In a defiant concession statement, Marty Morantz, formerly a Winnipeg city councillor and two-term Conservative Member of Parliament, reflected on the “honour of a lifetime” as he bowed out of the April 29, 2025 election for Winnipeg West, thanking constituents in Tuxedo, Charleswood, St. James, Assiniboia and Headingley for their support.
The riding, renamed Winnipeg West after the 2022 redistribution, encompasses those five communities that Morantz represented since his initial 2019 victory. During the campaign, he endured antisemitic graffiti attacks on his signage, underscoring his unwavering defence of his Jewish constituents.
Ultimately, Liberal Doug Eyolfson, who had held the seat from 2015 to 2019, recaptured it, handing Morantz a hard-fought defeat.
Morantz thanked all who volunteered on his campaign and rallied supporters by invoking the oft-misattributed Winston Churchill maxim: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” His official parliamentary profile now lists him as no longer a Member of Parliament.
Service and Career
From City Hall to Parliament
Marty Morantz began his public-service journey on the Winnipeg City Council, where he earned a reputation for community engagement and fiscal prudence. In 2019, he transitioned to federal politics, winning the Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley seat, bringing his trademark independence and legal expertise to Ottawa.
Representing a Diverse Riding
Following the 2022 electoral redistribution, his riding was officially renamed Winnipeg West, a constituency comprising Tuxedo, Charleswood, St. James, Assiniboia, and Headingley, areas with significant Jewish and Zionist communities that Morantz steadfastly championed.
Election Defeat and Concession
Antisemitism on the Campaign Trail
In the weeks leading up to Election Day, Morantz’s campaign signs in Jewish-occupied neighbourhoods were defaced with antisemitic slogans and symbols, a stark reminder of the threats still facing Canada’s Jewish citizens.
Hard-Fought Loss to Eyolfson
On April 29, 2025, Liberal candidate Doug Eyolfson reclaimed Winnipeg West with a decisive margin, ending Morantz’s tenure in Ottawa.
Final Rallying Cry
In his concession speech, Morantz expressed gratitude to volunteers and constituents alike, invoking the spirit of perseverance, borrowing a Churchillian adage to urge his supporters onward despite tonight’s outcome.
Legacy and What’s Next
While his time in Ottawa has ended, Morantz leaves a record of advocacy for Jewish and Zionist causes, community philanthropy, and fiscal stewardship. His passionate defence of religious freedom and democracy will resonate with supporters as he considers his next chapter outside Parliament.