Balancing Policy and Parenthood with MLA Aleana Young
In a serendipitous twist of fate, I first discovered Aleana Young through a video of her campaigning while very visibly pregnant and was instantly in awe of her energy, humor, and sheer resolve. It took nearly two years for our schedules to line up, but at last, I had the pleasure of sitting down with her over drinks. I can confirm now what I suspected then: she really is a superwoman. As an MLA in Regina, Aleana shares candid insights on balancing the demands of political life with the joys (and occasional chaos) of motherhood. From running for office one day to bringing a brand-new baby into the world the next, she embodies the belief that women belong in every room where decisions are being made even if they must walk in with a car seat in tow.
Here are snippets of our conversation:
Bernice Richard: What’s your “pocket of sunshine” during the week or month, and how often do you try to take breaks?
Aleana Young:
Day to day, if I’m able, which often I’m not I love to go for a short run outside. Even if it’s just twenty or thirty minutes, I always feel better afterward. Sometimes, though, running feels like a chore. The biggest thing that fills my cup is spending Sundays at home with my family. I try hard to keep Sundays strictly for them, if possible, I won’t even leave the house. I love grocery shopping, but if I need to, I’ll get groceries delivered on Sunday to avoid going out. Instead, my kids and I cook for the week; my daughter loves making Rice Krispie squares. We snuggle, play, and just hang out. Having that still, quiet Sunday at home sets me up for the next week. I’m competitive and ambitious, so if I set a goal to run every single day, I’d inevitably fail at some point and then be too hard on myself. If I manage three runs a week, that’s fantastic. Some weeks, I might not run at all; other weeks, I run every day. For me, it’s about fresh air, sunshine, and a little solitude time away from everyone, which can be nice. I hated running until about seven or eight years ago. I was incredibly stressed: I’d borrowed money, signed a lease, and was paying rent for a business I couldn’t yet open. I felt like money was just going out the door with no return. Running became a healthier outlet for my anxiety. At first, I hated every step. For about a month, I focused on nothing but how much I disliked it. Then, as my fitness improved, I found myself enjoying it more. It turned into a helpful coping strategy and eventually something I look forward to even if I still don’t run every single day.
Bernice Richard: How did you get involved with politics? How did that start?
Aleana Young:
I’ve been interested in politics since I was a child. I grew up in Ottawa, which is a very political city. That said, it felt less partisan at the time maybe because there were more political parties, or maybe it was just a different era with a different style of politics. I had a lot of exposure to politics growing up, although I couldn’t have told you how my parents voted or which party I preferred. I just believed politics was a way to make the world better. As a kid, I was very concerned about injustices and thought politicians could fix them naive, but there’s still a kernel of that belief in me. When I moved to Saskatchewan, after being involved in student politics at university, I met a few people, including my colleague Trent Wotherspoon, who encouraged me to get more involved. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to become a politician, work in politics, or work in government, but I decided to run for school board trustee. I care a lot about education; it’s a core value for me, and I liked that school boards were nonpartisan and used more of a consensus-based decision-making model. I didn’t expect to win that election I just wanted to try campaigning in a more low-key environment. But I ended up winning, almost by accident, which was a surprise since I was planning to go to law school. Suddenly, I had a four-year commitment to the people of South Regina! I threw myself into it, loved it, and ran again. Later, I ran for the NDP (once unsuccessfully), but that campaign was the most fun I’ve ever had at work. Every day, I got to knock on people’s doors, talk to them about their lives, their dreams, and their values. It was grassroots politics at its best. I knew I wanted to do it again, so I ran in 2020 and I won. Here I am, five years later.
Bernice Richard: Tell me about the start of your campaign process? How did it all unfold, and what was that like?
Aleana Young:
In 2020, I ran in the provincial election for the first time and secured the nomination in what was then called Regina University. The nomination process itself involves competing against others who might also want to represent the party in that constituency. I spent about two years knocking on doors, raising money, and doing all the groundwork, essentially a volunteer effort until you’re elected. You knock on doors, hold fundraisers, buy flyers and lawn signs, and just keep going. About nine months (roughly 36 weeks) before the election, I found out I was pregnant, which was a surprise. We had been trying for a while and thought it might not be happening. So, I did some quick math and realized I’d be 36 weeks pregnant come Election Day. Naively, I figured it would be fine. I felt healthy and strong, so I kept campaigning. I was lucky throughout the pregnancy; I felt great. However, during the final week of the campaign, my blood pressure began to climb. My midwife insisted I take it easier, but I’d been working toward this election for two years and couldn’t just go on bed rest. So, I compromised by door knocking for only a couple of hours a day and taking breaks. Even then, my blood pressure kept rising. The morning before the election, I took my blood pressure and called my midwife, who told me to get to the hospital immediately. I hadn’t packed a hospital bag or installed a car seat because I was expecting to be pregnant for another month. Suddenly, I was told, “Aleana, you’re having a baby today.” I ended up needing a C-section, which got bumped to the following day so my baby arrived right before Election Day. Since then, I’ve never done this job without also being a mom. Sometimes I imagine what I could accomplish if I didn’t have family obligations, but then I also appreciate the deeper connections I’ve made, especially with other parents of young children. It’s a wild experience, and doing it all with a newborn has been a unique challenge and blessing.
