Party candidate, she won the traditionally Progressive Conservative electoral division of Kirkfield Park with a margin of over 11%.

Blady was appointed minister's assistant for tenant issues to the Minister of Family Services and Consumer Affairs, Gord Mackintosh, on June 24, 2010.{{cite press release |title=Tenant Protection Strengthened During Low Vacancy Rates: Additional Eviction Notice Period of Two Months, Up to $500 Compensation for Moving Costs due to Renovations Among Changes: Mackintosh |publisher=Government of Manitoba |date=June 24, 2010 |url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/press/top/2010/06/2010-06-24-163000-9024.html |access-date=June 27, 2011 |quote=Mackintosh also announced that Sharon Blady, MLA for Kirkfield Park, has been appointed minister's assistant for tenant issues. She will be responsible for helping to identify other measures to assist tenants during times of low vacancy. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072309/http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/press/top/2010/06/2010-06-24-163000-9024.html |archive-date=April 7, 2014 }} On April 4, 2011, she was promoted to the position of legislative assistant to the minister.{{cite web |url=http://www2.gov.mb.ca/OICDocs/2011/04/President%20of%20the%20Executive%20Council.110404.Executive%20Government%20Organization%20Act.972011.pdf |title=Manitoba Order in Council 97/2011 |date=April 4, 2011 |publisher=Government of Manitoba (Queen's Printer) |location=Winnipeg |access-date=June 27, 2011}} She has also sat on a number of committees of the Legislative Assembly including the Standing Committees on Agriculture and Food (as the vice-chairperson),{{cite hansard | jurisdiction=Manitoba | url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_2nd/hansardpdf/ag1.pdf | format=PDF |title=Legislative Assembly | house=Legislative Assembly - Standing Committee on Agriculture and Food | date=June 6, 2008 | accessdate=July 9, 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072311/http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_2nd/hansardpdf/ag1.pdf | archivedate=April 7, 2014 }} Crown Corporations (as the chairperson),{{cite hansard | jurisdiction=Manitoba | url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_4th/hansardpdf/cc2.pdf | format=PDF |title=Legislative Assembly | house=Legislative Assembly - Standing Committee on Crown Corporations | date=September 21, 2010 | accessdate=June 27, 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072641/http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_4th/hansardpdf/cc2.pdf | archivedate=April 7, 2014 }} Legislative Affairs (as the chairperson),{{cite hansard | jurisdiction=Manitoba | url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_4th/hansardpdf/la1.pdf | format=PDF |title=Legislative Assembly | house=Legislative Assembly - Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs | date=December 14, 2009 | accessdate=June 27, 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072820/http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_4th/hansardpdf/la1.pdf | archivedate=April 7, 2014 }} Private Bills,{{cite hansard | jurisdiction=Manitoba | url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_5th/hansardpdf/pb1.pdf | format=PDF |title=Legislative Assembly | house=Legislative Assembly - Standing Committee on Private Bills | date=June 14, 2011 | accessdate=June 27, 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407071920/http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_5th/hansardpdf/pb1.pdf | archivedate=April 7, 2014}} Public Accounts,{{cite hansard | jurisdiction=Manitoba | url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_4th/hansardpdf/pa2.pdf | format=PDF |title=Legislative Assembly | house=Legislative Assembly - Standing Committee on Public Accounts | date=February 17, 2010 | accessdate=June 27, 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072817/http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_4th/hansardpdf/pa2.pdf | archivedate=April 7, 2014 }} and Social and Economic Development (as the vice-chairperson){{cite hansard | jurisdiction=Manitoba | url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_2nd/hansardpdf/sed8.pdf | format=PDF |title=Legislative Assembly | house=Legislative Assembly - Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development | date=July 21, 2010 | accessdate=July 9, 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072644/http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_2nd/hansardpdf/sed8.pdf | archivedate=April 7, 2014 }} and the Special Committee on Senate Reform.{{cite hansard | jurisdiction=Manitoba | url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_3rd/hansardpdf/sen4.pdf | format=PDF |title=Legislative Assembly | house=Legislative Assembly - Special Committee on Senate Reform | date=November 9, 2009 | accessdate=July 9, 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072704/http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_3rd/hansardpdf/sen4.pdf | archivedate=April 7, 2014 }}

