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

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. 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”