Bernice Richard: How did you navigate that sudden shift from campaign mode to new motherhood and simultaneously becoming an elected official?
Aleana Young:
Well, the election result for my party wasn’t great overall, and for my own seat, we didn’t know if I had won or lost for about three more days. It felt odd because, at that point, I was completely focused on this beautiful little girl I’d just had. I didn’t know if I was having a son or a daughter beforehand, and I was thrilled to welcome my daughter, who was bright-eyed and healthy. Those three days were surreal. Even with a C-section and recovering from surgery, I was so blissed out with the baby that I didn’t even think about practical things like clearing out my campaign office or picking up my 500 lawn signs scattered across the south end of the city. Fortunately, my colleagues like Nicole Sarauer and my entire MLA team stepped in to handle those details. When we were finally expecting an official result, I wasn’t nervous. My poor husband and my dad were pacing around my house, anxiously waiting for the news, but I was just sitting there, drinking tea, staring at my daughter. When I found out I’d won, I was thrilled, but the reality set in quickly. I had a “What have I done to you, small baby?” moment. There’s no formal maternity leave in politics, and I’d have to figure out how to balance being a new mom with my responsibilities as an MLA. I’ve never done this job without also being a mother, and sometimes I wonder what I could do if it were just me. But then I think about all the insights and experiences motherhood has brought, especially shared connections with other parents of young children. It’s wild, but doing it with a newborn has been a unique mix of challenge and joy.
Bernice Richard: The newborn stage is fantastic. Did you feel like you were in a good place?
Aleana Young:
I did, yes. Looking back, I see it more clearly, especially with my second child. At the time, I thought I was fine because physically I felt great, though postpartum hormones can be a wild ride regardless. In hindsight, I recognize I made some poor choices for my long-term physical and mental health. I don’t want to complain; I had to go to the legislature, but many people face far tougher situations like walking through war zones or returning to physically demanding jobs on their feet. Still, I started setting up my new office when my daughter was just ten days old. I returned to the legislature at about three and a half weeks postpartum. I couldn’t drive, couldn’t climb the big steps in the legislature, and couldn’t lift a baby carrier, yet I was determined and excited. Because I’d been visibly pregnant and was now showing up with a newborn, I wanted to model motherhood in politics in a strong, thoughtful way. The support I received, especially from other women and parents, was amazing, and I felt a lot of pressure not to let anyone down. But looking back, I think, “Gosh, you should’ve taken a few more weeks to recover.” It would’ve been kinder to me in the long run. Still, I feel good now, and my kids seem healthy and happy, so it looks like no lasting harm was done.
Bernice Richard: It’s one thing to juggle all these changes being a parent and everything that comes with it and another to manage it while working full-time. Have you faced challenges balancing motherhood and your job?
Aleana Young:
Absolutely, in several ways. One of the biggest pregnancy and postpartum symptoms I experienced was “pregnancy brain”: forgetfulness and feeling less sharp than I used to be. That was hard because I’d always been on the ball and noticing that shift in myself was tough. On the flip side, when I look at my work serving constituents, getting re-elected I sometimes think, “Imagine what I could accomplish if I had a full night’s sleep!” It can be a confidence boost, but I’ve always been the primary parent. My kids adore their dad, but they still want mom like this morning, my daughter had a meltdown because she wanted to sit on my lap for ten minutes after she woke up. These little moments affect my time and my ability to work outside regular hours. Even something as simple as doing my hair or ironing my clothes has been difficult over the past few years. A friend and I often joke that we’d be unstoppable if we had lives. During election campaigns, there’s no daycare on weekends, and my husband sometimes must work. With no family nearby, I’d go door knocking with a very precocious four-year-old. Most people were lovely about it, but a few questioned what I was doing. My options were either knock on doors with my child or not campaign at all. I see other MLAs in the legislature who have young kids, but they’re mostly men and never need to bring their children to work out of necessity. That’s not to say they aren’t great dads it’s just a different dynamic if you’re the mom or the primary caregiver.
Bernice Richard: Would you recommend this path, being a new mom and active in politics or public office, to other women? What tips would you share to help them succeed, based on your own experience?