During her first term in the legislature, Blady introduced two private member's bills which passed. In 2009, she introduced Bill 238, The Service Animals Protection Act, which made it an offence to interfere with or allow another animal to interfere with guide dogs or other service animals without the permission of its owner.{{cite press release |title=Legislators Look to Protect Guide Dogs and Other Service Animals: Private Member's Bill Introduced by Sharon Blady, MLA for Kirkfield Park |publisher=New Democratic Caucus of Manitoba |year=2009 |url=http://yourmanitoba.ca/caucus2010/constituencyNews?q=newsArticle&articlePageID=440 |access-date=June 27, 2011 }} The bill passed third reading on September 23, 2009,{{cite hansard | jurisdiction=Manitoba | url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_3rd/hansardpdf/68.pdf | format=PDF |title=Legislative Assembly | house=Legislative Assembly | date=September 23, 2009 | column_start=3319 | column_end=3321 | accessdate=June 27, 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072650/http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_3rd/hansardpdf/68.pdf | archivedate=April 7, 2014 }} and was granted royal assent on October 8, 2009.{{cite hansard | jurisdiction=Manitoba | url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_3rd/hansardpdf/77b.pdf | format=PDF |title=Legislative Assembly | house=Legislative Assembly | date=October 8, 2009 | column_start=3783 | column_end=3784 | accessdate=June 27, 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407071701/http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_3rd/hansardpdf/77b.pdf | archivedate=April 7, 2014 }} Through this bill, Manitoba became the first jurisdiction in Canada to specifically legislate the protection of service animals.{{cite hansard | jurisdiction=Manitoba | url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_3rd/hansardpdf/sed3.pdf | format=PDF |title=Legislative Assembly | house=Legislative Assembly - Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development | date=September 16, 2009 | column_start=52 | column_end=53 | speaker=Yvonne Peters | position=Witness from the Manitoba Human Rights Commission | accessdate=June 27, 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072654/http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_3rd/hansardpdf/sed3.pdf | archivedate=April 7, 2014 }} The legislation has been praised by the Manitoba Human Rights Commission.

On April 19, 2011, Blady introduced Bill 217, The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act (Expanded Grounds for Early Termination), which added provisions to The Residential Tenancies Act to allow for the early termination of rental agreements if the tenant faces health issues that prevent them from continuing to live in their current rental unit, if they are in the armed forces and are being relocated, or if they are victims of domestic violence and believe that their safety is at risk if they continue living there.{{cite press release |title=New legislation to help tenants facing domestic violence, health issues or military transfer |publisher=New Democratic Caucus of Manitoba |date=April 19, 2011 |url=http://yourmanitoba.ca/caucus2010/?q=newsArticle&articlePageID=627 |access-date=June 27, 2011}} The bill was passed by the house with a unanimous vote at third reading{{cite hansard | jurisdiction=Manitoba | url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_5th/hansardpdf/64a.pdf | format=PDF |title=Legislative Assembly | house=Legislative Assembly | date=June 16, 2011 | column_start=2936 | column_end=2939 | accessdate=June 27, 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072448/http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_5th/hansardpdf/64a.pdf | archivedate=April 7, 2014 }}{{cite press release |title=Expanded Grounds for Early Termination of Leases Brings Relief to Tenants |publisher=New Democratic Caucus of Manitoba |date=June 16, 2011 |url=http://yourmanitoba.ca/caucus2010/whatsNew?q=newsArticle&articlePageID=644 |access-date=June 27, 2011}} and was assented to on June 16, 2011.{{cite hansard | jurisdiction=Manitoba | url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_5th/hansardpdf/64b.pdf | format=PDF |title=Legislative Assembly | house=Legislative Assembly | date=June 16, 2011 | column_start=2993 | column_end=2995 | accessdate=June 27, 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407071917/http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/business/hansard/39th_5th/hansardpdf/64b.pdf | archivedate=April 7, 2014 }}

