Prior to entering provincial politics, she was employed as a librarian and researcher at the Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre and was a trustee for the Louis Riel School Division of southeastern Winnipeg.
She was also active in women's health, human rights, literacy and environmental issues, and sat on the province's Council on Post-Secondary Education.
[3] She received 4,393 votes, against 3,171 for her Progressive Conservative opponent, Shirley Render, who had previously represented the neighbouring riding of St. Vital from 1990 to 1999.
[6] In October 2013, Selinger, who had been party leader and premier since 2009, shuffled Melnick out of cabinet, along with fellow veteran ministers Nancy Allan and Jim Rondeau.
On February 4, 2014, Selinger removed Melnick from the NDP caucus after she claimed she was told to act as a scapegoat for the premier relating to a controversy surrounding invitations issued to a legislative debate.