Jelynn Dela Cruz becomes youngest woman ever elected to Manitoba Leg.

The youngest woman to ever hold a legislative seat in Manitoba was voted into office this week as Jeylnn Dela Cruz, who helped topple the PCs in Radisson, is headed to the legislature at 23-years-old.

The NDP boasts she’s the youngest candidate to take to the Legislature since Edward Schreyer was elected at 22, but Dela Cruz was politically active for years before putting her name on the provincial ballot, saying to work for her constituents at such a young age is a humbling distinction she’s not taking lightly.

“It’s an honour to be elected as the youngest woman ever elected in Manitoba and I don’t take any of that for granted,” said Dela Cruz.

Speaking to OMNI News Filipino, the MLA-Elect says she’s excited to represent her electoral division and the Filipino community in the Leg.

She ran in-part because she saw first-hand the effect of PC policy on her family — her mother used to work at Concordia Hospital before being let go and as a student, she watched Tuition increase, stressing young people must have a voice when it comes to decisions affecting their future.

“If we don’t speak up, there are a whole slate of challenges that us young people have inherited from previous generations and we deserve a seat at the table where solutions are being discussed. So if we don’t speak up, there’s no guarantee that anyone will for us,” she explained.

A believer in divine intervention, Dela Cruz says there were numerous factors contributing to her successful run and now, she’s ready to work for those supported her.

“I’m excited to make sure that the people that trusted me enough to be vulnerable on the campaign trail and on the doorsteps feel like they’ve been done justice by the person they elected.”

Rod Cantiveros, publisher of the Manitoba Filipino Journal, says members of the Filipino community have a strong history in Manitoba politics, touching on how he was of the first Filipino to run in a provincial election, unsuccessfully making a bid for office back in 1981.

“We were engaged, because we would like to have change, because in the 70s and 80s, we had difficulty, because of racism, because of the attitude of most White Canadians, about Asians, about Filipinos and so on, and as far as I know, we have changed the mindset,” said Cantiveros.

He says the community has been been subjected to racism in the past and while there have been changes for the better, the work must continue to ensure the community has a strong foundation in Winnipeg and right across the province, with Dela Cruz serving as a role model.

“Jelynn will be a part of the new vision for the Filipinos in the coming years. I’m 82 and we’re trying to develop a kind of foundation for the next generation, and I hope everybody, even people outside of the Filipino town, to join any kind of party, be it the PC, Liberal, or NDP, or the Green — you have the choice.”