Aleana Young:
You should do it. You can do it. I’m fortunate to be part of a fantastic team of parents with young kids, and I believe it’s crucial to have those voices at decision-making tables. Being a mother or a parent of young children brings unique values and perspectives that can shape government in meaningful ways. If I could go back, I’d take a proper maternity leave. I jokingly mentioned having a third child just so I could take time off, and my husband thought I was nuts. But honestly, that time with your kids is special. With my second child, I wish I’d spent more time at home with him. That’s probably my biggest regret. I have no regrets about bringing my kids to work when necessary. Sometimes, it stirred complaints like the day my daughter came to work because she was sick, and her dad was busy but those were moments I had to decide between being present in the legislature or staying home altogether. Nursing on the floor of the legislature or in media scrums wasn’t always conventional, but it was necessary. It even became a bit of an accidental “intimidation technique” because people didn’t know where to look or what to do! If I had more wisdom back then, I would have realized that work, especially in politics will still be there. People wouldn’t have been angry if I took three, four, or even six months to focus on my baby. Sometimes, it feels like there’s never enough time to achieve all you want, but in hindsight, it’s clear that motherhood and the special time with your children can’t be replaced.
Bernice Richard: If you could change just one law or a few things overall, what would you do differently?
Aleana Young:
I have so many ideas, and I admit I don’t know the exact costs or benefits from a fiscal standpoint, but here are a few changes I’d love to see: First would be a Universal Parental Leave. Everyone should be able to take maternity or parental leave. This includes fathers and other family members who are closely involved, like grandparents. In some countries, a portion of family leave can be used by grandparents. If your mom lives with you and needs time off work to help, that should be supported. No one should face financial repercussions for taking parental leave. Second would be Expanded Access to Childcare. I’m fortunate my kids are in a subsidized daycare with wonderful Early Childhood Educators (ECEs). If the federal daycare program ever ended, I’d be beside myself; it’s vital to how my family functions, both personally and economically. But we have massive waitlists, thousands of kids waiting for spots. We need more daycare spaces, and pay these incredible educators more than they’re currently earning. They do essential, saintly work but are among the lowest-paid people in our society, which is unacceptable. Ultimately, everyone should have the freedom to make the choices they want, like returning to work or staying home without financial strain. And if anyone has ever lost their job because they were pregnant or had a baby, they should contact their MLA. That’s neither legal nor acceptable.
Bernice Richard
Tell me more about your support system: how does your husband fit in, and do you have friends or extended family nearby? How often do you go back to Ottawa?
Aleana Young
I’m lucky; while my in-laws live here in Regina, they happened to be away during the election. My husband is originally from here, so his parents are close by, and I have a great relationship with his family. My dad also moved to Regina about four years ago, and my kids adore him. He’s still working, so he isn’t a full-time grandpa, but he’s a huge help. I have so much admiration for people raising young kids without local family support, it’s incredibly tough. When I first moved to Regina in 2010 or 2011, I found it hard to make friends. It took four or five years before I felt like I’d built a real community, and I went through a sad, lonely stretch. Thankfully, I’ve since formed friendships; some friends are child-free and make wonderful “uncles” and “aunties,” while others have kids around the same age as ours (four and two), which is fantastic. We recently discovered that if you put a group of kids together, they often keep each other entertained, giving the adults time to have a conversation. It’s a game-changer! Regina can be a difficult city to break into if you’re new; everyone wants to know which high school you went to, and if you’re not from here originally, it can feel isolating. I experienced that. But now, with family in town and friends who are also raising little ones, we have a solid support system, and it’s made all the difference.
Bernice Richard
Has there been any decision in your political life or as a parent that you regret enough that you’d go back in time and change it?
Aleana Young
In politics, it feels like there are always regrets times I’ve been impulsive or overconfident, moments I’ve failed to help someone when I wanted to, or simply messing up procedural rules because I didn’t know them yet. Thousands of little things build up over time. But when it comes to my children, there’s one regret that stands out. I’ve had a hard time explaining to my four-year-old daughter what I do at work. She calls the legislature “Mom’s big work” and knows it’s a special place, but she doesn’t understand the concept of politics. One day, I was rushing out the door, and she asked why I had to go. Without thinking, I blurted, “I have to go fight the bad guys.” She took it quite literally, imagine a three-year-old envisioning me battling supervillains like in her favorite Spider-Man cartoons. For about two weeks, she was genuinely worried that I could get hurt or die at work. I eventually realized why she was so upset, and I felt awful. Even now, she sometimes frets when I leave for the legislature, and it breaks my heart. While it’s a bit funny that she still compares me to Wonder Woman when I wear red lipstick, I regret causing her that kind of worry. Politics can be ugly like any profession; it has its share of negativity and conflict, but it’s not a physical fight. I wish I had chosen my words more carefully to spare her that fear.
Aleana’s journey proves that motherhood and public service can coexist even thrive under one roof. Her reflections on campaigning while pregnant, juggling legislative responsibilities, and creating family-friendly policies shine a beacon of possibility for all women who dream big. If you take away one lesson from our conversation, let it be this: there’s room at the decision-making table for every voice, whether you’re cradling an infant or carrying a briefcase (or both!). Aleana has showed us that passion, persistence, and a touch of humor can indeed change the world. Feel free to follow her legislative work or reach out with your own questions; she’s proof that no obstacle is too large when you’re driven by purpose.
