Linda West is a Canadian administrator, activist and politician. She has been a candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada and the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba. She is also known for her involvements in several volunteering organizations like Rotary Club of Parry sound, Habitat for Humanity, Community Business and Development Centre, The Parry Sound Area Founders Circle etc. She received the Order of Parry Sound in 2020 for community services and supports during the COVID-19 pandemic. As on 2021, she is known for serving as the president of Rotary Club of Parry Sound and for winning Rotary’s most prestigious award, Service Above Self.
Education West has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Laurentian University and a Master of Business Administration specializing in Health Care from the University of Toronto."Health care, education, housing, workers' rights key issues in riding", Winnipeg Free Press, 16 January 2006, A10. She also holds a Ph.D. from Washington International University, an unaccredited institution incorporated in the British Virgin Islands.Leah Janzen, "Tory candidate's PhD comes under scrutiny", Winnipeg Free Press, 14 January 2006, A15.
Career West was executive director of the James Bay General Hospital from 1992 to 1995, and of the Winnipeg River Health District from 1995 to 1997. From 1997 to 2000, she was executive director of labour relations for Manitoba Health.Helen Fallding, "MDs are in a rush to leave", Winnipeg Free Press, 12 August 1999, A1. She has also been a health policy consultant for the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, and has taught nursing and business at the University of Manitoba.Mia Rabson, "Conservative party memberships in Riel skyrocket", Winnipeg Free Press, 24 October 2002, A7.
In 2003, West helped organize a conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba on the role of women in politics.Leah Janzen, "A course in politics for women", Winnipeg Free Press, 19 November 2003, B4. She received a Women of Distinction Award from the Winnipeg YMCA-YWCA in 2004, and was later chosen as the local director of Equal Voice, a group that promotes the increased participation of women in political life.Carolin Vesely, "They all make a difference", Winnipeg Free Press, 6 May 2004, A3; David O'Brien, "Boost women in politics: group", Winnipeg Free Press, 13 March 2005, A5. West authored the Trends and Issues in Health Care."Activist will run", Winnipeg Free Press, 22 February 2003, B1. In 2006, she helped organize a rebuilding effort in New Orleans for Habitat For Humanity."Habitat helpers", Winnipeg Free Press, 28 January 2007, A11.
In July 2007, West was hired as executive director for employment services in the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region's Human Resources Department. She was named acting vice-president of Human Resources in August of the same year, and became vice-president in December. West left employment with the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region on 21 February 2008. West also became vice-president of Human Resources with a recruitment agency that provides Canadian placements to migrant workers from the Philippines, in 2007.Linda West - Professional Website , 2008 accessed 30 July 2008. West had previously done recruitment work in the Philippines with the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region. See Pamela Cowan, "Health region recruits in the Philippines", Regina Leader-Post, 17 November 2007, A5. She argued in 2008 that Canada needs overseas recruitment to counter a domestic labour shortage.Interview with Linda West , Frontier Centre for Public Policy, 19 May 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008. West co-founded Actyl Group, a human resource recruitment agency. She serves as the company president.
West returned to the University of Manitoba in 2015 to teach in the Asper School of Business. She retired in 2019 to work voluntarily with several charities.
Activist and political candidate West first ran for public office in the 2003 provincial election, as a candidate of the Progressive Conservative Party. She initially sought the party's nomination for Riel, but lost to former Member of the Legislative Assembly Shirley Render at a nomination meeting in late 2002.Mia Rabson, "Render wins nomination to run for Tories in Riel", Winnipeg Free Press, 13 December 2002, A7. During the nomination contest, one PC insider suggested that West's views on private health care would be a liability for the party.Daniel Lett, "Membership dispute delays Tory vote", Winnipeg Free Press, 1 November 2002, A1.
West subsequently convened a public meeting on Manitoba's physician shortage, which was held at Winnipeg's Transcona Inn in early 2003. During the question and answer session, she announced that she was considering a candidacy in the division of Radission. The political overtones of this meeting were noted in a newspaper report, though West denied that it had been called for political purposes.Alexandra Paul, "West eyes Radisson riding in run for office", Winnipeg Free Press, 5 February 2003, A5; Linda West, "NDP was invited to health panel" [letter], Winnipeg Free Press, 13 February 2003, A15. She won the Radisson nomination, but lost to New Democratic Party candidate Bidhu Jha in the general election.
