![Heather Stefanson wins Manitoba PC leadership race, will become province's first female premier](https://www.ctvnews.ca/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2021/10/30/heather-stefanson-1-5645686-1635641632745.jpg)
Heather Stefanson wins Manitoba PC leadership race, will become province's first female premier
CTV
Manitoba's governing Progressive Conservatives have chosen Heather Stefanson as their new leader and the province's next premier. Stefanson, the province's former health minister, was running against former Member of Parliament Shelly Glover, and won by a margin of fewer than 400 votes.
Manitoba's governing Progressive Conservatives have chosen Heather Stefanson as their new leader and the province's next premier.
Stefanson, the province's former health minister, was running against former Member of Parliament Shelly Glover, and won by a margin of fewer than 400 votes.
"I'm ready to address the many challenges facing us," Stefanson said in her victory speech.
"We will face these challenges together."
Stefanson said the focus moving forward is addressing the health-care backlogs that Manitoba has experienced during the pandemic and also rebuilding the economy.
“Once we do that, we will have more money to spend on health care, education, social services, that has to be our priority moving forward.”
Stefanson will become Manitoba's first female premier once she is sworn in. She said she is ready to embrace that title and hopes her selection will encourage other women to get involved in politics.