Legend

• PC Progressive Conservative
• LIB Liberal
• NDP New Democratic Party
• CPC-M Communist
• GPM Green
• IND Independent
• MF Manitoba First
• MBFWD Manitoba Forward

• The provincial government says consolidating Winnipeg’s six acute care hospitals down to three will improve overall medical care for patients. Is that the right move?

  Great idea

  Good idea

  We’ll see

  Not a good idea

  Terrible idea

  PC

  Cathy Cox: Under the NDP, Manitobans had the longest wait times in Canada. Our PC government will continue to listen to the experts and reduce wait times and invest $2 billion dollars into our health care system to provide Manitobans with better care, sooner.

  LIB

  Kathryn Braun: Winnipeg's current infrastructure does not support the consolidation of ERs. Consolidation of ERs works in bigger centers as they often have freeways within their city limits, that allow for timely transport in an emergency situation, something Winnipeg lacks. I have witnessed ambulances trying to get through rush hour traffic on Henderson Hwy or on McPhillips (which always appears to be under construction). It is not only about ERs, it is the closure of ICUs that people should be concerned about. This means there are less beds available for the sickest patients, and acuity of patients will increase on wards that are not equipped, trained or staffed to accommodate them. Hip and knee surgeries for anyone considered "high risk", have been cancelled at Concordia due to the ICU closure. These patients can now only be done at the Grace Hospital, resulting in longer wait lists. Hemodialysis patients can quickly become unstable, needing ER/ICU care. Having to transfer to a facility for stabilization and treatment can cost someone their life.

  NDP

  Elliot Macdonald: When I talked to families they all tell me the same thing—they didn’t vote to close emergency rooms or cause chaos in the health care system. Brian Pallister closed three emergency rooms across Winnipeg and it’s caused wait times to get longer and the quality of care to worsen. No one believes Brian Pallister when it comes to health care. The front line experts, like nurses and doctors, say his cuts have damaged our system and put patients at risk.

• How much control should the provincial government have over the operations of Crown corporations like Manitoba Public Insurance and Manitoba Hydro?

  Hands-off

  Not much say

  50/50

  Some oversight

  Direct supervision

  PC

  Cathy Cox: Every major Hydro capital project commissioned by the NDP was behind schedule and over budget, and since Greg Selinger became Premier in 2009, Hydro rates have increased almost 30 per cent! The NDP treated Manitoba Hydro as their own personal ATM and Manitobans are paying the price.

  LIB

  Kathryn Braun: Crown corporations have Boards of Directors that run the business and they should be free to do so without political interference.

  NDP

  Elliot Macdonald: Manitoba Hydro must stay public so rates can stay affordable for families and we can transition it into a renewable energy company by creating thousands of clean jobs across the province. Pallister’s political interference in the affairs of MPI is wrong. Time and again, he puts the profits of insurance brokers ahead of the needs of Manitoba drivers. Families have already seen their autopac rates rise because of his interference. Brian Pallister’s plan to privatize Manitoba Hydro and MPI will means higher bills for families, big payouts to executives and poorer quality service.

• The Pallister government plans to eliminate the deficit by 2022. Should balancing the books be a priority?

  Essential

  High priority

  Neutral

  Low priority

  Not important

  PC

  Cathy Cox: Absolutely! It would be reckless and irresponsible to make our children and grandchildren pay for our debt. We need to return to balance and provide a sustainable financial future so we can continue to make record investments in health care and education.

  LIB

  Kathryn Braun: It is important but not at the expense of our health, education and the economy. We can be fiscally and socially responsible at the same time by identifying and correcting inefficiencies within the system and by collecting revenues that are owed to us.

  NDP

  Elliot Macdonald: Brian Pallister’s cuts to health care—like closing emergency rooms, cutting CancerCare or cutting physiotherapy—are hurting patients and causing chaos for front line workers. He’s made cuts on the backs of families, nurses, students and workers. It’s the wrong approach. I believe the solution to Brian Pallister’s extreme austerity is not extreme spending. The NDP’s fully costed platform has a plan to return to balance by 2024. We will achieve balance by making the right choices for Manitobans and eliminating Pallister’s wasteful spending--like $23 million in contracts to high-priced consultants or millions in expensive overtime pay for understaffed nurses.

• In Budget 2019, the provincial government spent approximately $350 million on highways. The construction industry says we need to invest more. Is $350 million the right amount?

  Way too little

  A little under

  About right

  A little too much

  Way too much

  PC

  Cathy Cox: Our PC government has surpassed our commitment to invest more than $1 billion in strategic infrastructure annually.

  LIB

  Kathryn Braun: I'm not sure about a dollar figure, to be honest. Our roads did not deteriorate only in the last 4 years, they were a mess under the previous government also. What we need is to find a balance between being fiscally responsible and investing in our roadways. One way to do this is by providing predictable and stable funding for strategic economic infrastructure.

  NDP

  Elliot Macdonald: Brian Pallister cut the infrastructure budget by 40% and then underspent it by about half. It’s meant less jobs for working families and millions in lost revenue for the provincial economy. The NDP has a plan to invest $6.6 billion in strategic infrastructure—like roads, buildings and highways—to create 50,000 good jobs and keep our economy moving.

• There have been calls to install safe consumption and/or injection sites in Manitoba, so that people with addictions can consume or inject drugs in a space with medical supervision and more readily available access to addiction services. Are these sites a good idea?

  Urgently needed

  A good idea

  Not sure

  Not necessary

  A bad idea

  PC

  Cathy Cox: There is no such thing as a safe injection site for meth. We have released our Safer Streets, Safer Lives Action Plan – a three-pillar strategy that will effectively fight escalating addiction and crime rates in Winnipeg and across Manitoba.