Blady is active in liaising with other legislative bodies on an international level as the President of the Manitoba section of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie{{cite web |url=http://apf.francophonie.org/spip.php?article27 |title=Section membre: Manitoba |work=Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie |publisher=International Organization of the Francophonie |language=fr |trans-title=Member section: Manitoba |access-date=July 27, 2011}} and as a member of the Energy Committee of the Midwestern Legislators Conference (part of the Council of State Governments).{{cite web |url=http://www.csgmidwest.org/MLC/MLC_Energy_roster.aspx |title=MLC Energy Committee: 2011-2012 Roster |work=Council of State Governments |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425071055/http://www.csgmidwest.org/MLC/MLC_Energy_roster.aspx|archive-date=2012-04-25|url-status=dead|access-date=June 27, 2011}}

Blady was re-elected in the 2011 provincial election on October 4 with a margin of 21 votes.{{cite news |author= |date=October 26, 2011 |title=Kirkfield Park recount confirms NDP win |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/kirkfield-park-recount-confirms-ndp-win-1.1030608 |url-status=live |work=CBC News |agency=The Canadian Press |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609013749/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/kirkfield-park-recount-confirms-ndp-win-1.1030608 |archive-date=June 9, 2016 |access-date=February 25, 2024}}

Blady was appointed as the Minister of Health of Manitoba following a cabinet reshuffle on November 3, 2014.{{cite news |author= |date=November 3, 2014 |title=Premier Greg Selinger replaces 5 cabinet ministers in government revolt |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/premier-greg-selinger-replaces-5-cabinet-ministers-in-government-revolt-1.2822132 |url-status=live |work=CBC News |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204085200/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/premier-greg-selinger-replaces-5-cabinet-ministers-in-government-revolt-1.2822132 |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |access-date=February 25, 2024}}

Blady lost her seat in the legislature to Progressive Conservative candidate Scott Fielding in the 2016 provincial election.{{cite news |author= |date=April 19, 2016 |title=PC Scott Fielding unseats NDP’s Sharon Blady |url=https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/pc-scott-fielding-unseats-ndp-s-sharon-blady-1.2866450 |url-status=live |work=CTV News |location=Winnipeg, Manitoba |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622115717/https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/pc-scott-fielding-unseats-ndp-s-sharon-blady-1.2866450 |archive-date=June 22, 2023 |access-date=February 25, 2024}}

Electoral record

Publications

{{cite book |last1=Blady |first1=Sharon |year=1995 |title=The Flower Beadwork People: Factors Contributing to the Emergence of Distinctive Metis Cultural Artistic Style at Red River from 1844 to 1869 |type=MA thesis |publisher=University of Victoria |oclc=858544790 }}
{{cite book |last1=Blady |first1=Sharon |author-mask=1 |year=1996 |chapter=Beadwork As an Expression of Métis Cultural Identity |editor1-last=Oakes |editor1-first=Jill |editor2-last=Riewe |editor2-first=Rick |title=Issues in the North, Volume I |location=Edmonton |publisher=Canadian Circumpolar Institute |isbn=978-0-919058-78-1 |issn=0068-0303 }}
{{cite book |last1=Blady |first1=Sharon |author-mask=1 |year=1997 |chapter=Les Métissess: Towards a Feminist History of Red River |editor1-last=Oakes |editor1-first=Jill |editor2-last=Riewe |editor2-first=Rick |title=Issues in the North, Volume II |location=Edmonton |publisher=Canadian Circumpolar Institute |isbn=978-0-919058-87-3 |issn=0068-0303 }}
{{cite book |year=2004 |editor1-last=Oakes |editor1-first=Jill |editor2-last=Riewe |editor2-first=Rick |editor3-last=Belanger |editor3-first=Yale |editor4-last=Blady |editor4-first=Sharon |editor5-last=Legge |editor5-first=Kelly |editor6-last=Wiebe |editor6-first=Patsy|display-editors=4 |title=Aboriginal Cultural Landscapes |location=Winnipeg |publisher=Aboriginal Issues Press |isbn=978-0-9686138-4-9 |oclc=56371181 }}