Last week, Cameron Friesen resigned from his position of MLA for Morden-Winkler after announcing his intentions to seek the Conservative nomination for Portage-Lisgar.
On October 4th, 2011, he won the nomination for the PC Party Candidate for Morden-Winkler. He shared why he wanted to serve in this role.
"I was really driven to get involved based on where I saw Manitoba going. I was concerned about the performance of the previous government. I wanted to be part of a team that would put Manitoba on a better path towards stability. I knew the investments that were needed in our local community. And so, being aware of those I wanted to help advance those things that make this community such a great place to live."
During his time as the MLA for Morden-Winkler, he was the Minister of Finance, Justice and Health, while the PC government was in power. He went on to say, no matter what titles and extra duties were assigned to him in the last eleven years as MLA for Morden-Winkler, his best role was representing the people of Morden-Winkler and the RM of Stanley.
He named a few of his accomplishments.
"I am proud to have been part of a team that was able to get the Pine Ridge School in Winkler built, opened, and now operating, a new K-8 school approved and on the way for Morden. But some people might not recognize every day that we have 160 childcare spaces more than we had previously just in the last few years, we have a new four lane highway running North through South through Winkler. We have a $100 million health care investment that is right now underway at Boundary Trails Health Center that will transform the way we receive health care in this area, and that is exciting."
He recognized some of the challenges he faced.
"There have been many challenges along the way as a new Member of the Legislative Assembly. Part of the challenge is to understand what that role looks like and how to be most effective in it, how to interact with your colleagues, how to spend your time in the constituency, how to get to know businesses and industries and nonprofits and faith-based organizations, and how to appropriately interact with people not over promising, not trying to promise what you can't deliver, but honestly engaging, listening and then doing your best."
He added representing a constituency not of one mind during the pandemic, was also a significant challenge.
When asked what advice he would give to his successor, he gave this answer.
"I think if I gave any advice to whoever will be that next MLA for Morden-Winkler, it would be to roll up your sleeves, get straight to work, and work as hard as you can. I always like to say in my life, hard work will outperform talent if talent will not work. I think that hard work in our lives often just makes the difference. I know there will be interest in that role for MLA. I know that many people will have to do that work of putting their hand up and making those determinations." He went on to say, "I know whoever it is if they were coming to me for some advice at a time in the future, I would tell them hard work, engagement, listen, listening is so important, and be an effective member of your team. This is a team sport, politics. You don't do it by yourself and it's really important to understand your role and to play that role as best as you can."