  LIB

  Kathryn Braun: From a harm reduction perspective, I would say yes. Research from Insite Vancouver has demonstrated reduction in blood-borne infection rates, due to a decrease in needle sharing; as well there was a reduction of deaths from overdose, and more people accessing addiction treatment. However, research into these sites continues to lack, making a definitive answer difficult to provide. Also, Vancouver's site only deals with opioids and not methamphetamine, for which we are currently experiencing a crisis. Improving our current needle exchange program would be a good start while determining whether safe consumption sites would work here.

  NDP

  Elliot Macdonald: Experts are clear—safe consumption sites save lives and keep our communities safe. By providing safe and supervised access, these sites help people struggling with addictions to find treatment. Under Brian Pallister, Manitoba’s meth problem became a full blown crisis. His inaction has meant tens of thousands of needles in public parks, an unprecedented spike in syphillus and HIV rates, and a dramatic increase in property and violent crime rates. The NDP has a plan to immediately address the meth crisis, with some action being taken in the first 100 days of office. We will invest in long term treatment, harm reduction and supports for people with addictions so we can keep our communities safe.

• How important is it for the provincial government to take steps to address climate change?

  Urgent

  Important

  Neutral

  Not important

  Unnecessary

  PC

  Cathy Cox: Climate change is real. Our vision to make Manitoba Canada's cleanest, greenest, and most climate resilient province, will be achieved through our Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan.

  LIB

  Kathryn Braun: This is not something we can afford to procrastinate with any longer. Climate change is real and present danger to our children's future. Investing in green energy can not only help our planet, it can also help our economy.

  NDP

  Elliot Macdonald: The fight against climate change is a fight for our future—a safer, cleaner future for our kids. Families in my constituency want to do their part to help solve the climate crisis, but they also want life to stay affordable. Under Brian Pallister, emissions rose and our lakes and rivers continued to be polluted. First he supported a carbon tax, then he flip flopped and let big polluters off the hook. The NDP has a plan that will help families make cleaner choices. It starts by taking $350 off every household’s Hydro bill to encourage them to use clean energy. We’ll also invest millions to upgrade the North End Water Treatment plant to help return Lake Winnipeg to health and to protect wetlands across the province. Our plan to transition Manitoba Hydro away from building dams and towards funding renewable energy sources will not only protect the future of our environment but create thousands of good jobs across the province.

• Will a carbon tax influence consumer behaviour, such as encouraging people to drive less or make their homes more efficient?

  Definitely won't

  Probably won't

  Not sure

  Probably will

  Definitely will

  PC

  Cathy Cox: An increasing carbon tax is not a climate plan – it's an escalating tax plan that takes money off the kitchen tables of Manitobans and threatens jobs and economic growth in our province.

  LIB

  Kathryn Braun: No Comment

  NDP

  Elliot Macdonald: I believe a price on pollution will help families to become more aware of their greenhouse gas emissions. Our plan will go farther by incentivizing families to use more clean, Hydro power while giving them a break on their monthly costs. The money families save can go towards home retrofits or electric vehicles. The NDP will ensure 90% of revenue will be returned to families, and the remaining 10% will go towards green programs and infrastructure projects.

• I would rather have more money in my pocket through tax cuts than have the provincial government increase spending on public services.

  Strongly disagree

  Somewhat disagree

  Neutral

  Somewhat agree

  Strongly agree

  PC

  Cathy Cox: Our $2020 Tax Rollback Guarantee will make life more affordable for Manitobans after the NDP’s legacy of reckless spending and endless tax grabs.

  LIB

  Kathryn Braun: We need a tax system that is fair to all, where everyone pays their fair share. Public services have been cut enough.

  NDP

  Elliot Macdonald: We know Brian Pallister’s cuts to health care, education and social services has made the system less efficient and more costly. The NDP’s plan commits to keeping the PST at 7%, but we do ask the top one percent of earners (those making over $250,000/yr) to contribute a little more in taxes to fund public services that benefit all of us. I believe this is a fair and balanced approach.

• Manitoba’s K-12 education system is currently undergoing a review of curriculum and spending models. How much control should school boards have when it comes to making education budgets?

  Total control

  More control

  Current system

  Less control

  No control

  PC

  Cathy Cox: Our PC team is committed to improving student outcomes by creating an education system that has high standards for educators, high expectations for student learning, relevant curriculum, excellence in governance and a sustainable fiscal framework.

  LIB

  Kathryn Braun: Each school division is unique and has needs that are specific to the community they serve. They remain accountable to the people of the community who elect them to make those decisions.

  NDP

  Elliot Macdonald: Local school boards have the expertise and knowledge about the communities, parents and students that they serve. We know Brian Pallister is planning to cut education just like he cut health care. The NDP has a plan for education that will help every student be successful—by keeping class sizes small for early years, hiring EAs and investing in French-language education. I believe education is next on Pallister’s chopping block. Only the NDP can put a stop to his cuts and create a better education system for all of us.

• How much do you consider a candidate’s personal history - before they entered politics - when deciding who to vote for?

  Not at all

  Very little

  Neutral

  Somewhat

  A lot

  PC

  Cathy Cox: Our PC team believe that Manitobans deserve to know important details about those who are seeking to represent them in the Manitoba Legislature. That’s why we passed legislation to increase openness and transparency in our electoral process by requiring candidates to disclose major criminal offences.

  LIB

  Kathryn Braun: A person's personal history shapes who they are, so it does matter to some extent. It would depend on what they did and when.

  NDP

  Elliot Macdonald: As a New Democrat, I’m proud to be part of a team that reflects Manitoba and I know voters feel the same way. My fellow candidates bring a diverse experience and skills that will make us the best team to lead a government that works for all of us—not just those at the top.

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