Dancho seeking re-election in Kildonan-St. Paul

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This article was published 30/08/2021 (1804 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Raquel Dancho is seeking re-election as Member of Parliament for Kildonan-St. Paul.

First elected in 2019, the Conservative MP worked previously for cabinet ministers Cathy Cox and Rochelle Squires at the provincial level. While the COVID-19 pandemic has taken up the bulk of her two years in Parliament, Dancho is proud of the work she has done so far.

“I think I’m a fearless advocate for my community,” Dancho said, noting she has held a number of shadow cabinet positions within the Conservative caucus. “Manitoba often gets overlooked federally. I knew I had to stand up and stand out.”

Dancho has been critical of how the Liberal government has handled the pandemic, and also the timing of the current federal election.

“The year has been traumatic on families. They really want to get out on the other end and get back to life and living,” she said. “No one really cares about politics now, they just want the government to work.”

Top priority for Dancho, if re-elected, would be to help foster economic growth.

“I’d like to really focus on tackling inflation, that’s the difference between buying groceries and paying rent,” she said.

“I’m proud of my small business advocacy, and going to bat for those businesses, to protect our jobs and make our community what it is,” Dancho added, noting that in Kildonan-St. Paul, nearly 20 per cent of working people are employed in the hospitality industry, which has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic.

“I’d like to see jobs lost in hospitality sector restored,” she said. “Our platform has a lot to prioritize jobs and small businesses. I worked, from the age of 14 to 24, in the service sector. Those opportunities have been taken away for a lot of young people.”

As a millennial, Dancho, 31, said she is also very concerned about climate change. She believes the Conservative Party’s market based approach to carbon costs is a better plan for suburban voters than the Liberal government’s carbon tax.

“The carbon tax takes money from suburban families,” she said. “The average home in my riding is built in 1981, so I think the Carbon Savings Account is a great way to build personal responsibility to see how we can lower our emissions as a family.”

Locally, Dancho said she is keen to work on getting the Chief Peguis Trail extension built if re-elected, as well as seeing the North End Sewage Treatment plant upgraded fully.

“It’s vital for the health of Lake Winnipeg and our river system, so I’m glad to see my advocacy has helped in some way to see that done. I’d like to see all three phases completed.”

Emily Clark (NDP), Mary-Jane Bennett (Liberal), and Sean Howe (PPC) were also registered as candidates in Kildonan-St. Paul at press time.

Sheldon Birnie
Managing editor

Sheldon Birnie is the managing editor of the Free Press Community Review. Email him at sheldon.birnie@freepress.mb.ca or call him at 204-697-7112

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