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Former MP who represented northern Manitoba riding for several years dead at 62

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BRANDON, Man. — A former NDP member of Parliament from Manitoba who split from the party’s caucus over her opposition to same-sex marriage has died.

Bev Desjarlais, who was 62, died in Brandon last Thursday after she was diagnosed in late 2013 with multiple system atrophy, a disease similar to Parkinson’s.

Desjarlais defeated Liberal Elijah Harper to capture the Churchill riding in the 1997 federal election and was re-elected in 2000 and again in 2004.

After splitting from the caucus in 2005, she sat as an Independent and later lost the NDP nomination in Churchill to sitting MP Niki Ashton.

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Desjarlais eventually worked in the Department of Veterans Affairs under a Conservative government.

A funeral will be held at Knox United Church in Brandon on April 7.

“She was an unbelievably hard worker and you can ask anybody who was a resident of northern Manitoba for those nine years, said Kris Desjarlais, one of the former politician’s three sons who is also a Brandon city councillor.

“There was not a single call that went into my mom’s office that wasn’t answered and that work wasn’t done on behalf of that constituent, not a one, and I wish I had that same kind of work ethic.”

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said in a tweet that Desjarlais, who moved to Brandon in 2012, was “a dedicated public servant who always put Manitobans first and fervently stood by her beliefs and convictions.”

Charlie Angus, NDP MP for Timmins-James Bay, wrote in a tweet: “I served in Parliament with Bev. She was such a decent and hardworking person. Your goodness will get you to a better place my friend”

Rick Borotsik, former Progressive Conservative MP for Brandon-Souris, said even though Desjarlais was from a different political party, they both could relate from the fact they represented Manitoba.

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“I enjoyed working with her, quite frankly,” he said. “All I can say is I’m very unhappy to hear that she’s no longer with us. She was a good lady.”

Kris Desjarlais said he went “toe to toe” with his mother on the issue of same-sex marriage, but said she worked with people of all political stripes and was a progressive who supported workers, pay equity and Indigenous rights.

He said while his mother may have had “hard and fast convictions,” it was hard to hear people call her a religious bigot for so many years because of her stance on same-sex marriage.

“It’s sad to me. I wish people knew really who she was.”

Desjarlais also had 11 grandchildren and seven brothers and sisters. (Brandon Sun)

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