While she still has a lot of work she hopes to get done over the next year or so, Eileen Clarke announced earlier this year that she will not be seeking her seat again in the next election. A regular visitor to the NACTV studios, she sits down with Lyle Watson to discuss her decision and what comes next.

One of the legacies of Clarke’s tenure in the legislature will be the new Neepawa Medical Centre, now under construction in the community. She is quick to give credit to the community for that accomplishment, though, and particularly to all the doctors and municipal officials who worked tirelessly to make it happen. It’s evidence, she says, that the province is seeing Neepawa as an emerging hub and that its growth is only expected to continue.

Clarke names her role as Minister of Municipal Relations as a highlight of her year and her time in provincial politics overall. This year, she says, has seen a turnover of 45% of municipal officials, and an additional 15% have returned but in a new role. That’s a lot of new energy across the province addressing some of the persistent issues she has seen, which include code of conduct violations and questions of fiscal responsibility. Clarke has a background in municipal politics and has personally met with representatives with many if not all of the provincial Councils, particularly at the annual Association of Manitoba Municipalities conference.

Now that Clarke has experience as both a Cabinet minister and a back bencher, she says one of the things she is addressing in her remaining months in office is the gulf in access to information, in an effort to be more inclusive. As well, healthcare recovery is on her mind alongside improving government communications.

Clarke believes that elected leaders need to put out a message of hope, and show leadership in moving forward and accepting change. That’s part of why it’s important, she says, to see the new generation come up in politics, bringing change along with them. Once she finally retires, Clarke is hoping to spend more time in her home and in her community, though she expects she will have no trouble staying busy.

Jodi Byram, Clarke’s longtime assistant, has been named the PC nominee for the constituency and will be running for the Agassiz seat in the next provincial election.