Q and A with Fort Whyte provincial candidates

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This article was published 11/04/2016 (3442 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Sou’wester contacted candidates in the April 19 provincial election to answer questions for voters.

Below are responses from Fort Whyte candidates George Wong (NDP), Peter Bastians (Lib) and Brian Pallister (PC). Carli Runions (Green), and Daryl Newis (Manitoba Party) had not responded at press time.

George Wong (NDP)
Age: Not provided.
Occupation: Fellow certified management consultant.

Why are you running for MLA?

I came to Canada with five U.S. dollars. I came from Burma, a military dictatorship country.

In those countries I would never be able to run. I am professionally and financially stable and I want to pay back the province that rewarded myself and my family with a decent life.

We believe that whenever we get a good life we have to return back to the community. Fort Whyte is our root. It’s time for me to serve.

How will Fort Whyte benefit if your party is elected to government?

Fort Whyte is a most diversified riding. There are 4,000 to 5,000 new voters in this riding.

Because I come from a diverse background — I speak four languages — because of the diverse constituents they need someone who knows multicultural things, someone who grew up and knows the same things they went through, and most of all, Fort Whyte is very educated with the second highest income of all ridings.

They will benefit from someone who has been in their shoes and someone who is willing to listen to them.

What is the most important issue facing the community?

Even though Fort Whyte has the second-highest income, job creation is very important. You can see the growth in this area… especially with the outlet mall, as much as (constituents) are professionals, they have kids and the teenagers who want to see the value of having a part-time job and this is how you include a family into a productive workforce.

Personally, what is one issue you want to work on if elected?

In 2017-2018 there will be congestion of traffic in this area because of the major outlet mall. And the second thing is community centre access.

The most important thing I am going to do is be accessible to everybody. I cannot say I favour this or favour that before I know what is of the upmost importance for the constituents.

What will your role/your party’s role be in the future development of residential housing, commercial property and businesses in the area?

South Pointe is in St. Norbert… but even so we can work together, because we need a (recreation) supercentre for the fastest-growing area.

Bridgwater is very unique because the owner of the Bridgwater development is the province of Manitoba.

For those reasons, whenever we go in, we want to make sure infrastructure goes in a timely manner, and most important is the school.

How will your party work with the school divisions to create facilities for the growing student population?

As a management consultant, I believe that I will be able to get consensus, compromise because after all everybody, regardless of political colour, is working for the best for the constituents. What I would do is work with them and make sure there is a need and we know that our party has announced $1.1 billion in infrastructure and in that infrastructure (announcement) we already allotted money for the school there.

 

Peter Bastians (Lib)
Age: 64
Occupation: Owner of Taste of Sri Lanka.

Why are you running for MLA?

I wanted to do something for this constituency because there are so many things lacking in this area.

They have a school problem in Waverley West, and in Linden Woods we don’t have a good recreation centre, just the community centre, nothing fancy. And also mainly, with the Waverley underpass… all the people use that railway crossing…. I want the federal government and provincial government to do something for the problem.

How will Fort Whyte benefit if your party is elected to government?

Our policies are not for rich people, not for middle class, not for low class. Everybody is equal for us.

Since the federal government is also Liberal we will have better communication with them. So we might get support from the federal government too.

What is the most important issue facing the community?

I think it’s the schools and the recreation facilities, and the Waverley underpass, mainly. There are so many houses coming up in the area and so many shopping destinations, and the roads have to be improved.

Personally, what is one issue you want to work on if elected?

I’m mostly interested in doing stuff for seniors. In this area there are a lot of seniors homes coming up and there are already many senior homes. It comes down to recreation. What we have (for recreation) is inside the building and that’s it. Theirs is so limited. I want to go into the apartments and talk to the seniors and give them what they want.

What will your role/your party’s role be in the future development of residential housing, commercial property and businesses in the area?

My main role is to try to meet as much with the community and find out what they want and what ideas they have. And I will work with them and will try to solve the problems as much as I can.

Since the residential development is getting bigger and bigger every day but they will need commercial services, too. They shouldn’t have to drive far to get the stuff they want — it has to go hand in hand.

How will your party work with the school divisions to create facilities for the growing student population?

We will talk to the school divisions and try to build schools in Bridgwater Forest, because once you have a school in Bridgwater Forest automatically other school classes will go down. That will help to start with, and from there we will see.

Brian Pallister
Age: 61
Occupation: Incumbent MLA and leader of the PC Party of Manitoba.

Why are you running for MLA?

We have a very clear choice in this election. We can re-elect a government that has raised taxes, delivered worst-in-Canada results in health and education, and has lost the trust of Manitobans. Or we can elect a new Progressive Conservative government that will make life more affordable for all Manitobans, that has a plan to improve our health and education systems, and that will treat Manitobans with respect.

How will Fort Whyte benefit if your party is elected to government?

Our party will take action on the issues that matter most to the people of Fort Whyte. Our better plan for Manitoba includes rolling back the PST to seven per cent in our first term, making new, strategic infrastructure investments that are stable and predictable, and taking action to improve our health and education systems.

What is the most important issue facing the community?

The issue that comes up most frequently at the doors is the massive tax burden placed on Manitobans. We also hear from many people who are concerned about the shortage of personal care home beds for our seniors and the lengthy ER waits at Winnipeg hospitals. Our party has a plan to reduce our tax burden, accelerate the construction of new personal care home beds, and shorten ER wait times.

Personally, what is one issue you want to work on if elected?

Reducing the PST back down to seven per cent within the first term of a new PC government is a major campaign pledge for our party. I am committed to delivering on that.

What will your role/your party’s role be in the future development of residential housing, commercial property and businesses in the area?

We will create a climate in Manitoba that will encourage growth, improve our competitiveness, and provide real economic opportunities for Manitobans.

How will your party work with the school divisions to create facilities for the growing student population?

A new Progressive Conservative government will work collaboratively with our school divisions to identify and take action on their local priorities.