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This article was published 30/12/2015 (1729 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba Liberals have attracted an anti-poverty advocate to run against an NDP cabinet minister in Point Douglas in the spring election.

Althea Guiboche, known as the Bannock Lady for serving bannock and soup to the city’s hungry and homeless, was introduced as a star candidate Wednesday by Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari.

"I’m honoured to run for the Liberal party. I believe in a lot of their policies and the action they want to take in Manitoba," she told a news conference at the Legislative Building.

While she didn’t articulate which Liberal policies appealed to her, she expressed confidence the party is committed to addressing homelessness and poverty. She said she will also have a hand in drafting party policies in this area in advance of the April 19 election.

"We need direct action for the homeless. We need to get them off the streets and sheltered and warm, first of all. And some food needs to happen as well," Guiboche, 41, said.

She said she’s been encouraged to run for office for the past couple of years. She said she believes she can make a difference as an elected official.

"I feel like I’m ready. I’ve been making lunch (for others) for how many years? And I can do that until the end of time and never really achieve the change that I want to see happen."

Point Douglas is now held by Kevin Chief, Manitoba’s jobs and economy minister.

Guiboche’s selection as the Grit candidate in Point Douglas comes less than two weeks after the Liberals announced local restaurateur Noel Bernier would carry the party colours in the inner-city constituency.

Less than two weeks ago, the Liberals announced that restaurateur Noel Bernier would be their candidate in Point Douglas, a constituency now held by the NDP’s Kevin Chief.

Noel Bernier Gets Cooking. Restaurateur Noel Bernier to run in Point Douglas. READ: https://t.co/qJ1Bd7lpWk #mbpoli pic.twitter.com/gwBNZIflIE — Manitoba Liberals (@MBLiberalParty) December 18, 2015



Bernier, who appeared at the news conference announcing Guiboche’s candidacy, said he is happy to run in a different constituency to make way for Guiboche. He will slide over to nearby St. Johns, where his main competition will be NDP Attorney General Gord Mackintosh.

Bokhari said she couldn’t be "more proud and more honoured" to have Guiboche on her team.

"Althea has been an advocate for the people of Point Douglas for years," she said. "She’s always stepped forward and made sure that those people were heard."

Guiboche has received a Manitoba Heroes award as well as a human rights commitment award.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca