Manitoba byelection called for east Winnipeg’s Transcona riding

February 18, 2025 Canuck

A provincial byelection has been called for east Winnipeg’s Transcona riding on March 18.

The Manitoba government made the announcement on Tuesday.

The new Manitoba legislative member will replace the riding’s former MLA Nello Altomare, 61, who died last month. He had been diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer in 2019, shortly after being elected to his first term in office.

Altomare became the minister of education and early childhood learning following the NDP’s win in the 2023 election, but he took a medical leave from his role last October. Tracy Schmidt took over his portfolio on an acting basis and was sworn in as the new minister in late January.

The Manitoba NDP have nominated educator Shannon Corbett to compete in the byelection, the party announced at a news conference late Tuesday afternoon. Corbett prevailed over the only other candidate, union organizer Roque Anonuevo.

A smiling man in a sweater sits at a desk in an office. — The death of Nello Altomare, seen at the Manitoba Legislature on Jan. 4, 2024, led to the byelection to fill the Transcona seat. (Travis Golby/CBC)

Party members voted on their preferred candidate Monday, but the NDP barred CBC News from entering the nomination meeting, which is traditionally open to the media. Party secretary Evan Krosney said the NDP would reveal who won the nomination on Tuesday.

When asked why CBC had not been permitted inside the nomination meeting, Manitoba NDP Leader and Premier Wab Kinew told reporters that it was an “internal party meeting.”

“Giving people the space to come and vote is a priority for us,” Kinew said.

A woman stands at the podium of a Manitoba NDP press conference — The Manitoba NDP have nominated educator Shannon Corbett, centre, as the party’s candidate in the Transcona byelection. (Jeff Stapleton/CBC)

Corbett is a lifelong Transconian who has worked in the River East Transcona School Division as a teacher, and as vice-principal at Bernie Wolfe School and Transcona Collegiate, she said at the news conference.

“I had the privilege of working with Nello Altomare and considered him as a mentor and as a friend, and I want to continue to carry on that legacy that Nello has built,” Corbett said.

The Progressive Conservatives are planning to hold a nomination meeting on March 3, a spokesperson confirmed in an email. The nomination deadline for the PCs will close on Thursday.

Former city councillor Shawn Nason announced Feb. 6 he will be seeking the nomination for the PC party.

The Green Party of Manitoba has decided it won’t enter a candidate in the race out of respect for Altomare’s passing, party president and co-deputy leader Dennis Bayomi said in an email statement.

Manitoba’s Liberal party says it has two people seriously considering a bid for the party’s nomination.

“I hope to be able to announce someone in the coming days,” Manitoba Liberal Leader Cindy Lamoureux told CBC in an email.

The Transcona riding has been around since 1969 and runs between Gunn Road to the north and Fermor Avenue and St. Boniface Road to the south. Its eastern boundary runs along the Perimeter Highway, Murdock Road and Plessis Road, while its western boundary runs along Day Street, Plessis Road and Lagimodière Boulevard.

The riding has been an NDP stronghold for decades, but it’s also been led by the Progressive Conservatives or Liberals.

1969-1986 elections (five general elections): NDP.
1988: Liberal.
1990-2011 (six general elections): NDP.
2011: Daryl Reid (NDP).
2016: Blair Yakimoski (Progressive Conservative).
2019: Nello Altomare (NDP).

There are currently 33 New Democrats, 21 Progressive Conservatives, one independent Liberal, one independent member and one vacant seat in the Manitoba legislature, according to a news release.

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