Premier calls by-election in Kirkfield Park

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This article was published 23/11/2022 (1059 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson has called a byelection for the Kirkfield Park electoral division, which has been without an MLA since former cabinet minister Scott Fielding vacated the seat in June.

Candidates from all major parties will be vying to claim the seat, including recent Winnipeg mayoral candidate Kevin Klein, who is running for the Progressive Conservative Party. Dennis Bayomi is running for the Green Party, Rhonda Nichol for the Liberal party, and Logan Oxenham for the New Democratic Party.

The election will be held on Tues., Dec. 13. Advanced voting will run one week, from Sat., Dec. 3 until Sat., Dec. 10. The winning candidate is scheduled to be announced on Fri., Dec. 16, after the final tally.

Voters must live in the Kirkfield Park electoral division — which includes the neighbourhoods of Kirkfield, Westwood, Silver Heights, Glendale, and Booth south of Ness Avenue. Voters will be required to show some form of identification to register or vote.

Green Party candidate Dennis Bayomi said he as an MLA he would strive to battle the ongoing climate crisis.

“Secondarily, we want to make sure people are talking about basic income, because we feel that’s a very important key to approaching poverty, homelessness, addiction, crime and even adverse outcomes in health and education,” Bayomi said.

Bayomi said he would also advocate for increased support for public libraries, particularly Westwood library.

PC candidate Kevin Klein did not respond to a request for comment by deadline but wrote on his website he’s campaigning on improving services at Grace Hospital, developing housing for seniors, addressing crime, and fighting for “much needed funding to make improvements at both Allard Arena and the Kirkfield-Westwood community centre.”

Liberal candidate Rhonda Nichol did not respond to a request for comment by deadline but wrote on the Manitoba Liberal Party website that she, as a nurse for 33 years, is campaining on investing in and improving the healthcare system, “to make it strong and sustainable for the long term.” She mentions several specific changes, including eliminating the surgical procedure wait list and mandatory overtime for nurses.

NDP candidate Logan Oxenham said in an email: “…folks here deserve better when it comes to their health care, their pocketbooks and their kids’ schools.” Oxenham added: “I’m running with the NDP because they are only the team that can form government to fix health care and make life more affordable. I’m in it to help people, but Kevin Klein is in it for a job. We can’t give him and Heather Stefanson another chance to make cuts.”

Manitoba legislature currently comprises 35 Progressive Conservatives, 18 New Democrats, three Liberals and one vacant seat.