The Manitoba Nurses' Union criticized West in late 2003, after she led a group of her own fourth-year undergraduate students in a rally outside the provincial legislature supporting an on-the-job training program. It was alleged that the students received a portion of their grade for participating in the rally, but West said that her students were taught to review both sides of the issue.Mia Rabson, "Nursing students rally for job training", Winnipeg Free Press, 4 December 2003, B1.
West was a supporter of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada at the federal level, and supported its merger with the more right-wing Canadian Alliance to create the Conservative Party of Canada in 2003.Linda West, "Conservative-Alliance merger rare chance for political rebirth", Winnipeg Free Press, 10 December 2003, A15. She ran for the new party in the 2006 federal election, and finished second against New Democratic Party incumbent Bill Blaikie in Elmwood—Transcona. West's Ph.D. credentials became a source of controversy during the 2006 federal election because Washington International University is an institution that is licensed but not accredited by any educational oversight body in Canada or the United States of America.
West challenged Bidhu Jha a second time in the 2007 provincial election, initially centering her campaign around local opposition to a hog-processing plant planned for construction in the Radisson area. The NDP government withdrew its support for the project during the election, and indicated that the plant would not be built. Some NDP insiders nevertheless expressed concern that their early support for the unpopular project had made the seat vulnerable."12 key areas to watch this election", Winnipeg Free Press, 21 April 2007, A6; Mary Agnes Welch, "Intravenous drug clinic to open in Transcona", Winnipeg Free Press, 15 May 2007, A6. On election day, however, Jha defeated West by an increased margin.
West received the Order of Parry Sound for the year 2020 owing to her community services and support during the COVID-19 pandemic specifically for the Rotary Club grocery program that offered convenient grocery shopping during the difficult situation.
Health care West has written several articles calling for Manitoba and Canada to develop new strategic plans for health care delivery. She supports the Canada Health Act.Linda West, "Health-care management needs constant renewal", Winnipeg Free Press, 2 May 2001, A11.
West and provincial Health Minister Dave Chomiak engaged in a public controversy over health care strategies in late 2001 and early 2002.Dave Chomiak, "Manitoba Health keys on prevention" [letter], Winnipeg Free Press, 31 December 2001, A11; Linda West, "Chomiak should read evidence", Winnipeg Free Press, 15 January 2002, A13. In the same period, West argued that Manitobans should pay health-care premiums instead of paying for health expenses through general taxation.Helen Fallding, "Doer touts health-care innovations", Winnipeg Free Press, 24 January 2002, A3.
West returned to writing opinion pieces on Canada's health-care system after the 2003 election. She reiterated her support for publicly funded private clinics, and criticized the provincial government's approach to the issue.Linda West, "Front-line health workers are heroes of SARS battle", Winnipeg Free Press, 19 July 2003, A15 She was also a vocal opponent of Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray's tax policies, which she spoke against at several public meetings.Linda West, "City sales tax regressive", Winnipeg Free Press, 22 October 2003, A15; Patti Edgar, "Repeat speakers lashed", Winnipeg Free Press, 26 November 2003, B1.
Philanthropy West has been awarded Rotary International's Service Above Self Award 2022-23 for helping a large number of Ukrainians resettle in Parry Sound and for establishing a Ukrainian Rotaract Club. She provided the leadership so that the community was able to assist with accommodation, community integration, and paperwork, and advocated for their refugee status. Parry Sound and area has fully embraced the Ukrainians as demonstrated by the recent sold out event - Discover Ukraine.
She was also appointed to the funding committee of the West Parry Sound Recreation and Cultural Centre in March 2022 which is establishing a six lane pool and needs to raise $10 million.
Electoral record
All electoral information is taken from Elections Canada and Elections Manitoba. Provincial expenditures refer to candidate expenses. Italicized expenditures refer to submitted totals, and are presented when the final reviewed totals are not available.
References