Kildonan - St. Paul

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Current MP: Joy Smith, Conservative
Population: 81,535
Population eligible to vote (Canadian citizens over age 18): 60,600

Nominated candidates:

Victor Andres, Liberal
Rachelle Devine, NDP
Eduard Hiebert, Independent
Brett Ryall, Independent
Joy Smith, Conservative
Alon David Weinberg, Green

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Electoral history:

This riding was created in 2003 from parts of three other ridings. It has been represented in the House of Commons by Conservative Joy Smith since 2004. She narrowly defeated Liberal Terry Duguid in 2004 but has increased her vote share in both subsequent elections. In 2008 more than one in every two voters cast a ballot for her.

It is one of the wealthiest ridings in the province with the third highest median household income and leans towards white collar jobs mainly in the service sector. It has a significant immigrant population and almost a quarter of the voting population is first generation Canadian.

Previous election results

2008
Joy Smith	CON	19,751 votes	53.4 per cent
Ross Eadie	NDP	12,093 votes	32.7 per cent
Lesley Hughes	LIB	3,009 votes	8.1 per cent
Kevan Bowkett	GRN	1,685 votes	4.6 per cent
Eduard Hiebert	IND	214 votes	0.6 per cent
Jordan Loewen	CHP	23 votes	0.06 per cent
Turnout	58.5 per cent

DEMOGRAPHY

Median age: 41.7
Percentage under 18: 21.6
Percentage over 65: 16.5

Marital status:
Single/never married: 29 per cent
Legally married: 53.4 per cent
Separated/divorced: 9.5 per cent
Widowed: 8.1 per cent

Families:
Single parent families: 15.9 per cent

Income:
Median household income pre-tax: $55,729
Percentage living in poverty: 13.8 per cent
Percentage of kids under 18 living in poverty: 17.7 per cent

Housing:
Single detached homes: 68.7
Semi-detached/rowhouses: 6.6
Low-rise apartment units: 12.6
High-rise apartment units: 11.5
Other: 0.6

Owned homes: 72.5 per cent
Average value of owned home: $189,636
Average number of rooms in home: 6
Homes built pre-1986: 74.7 per cent
Homes needing major repairs: 6.2 per cent

Language:
Speaks English: 92.8 per cent
Speaks French: 0.03 per cent
Can speak both English and French: 6.3 per cent

Citizenship/Immigration:
Canadian citizens: 96 per cent
Total immigrants (who ever immigrated to Canada): 19.8 per cent
Immigrated within previous five years: 2.5 per cent

Aboriginal identity:
First Nations: 2.2 per cent
Métis: 6.2 per cent

Ethnicity:
Visible minorities: 10 per cent
Major ethnic identities (as a percentage of total visible minorities): Filipino (3.8 per cent), South Asian (1.7 per cent), Black (1.6 per cent)

Education: (highest level obtained, population 25-64 years old)
Less than high school: 14.4 per cent
High school diploma: 27.6 per cent
Apprenticeship/trade certificate: 11.9 per cent
College: 22.3 per cent
University with or without degree: 28.7 per cent

Employment:
Unemployment rate: 4.5 per cent
Top 5 industries (as a percentage of total labour force over 15 years old): business services, health care, retail, manufacturing, education

Commuting:
Drives self to work or was a passenger in car/truck: 85.5 per cent
Bikes or walks to work: 3.7 per cent
Takes public transit: 10 per cent

CANDIDATE PROFILES

All candidates were contacted and asked to provide short answers to a standard list of questions and a photograph. The responses we have received are below:

Victor Andres, Liberal Party of Canada

Career: Small business owner and president of Independence Incorporated Rehab & Return to Work Consulting Services Inc.

Education: Registered Nurse, Baccalaureate of Nursing

Where did you grow up? North End, Brooklands, Corner of Inkster and McPhillips grades 1-4, Brooklands grade 5 to adulthood,

Where do you live now? North Kildonan

Hobbies/volunteer work: I love to balance things on my nose! I have organized two charity golf tournaments for the Children's Rehabilitation Foundation, organized an annual toy drive for the Christmas Cheer Board for the past 4 years, and canvassed for the Heart & Stroke Foundation and The Kidney Foundation. I also participate as a volunteer member of the public relations committee for the Children's Rehabilitation Foundation.

Top issue in the riding (and your position on it): Health Care - I believe we need a renewed focus on the long term health needs of Canadians with preventative measures. The sodium working group, after three years of study, has been disbanded with little to offer except encouragement that companies will voluntarily cut back the sodium in their products. Yet, all the medical evidence suggests sodium is a leading cause of hypertension and stroke. Food labeling is a mess in this country with companies fudging their numbers by simply reducing the quantity portions on the labels to create "lower" amounts of sodium and sugar. Even the Canada Food Guide has been softened to appease interest groups.

Favourite book and why: The Island of the Blue Dolphins a 1960 children's novel written by Scott O'Dell. -- Great memories of Mrs. Angel, grade 4 teacher at Lansdowne School (In my riding!) reading it to the class over a few weeks. Based on a true story, of a brave girl left behind on an island. A story of survival, persistence and overcoming incredible challenges. Very inspiring.

Website: http://victorandres.liberal.ca (will be live shortly)

Twitter: @vic_andres

Rachelle Devine, New Democratic Party

Career: Paramedic

Education: Emergency Medical Responder and Primary Care Paramedic Diplomas from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. Currently completing my BA at the University of Manitoba.

Where did you grow up? North Kildonan

Where do you live now? North Kildonan

Hobbies/Volunteer: I enjoy active hobbies like swimming, running and yoga. I have also been a volunteer at Gateway Community Centre, Concordia Hospital, Concordia Place, St. Amant Centre, Villa Rosa and Osborne House.

Top issue in the riding (and your position on it): Affordable housing for seniors. With many seniors looking to downsize from bigger houses to small houses, apartments or condos, affordable housing for seniors has become an issue. We need a strategy to ensure that people can afford a decent place to live on their retirement income.

Favourite book and why: My pick would be The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. It came to me at the right time in my life. A friend recommended it when a couple of deaths in the family struck close together, and this book spoke to what we were going through at the time.

Website: www.rachelledevine.ndp.ca

Twitter: electrdevine

Brett Ryall, Independent

Career: Computer scientist

Education: University of Manitoba Bachelor of Computer Science Honours, Co-op option.

Where did you grow up? North Kildonan

Where do you live now? North Kildonan, haven't moved very far.

Hobbies/volunteer work: Avid bicyclist. Delivered hampers for the Christmas Cheer Board and sandbagged on more than one occasion this year.

Top issue in the riding (and your position on it): Accurate representation of the constituency. I believe that the political parties would rather represent their party's stance, rather than the opinion of its constituents.

Favourite book and why: To Kill A Mockingbird, as Atticus' integrity and morality are highly inspirational.

Website: www.brettryall.com

Twitter: @BrettRyall

Joy Smith, Conservative Party of Canada

Career: For 22 years, I enjoyed teaching math and science to high school students. I have also run a small business and written a bestseller. Prior to being elected to parliament, I served as the MLA for Fort Garry.

Education: Bachelor of Education and Masters of Education. I am also a recipient of the Hedley Award for Excellence in Research.

Where did you grow up? On a mixed farm in Deloraine. I have always been proud to call Manitoba home.

Where do you live now? My husband and I live in East. St. Paul.

Hobbies/volunteer work: I enjoy spending time with my husband and our family. One of my favourite hobbies is playing the piano. Much of my volunteer work revolves around raising awareness about human trafficking and assisting victims who have escaped.

Top issue in the riding (and your position on it): Crime is always a pressing issue in my riding. Our government has successfully taken a number of steps to crack down on crime and will continue to combat crime. Another pressing issue is flooding. I am working hard with all levels of government to ensure Kildonan - St. Paul is protected.

Favourite book and why: I am currently enjoying a book called Beyond Belfast by Will Ferguson. The author recounts a 560-mile walk across Northern Ireland and the epic events that happen along the way.

Website: www.votejoy.ca

Alon Weinberg, Green Party of Canada

Career: Environmental education and academic researcher

Education: B.A. Philosophy, University of Winnipeg, 1999; M.A. Native Studies, U of M, current

Where did you grow up? In West Kildonan and Garden City

Where do you live now? In the North End

Hobbies/volunteer work: Cycling, photography, and writing / co-founded AdaMah'nitoba Project on faith and ecology and Friends of Grassy Narrows

Top issue in the riding (and your position on it): Lack of democratic engagement. As an MP, I will hold 4 town hall forums a year throughout the vast riding, and help address local challenges and facilitate solutions with community members. I will be an engaged advocate and problem solver.

Favourite book and why: Lord of the Rings - At its heart it is a critique of power, especially when it's concentrated into the hands of few.

Website: www.AlonWeinberg.ca

Twitter: @alon_green2011

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