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

  Cameron Friesen: For too long, Manitoba had both one of the most expensive and poorest performing health care systems in Canada; it did not change as our health care needs changed. Innovative change in health care is happening all around us, in every other jurisdiction. Status quo wasn’t working. Manitobans deserve a responsive health-care system; one that reduces wait times, for emergency care and joint replacement surgeries; one that reduces impediments to critical services like ambulance fees and diagnostic testing. One that makes certain quality care is available when time is of the essence. Better Care, Sooner is our commitment.

  GPM

  Mike Urichuk: Governments have the precarious position of trying to find efficiencies in the public services that they offer. Our healthcare system is being staffed by some of the most incredible people but in some of the most stressful conditions. The timeline of implementation is too hasty and the changes have been made without full, meaningful consultation. These changes do make Manitoba look more like the rest of Canada, however, the rest of Canada has healthcare worker shortages. I only hope that we do not see the current shortages of healthcare workers increase due to the added stress that these changes will bring to the workers in the system. We need to listen to and take care of our healthcare professionals.

• 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

  Cameron Friesen: Crown corporations provide essential services to Manitobans. The government has a responsibility to ensure they are delivered as effectively and affordably as possible. Crown corporations that contribute to the government coffers should expect to be accountable for their financial decisions.

  GPM

  Mike Urichuk: Clear objectives and goals need to be set by the government for its crown corporations. Once given their objectives, crown corporations should then be able to operate without interference in order to achieve the determined goals. If the crown corporation is functioning in a manner that the government does not agree with, it must edit the existing objectives or add new ones. Of course, it is always important for the government to be able to meet and collaborate with the decision makers of the crown corporations in order to address issues and ensure consensus on interpretation of objectives.

• 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

  Cameron Friesen: I think about my three children. It is irresponsible for a provincial government to overspend and accumulate debt that my kids will have to pay off. Government must live within its means, and that is actually the best way to ensure long-term, stable delivery of the services we rely on and need.

  GPM

  Mike Urichuk: Responsible fiscal management is key to good governance. The difficulty with eliminating a running deficit is that a government can accumulate long-term deficits in the workforce or infrastructure. The idea being that rapid cuts through a lack of maintenance will lead to a balanced budget in the short-term but crumbling infrastructure and larger expenses in the long-term. At this point in time our debt servicing costs have dropped from 6.7% in 2008-09 to 5.5% in 2017-18. Our debt to GDP ratio is at a healthy 33% and the deficit is manageable when comparing it to our annual growth. Although balancing the budget is important, it is imperative that we do not lose sight of our long-term commitments. More important than a balanced budget is the longevity of our public services that are integral to the social and ecological fabric of Manitoba.

• 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

  Cameron Friesen: The PC government has made good investments in roads and infrastructure in our first mandate, and the PC Party is committing to an additional $50M each year going forward, because we recognize there’s more to do.

  GPM

  Mike Urichuk: The Progressive Conservative government says that we have been spending too much on roads and physical infrastructure, based on the idea that it has exceeded the rate of inflation. That benchmark is false if the deterioration of the physical infrastructure has been happening at a rate faster than the rate of inflation. What is required is a level of capital investment that maintains the infrastructure at an acceptable state of repair. Consultation with the professionals in this industry is required to know what this rate is. Moreover, we need a level of investment in green infrastructure that reverses the deterioration in the province’s natural capital like the water quality in our waterways, the health of wetlands, and the health of our agricultural soils. These have been deteriorating over the last 30 or 40 years and continue to deteriorate. We need substantial investments to reverse these trends and protect our natural capital.

• 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

  Cameron Friesen: There is no such thing as a safe injection site for meth. No jurisdiction has ever contemplated a site to assist people in injecting meth. Look at what’s happening in places like Calgary and Lethbridge and how violence and crime has exploded in areas around such sites.

  GPM

  Mike Urichuk: Although these sites will not be enough to address the meth and opioid crisis alone, they do reduce healthcare and policing costs. We know that social programs that focus on prevention and alleviating the root causes of addiction (such as poverty) go a lot further than simply jailing people with drug problems. Until we can eliminate addictions, it is important to start by reducing whatever harm we can.

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

  Urgent

  Important

  Neutral

  Not important

  Unnecessary

  PC

  Cameron Friesen: #MadeinManitobaGreenandClimatePlan

  GPM

  Mike Urichuk: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that the world must halve greenhouse gas emissions to avoid catastrophic climate change. As a province we must reduce our emissions by 30% by 2030. Further, Manitoba generates over 99% of its energy from clean energy sources. We need to take a larger role in partnering with other levels of government to create a nationalized power grid to help out our more fossil-fuel-dependent neighbouring provinces. By becoming a larger exporter of clean energy we will grow our economy while reducing global emissions. Manitoba is uniquely positioned to be a leader in clean energy and must rise to the challenge. We cannot address climate change in isolation and must do our part while also helping others to do theirs.

• 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

  Cameron Friesen: The federal Liberal carbon tax won’t work because it introduces an incrementally-escalating surcharge on essential fuels, with no end in sight. A frog in a pot boils, because it won’t jump out of the heat increases slowly. In order for a carbon pricing scheme to work, people must modify their behaviour as a result of financial cues, and people simply won’t modify their behaviour as a result of a price changes that are too marginal to be noticeable. Changing consumer behaviour requires a different approach.

  GPM

  Mike Urichuk: A price on carbon, properly implemented, will affect consumer behaviour. Increasing the cost of a product or service results in consumers purchasing less of it or looking for a cheaper alternative. This is a basic economic principle that the conscientious grocery shopper has a lot of experience with. Canada's EcoFiscal Commission has a lot of information on this topic but the short answer is that carbon taxes can be implemented in a manner that is fair to consumers and reduces carbon emissions. That is not to say that a carbon tax alone will solve the climate crisis. We also need to have end-of-life plans for our products and work with industry to ensure responsible and sustainable practices.

• 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

  Cameron Friesen: We need to do both. There is no security in a money-losing operation. Overspending is not a solution to building a strong education system, health system or growing economy; overspending actually threatens those priorities over time. Good, consistent long term investment in our front-line services can only be achieved by stabilizing spending, not overspending. My constituents constantly remind me that life is expensive, and everything is going up in price. Lazy governments raise taxes; good governments find efficiencies and reinvest the savings to bolster front-line services. That’s what we are doing as a government.

  GPM

  Mike Urichuk: Strong public services are a necessity. Where would we be without publicly funded health care, education, public works, police and justice services? All of these are funded through tax dollars and many of them are underfunded. Sustainable and efficient public services allow for Manitobans to receive more for their money by sharing resources. My one reservation is that a certain level of personal autonomy does need to be allowed for to ensure quality of life and participation in society.

• 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

  Cameron Friesen: There will always be a role for local voices in the delivery of education.

  GPM

  Mike Urichuk: School boards have been a major influence in some of the most significant developments in local education programming and initiatives. Without school boards and local education leaders many of these initiatives would not have been implemented as provincial funding tends to be very limited for local initiatives in the current system. To make up for this, local divisions are able to set their local mill rate in order to adjust their funding through property taxes. However, not all school divisions have the same communities and the ratio of commercial, residential, and industrial property impacts a school division's ability to effectively utilize the mill rate mechanism. To ensure equity in education funding and educational opportunity for all students, we believe in untying education funding from property taxes. Instead, education funding will be collected through a progressive tax structure that will allow for a more dependable revenue stream for education. Although there will be a change in how school division budgets are established, the consultation and partnership between the provincial education department and local school boards will allow for a similar amount of discretionary funding.

• 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

  Cameron Friesen: Integrity is essential. The courage to make hard decisions, the compassion to listen to the needs of constituents, and the credibility of character - these qualities should be evident in anyone vying for public office.

  GPM

  Mike Urichuk: First and foremost, support the candidate that best represents your values and priorities. Prior to becoming a candidate these people come from their own walk of life that has affected who they are, what they believe, and how they interact with others. I believe in the spirit of Morden and Winkler. We are welcoming to newcomers and care deeply about our community. We believe in supporting local business and value local decision-making. We believe in being fiscally responsible and being good stewards of our ecological resources. We believe in an education system that builds good neighbours and a society that helps those in need. These beliefs are the ones that I hold and are the ones I look for in a candidate. Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts and values on this questionnaire.

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