‘We had our minds made up’: Advance voters head to the polls

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This article was published 23/09/2023 (713 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitobans cast their first votes in the provincial election Saturday morning, with advance polling stations opening throughout the province.

“Things are going well. We are seeing some pretty active advance polls which is great,” Michael Ambrose, communications director with Elections Manitoba, said.

The busiest polling stations in Winnipeg were in constituencies represented by Progressive Conservative MLAs, with Kirkfield Park (Kevin Klein), Riel (Rochelle Squires), Fort Whyte (Obby Khan) and McPhillips (Shannon Martin, who is not running for re-election) topping the charts, Ambrose said.

With the official election day slated for Oct. 3, advance polls provide more opportunities for voters to ensure their voice is heard, he added.

“Voting is an opportunity to have a direct say in how things go in the province. Democracy does depend on participation.”

Husband and wife Ross and Dianne Landry were among the dozens of voters lined up at ballot boxes within the Outlet Collection Winnipeg voting station in Tuxedo around 1 p.m.

“We had our minds made up. We knew who we wanted to vote for so we wanted to get it in,” Dianne said.

“We’ve got young grandchildren here in Manitoba and it’s important that we continue to invest in them and make sure there are opportunities for them,” Ross added. “We need the government to focus on the average Manitoban.”

The couple said they view health care, housing and grocery costs as pivotal issues to be addressed by the victorious government.

New Democratic Party leader Wab Kinew was also at the Tuxedo polling station, where he and his family came to cast their votes.

“No matter who you vote for, I want you to get out and vote this year. The right to cast a ballot is something our veterans have fought for, it’s something young people in Manitoba deserve to see us practice as our democratic right,” Kinew said, speaking to reporters after marking his ballot.

Kinew, who has campaigned primarily on fixing Manitoba’s health care system, said his party plans to continue to announce health-related commitments throughout the week.

Manitoba Liberal leader Dougald Lamont also cast his ballot Saturday alongside his wife Cecilia at Club Eclipse in St. Boniface, where he is the incumbent MLA.

His party issued a campaign announcement shortly after, promising to increase funding to the Manitoba Arts Council by $20 million and provide additional supports to Sport Manitoba, if elected into government.

“These are some of the most important cultural institutions in Manitoba — the ones we love. Yet for years — and often for decades, there has been no increase in operating funding,” Lamont said in a release. “We will support and foster the next generation of athletes and artists, as well as ensuring long-term funding to sustain the arts we love for the future.”

The Progressive Conservatives also issued a release Saturday, compiling a series of announcements made this week that outline the party’s plan to address health care concerns across the province.

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The announcements included $120 million for health-care worker recruitment; $8.7 million for addiction treatment spaces; $100 million in support to arts, culture and amateur sports; additional annual funding for mental health services; expansions of primary care services and child care programs.

Manitoba’s 300 advance polling stations will remain open until Sept. 30, with many operating from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. each day. Sunday polls are open noon to 6 p.m.

Manitobans can vote at any of the locations provided they are a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old, have lived in Manitoba for at least six months and possess a piece of government-issued photo ID.

A full list of locations and hours is available online.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca

Tyler Searle
Reporter

Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press’s city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic’s creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022. Read more about Tyler.

Every piece of reporting Tyler produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.