Raquel Dancho (born April 16, 1990) is a

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

politician who serves as the member of Parliament (MP) for Kildonan—St. Paul,

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

. A member of the Conservative Party, Dancho was elected following the

2019 Canadian federal election The 2019 Canadian federal election was held on October 21, 2019. Members of the House of Commons were elected to the 43rd Canadian Parliament. In keeping with the maximum four-year term under a 2007 amendment to the ''Canada Elections Act'', ...

Early life

Dancho was raised in the town of Beausejour, Manitoba. She attended

McGill University McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...

first as a business student before switching to political science. Upon finishing her education, Dancho returned to Manitoba where she unsuccessfully sought a seat in the

Legislative Assembly of Manitoba The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba () is the deliberative assembly of the Manitoba Legislature in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly at List of Manitoba genera ...

, after which she worked for several ministers in Brian Pallister's government.

Political career

Dancho unsuccessfully contested the district of Wolseley for the Progressive Conservatives in the 2016 provincial election.

In 43rd Canadian Parliament

Following the defeat of the

Conservatives Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilizati ...

in the

in which she prevailed in the riding of Kildonan-St. Paul, she was appointed to the

Official Opposition Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. This article uses the term ''government'' as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning ''t ...

's Shadow Cabinet by

Andrew Scheer Andrew James Scheer (born May 20, 1979) is a Canadian politician who is the Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada), leader of the Opposition since 2025 and previously from 2017 to 2020 as Leader of the Conservative Party (Canada), leader of ...

, serving as Shadow Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Youth. Dancho supported

Erin O'Toole Erin Michael O'Toole (born January 22, 1973) is a Canadian lawyer, former military officer and politician who was the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the leader of the Official Opposition from 2020 to 2022. O'Toole was elected ...

in the 2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election. In November 2021 she was appointed by O'Toole the Shadow Minister for Public Safety and vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU).

In 44th Canadian Parliament

On 25 February 2022 interim Conservative leader

Candice Bergen Candice Patricia Bergen (born May 9, 1946) is an American actress. She won five Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards as the title character on '' Murphy Brown'' (1988–1998, 2018). She is also known for her role as Shirley Schmi ...

re-appointed Dancho the Shadow Minister for Public Safety. During the

Freedom Convoy 2022 The Canada convoy protest, known as the Freedom Convoy (French: ''Convoi de la liberté'') was a series of protests and blockades across Canada in early 2022, initially organized to oppose COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border truck dr ...

protests, Raquel opposed the Prime Minister's measures, which she sees as draconian and against fundamental freedoms. She also supports an end to mandates.

Personal life

Dancho began a relationship with Scott Gurski in 2012. The couple became engaged in 2018 and married in October 2021. In June 2023, Dancho announced that she was expecting their first child due in November.

Electoral record

Federal

Provincial

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dancho, Raquel 1990 births Living people Conservative Party of Canada MPs Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Manitoba Politicians from Winnipeg Women members of the House of Commons of Canada 21st-century Canadian women politicians Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba candidates in Manitoba provincial elections 21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada