Rochelle Squires

Rochelle Squires
9th Deputy Premier of Manitoba
In office
September 1, 2021 – November 3, 2021
PremierKelvin Goertzen
Heather Stefanson
Preceded byKelvin Goertzen
Succeeded byKelvin Goertzen
Minister of Families
In office
January 5, 2021 – October 18, 2023
PremierBrian Pallister
Kelvin Goertzen
Heather Stefanson
Preceded byHeather Stefanson
Succeeded byNahanni Fontaine
Minister of Municipal Relations
In office
October 23, 2019 – January 5, 2021
PremierBrian Pallister
Preceded byJeff Wharton
Succeeded byDerek Johnson
Minister of Sustainable Development
In office
August 17, 2017 – October 23, 2019
PremierBrian Pallister
Preceded byCathy Cox
Succeeded bySarah Guillemard
Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage
In office
May 3, 2016 – August 17, 2017
PremierBrian Pallister
Preceded byRon Lemieux
Succeeded byCathy Cox
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Riel
In office
April 19, 2016 – September 5, 2023
Preceded byChristine Melnick
Succeeded byMike Moyes
Personal details
Political partyProgressive Conservative (before 2023)[1]
Residence(s)Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Rochelle Squires is a former Canadian politician who served as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for the riding of Riel from 2016 to 2023.

A member of the Progressive Conservative Party, she was first elected in the 2016 Manitoba election, defeating NDP incumbent Christine Melnick.[2][3]

Career

Squires was first elected as MLA for Riel after defeating NDP incumbent Christine Melnick in the April 2016 Manitoba election.[2][3] The Conservatives also replaced the NDP's majority government with one of their own. Squires was described by Steve Lambert of CBC News as "one of the more progressive members of [the Conservative] caucus".[4]

On May 3, 2016, Brian Pallister took office as the Premier of Manitoba. He appointed Squires to the Executive Council of Manitoba as Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage, Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs, and Minister responsible for Status of Women.[5][6]

On August 17, 2017, Squires was shuffled out of the Ministry of Sport, Culture and Heritage but retained her other titles.[7]

In September 2019, she and the PC government were re-elected in that year's provincial election. That October, she became Minister of Municipal Relations and continued her role as Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs.[8]

Brian Pallister resigned as premier of Manitoba on September 1, 2021. Subsequently, Premier Kelvin Goertzen selected Squires to serve as Deputy Premier of Manitoba, the position Goertzen himself held before Pallister's resignation.[9]

In the 2023 Manitoba general election, Squires lost her seat to NDP challenger Mike Moyes, who had unsuccessfully challenged her in 2019.[10] The NDP also replaced the PCs as the governing party. She retired from politics and left the PC party the following day.[11]

Personal life

Squires and her husband Daniel have a combined family of five children and two grandsons.

Squires holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the University of Winnipeg, a journalism diploma from Red River College, and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of British Columbia.[8]

Electoral record

2023 Manitoba general election: Riel
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Mike Moyes 6,160 54.65 +19.26 $31,115.65
Progressive Conservative Rochelle Squires 4,278 37.95 -6.80 $37,725.59
Liberal LéAmber Kensley 834 7.40 -6.51 $2,610.52
Total valid votes/expense limit 11,272 99.23 – $67,371.00
Total rejected and declined ballots 88 0.77 –
Turnout 11,360 65.70 +2.46
Eligible voters 17,291
New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +13.03
Source(s)
Source: Elections Manitoba[12][13][14]
2019 Manitoba general election: Riel
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Rochelle Squires 4,734 44.75 -6.2 $40,281.22
New Democratic Mike Moyes 3,744 35.39 +6.3 $19,468.95
Liberal Neil Johnston 1,471 13.90 -5.5 $773.76
Green Roger Schellenberg 630 5.96 +5.3 $5.54
Total valid votes 10,579 99.13
Total rejected ballots 93 0.87
Turnout 10,672 63.24
Eligible voters 16,875
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -6.2
2016 Manitoba general election: Riel
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Rochelle Squires 5,024 51.00 +10.98 $31,878.00
New Democratic Christine Melnick 3,053 30.99 -23.70 $28,196.03
Liberal Neil Johnston 1,627 16.52 +11.62 $9,674.30
Total valid votes/expense limit 9,704 100.0   $47,429.00
Eligible voters 14,372
Source: Elections Manitoba[15][16]
2011 Manitoba general election: Riel
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Christine Melnick 5,352 54.69 −2.50 $28,596.10
Progressive Conservative Rochelle Squires 3,916 40.02 +9.33 $28,104.49
Liberal Cheryl Gilarski 480 4.90 −7.09 $2,997.99
Total valid votes 9,748
Rejected and declined votes 38
Turnout 9,786 64.14
Registered voters 15,257
Source: Elections Manitoba[17]

References

  1. ^ "Will the real Heather Stefanson please stand up? | CBC News". Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Manitoba election results". Global News. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Squires topples NDP stronghold in Riel". Winnipeg Free Press. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  4. ^ Lambert, Steve (4 October 2023). "Ads opposing landfill search 'deeply regrettable,' says Manitoba PC cabinet minister who lost seat". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Brian Pallister sworn in as Manitoba premier". CBC News. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Meet Manitoba's new government cabinet members". CBC News. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Pallister adds new face, new department in cabinet shuffle". CBC. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Rochelle Squires – PC Manitoba". Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  9. ^ Unger, Danton (1 August 2021). "Manitoba's new premier not moving forward with Bill 64 this fall". CTV News. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  10. ^ Unger, Danton (3 October 2023). "Flip-flopping constituency of Riel back to NDP". CTV News Winnipeg. CTV News. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  11. ^ Kives, Bartley (5 October 2023). "Will the real Heather Stefanson please stand up?". CBC News. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Summary of Votes Received" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  13. ^ "CANDIDATE ELECTION RETURNS GENERAL ELECTION 2023". Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  14. ^ "2023 GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE AND REGISTERED PARTY ELECTION EXPENSE LIMITS - FINAL EXPENSE LIMIT" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Candidates: 41st General Election". Elections Manitoba. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  16. ^ "Election Returns: 41st General Election". Elections Manitoba. 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  17. ^ "Election Returns: 40th General Election". Elections Manitoba. 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2018.


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