James Teitsma - Fighting for Radisson

James Teitsma is a lifelong Manitoban who has always sought opportunities to serve his community. James believes that dedicating his time and energy to politics is one of the best ways to do that.

James was elected as the MLA for Radisson in April 2016 and again in October 2019. As an MLA, he is exceptionally responsive to his constituents and works to keep everyone informed through social media outlets. He has served on the Treasury Board for 5 years and was Vice-Chair of the Public Accounts Committee. He also served as the Legislative Assistant to the Minister of Health and was instrumental in shaping the Health Human Resources Action Plan. His background in financial planning software helps him make fiscally responsible decisions with taxpayers’ dollars. Having a nurse for a daughter and a teacher for a son has helped him stay well-connected to the front-line.

In January 2023, James became the Minister of Consumer Protection and Government Services (also responsible for the Manitoba Civil Service and the Public Utilities Board). As minister, James is responsible for building many schools across Manitoba. He also worked with Vital Statistics to reduce birth certificate processing times by over 80%. As a minister, James connects with many Manitobans, encouraging accountability for delivering services that Manitobans rely on.

As immigrants to Canada, James’ parents instilled in him the strong values of hard work and giving back to the community. A lifelong volunteer, James has provided leadership with a number of organizations and is a member of the Transcona Legion and the Transcona Rotary Club. He is also an active member of his church.

James grew up in Winnipeg across the street from the CN Transcona Shops. He is the youngest of 6 children.  James graduated from Murdoch MacKay Collegiate before completing a computer science degree with first class honours from the University of Manitoba. He and his wife Joanne have been married for over 25 years and are the proud parents of six children: Michael, Melannie, Megan, Matthew, Marissa, and Mark.