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The Free Press invited all provincial candidates to fill out a questionnaire about themselves, the issues affecting their communities, and what they hope to achieve in office.
Ten questions on the issues: Find out how your opinions compare with the candidates hoping to become your next MLA.
We’ll then show you how the candidates’ positions compare to yours.
If a party’s position doesn’t appear on the scale below, their candidate did not respond to the question.
Legend
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
GPMHow 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
GPMThe Pallister government plans to eliminate the deficit by 2022. Should balancing the books be a priority?
Essential
High priority
Neutral
Low priority
Not important
GPMIn 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
GPMThere 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
GPMHow important is it for the provincial government to take steps to address climate change?
Urgent
Important
Neutral
Not important
Unnecessary
GPMWill 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
GPMI 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
GPMManitoba’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
GPMHow 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
GPMThe candidates, as people: Would-be MLAs introduce themselves to you and describe their backgrounds, what made them decide to run for office, and how they hope to solve the problems facing your community.
No response given
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Age: 70
Profession: Now retired; veterinarian from 1982-2003; physician from 1999-2016
Education:
B.A. Wildlife conservation; M.A. Education, B.Sc. Agriculture; Masters coursework in Physiology & Pharmacology with thesis defence; DVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, MD Medical Doctor
What is the biggest issue facing your community, and how would you address it?
Poverty level income is the biggest issue facing the community. Wages are too low. A guaranteed annual income in the form of a minimum basic income supplement will go a long way to correcting the inequality of the income being paid. This is accomplished by changing the income tax system. Better wages will help to correct criminal activity in the area. Educational help to ensure that those at risk of dropping out are helped to complete their education to graduation and newly arriving students get a firm footing in the educational system. Childcare that is affordable in a licensed day-care will help as well, with a sliding scale paid based on the income. Better transit fares to be adjusted to a person’s income, or free, is also needed. Housing is also a concern. Many of the houses have been beautifully rehabilitated but many of the houses still need renovations or significant rehabilitation. Insulation improvements will decrease heating costs. By establishing incentive programs, existing buildings can be properly insulated. Building codes changes would ensure that all new buildings meet super efficiency insulation standards and include small scale renewable micro-generators. Climate change is a very serious issue and will cause many rapid changes to the way we live. These changes will be like that of moving from the horse and buggy to cars and planes or from pencil and paper to Smart Phones for connecting with the world around us. It will be a good change, as we will be treating Mother Earth more kindly, helping to slow the rapid heating of the planet by decreasing greenhouse gases at every opportunity in every sector (transportation, industrial product production, agriculture, waste disposal, energy production -- fossil fuels primarily). Moving towards a zero-waste solid management is needed. High environmental handling fees and adequate rebates for consumers for returning recyclable items will help. Ending single use plastics and encourage reduction of other uses of plastics is needed. Banning all materials that cannot be recycled would be the optimum goal. Support for local initiatives that utilize local waste in the creation of new products should be developed. Urban green spaces, with urban forests and rooftop gardens will decrease rain run off and cool cities during the summers.Why did you decide to run for office?
I continue to want to serve the community where I had the opportunity through my professional life to meet many of the constituents, to help resolve housing issues, to work to decrease criminal activity in the neighbourhoods and to help people access an improved quality of life. Key to this is implementation of the guaranteed annual income plan to provide a minimum basic income supplement to help with the costs of living. Government leaders can help with the many adjustments in the new employment opportunities in the industries for renewables such as recycling, solar panels, repurposing items for resale rather than buying new, improving homes for better quality of life through energy saving such as increasing insulation, and wind turbines that can be mounted on the street boulevards, generating energy from wind produced by the passing cars. My concern about climate change is serious. Climate change will cause many rapid changes to the way we live. Some of these changes will include working with the citizens of the community to offer education to everyone about the changes that must be made and helping people to access the funding to accomplish the changes. This is a government role, in part. We must be the leaders for these changes. Many opportunities for ideas to reduce carbon dioxide (greenhouse gases) will be implemented, resulting in the improvement of our quality of life. My goal is to assist the constituents in getting these positions, the funding for the education, and helping implement their own ideas as well as the changes in their style of living. An MLA’s job is to be the go-to person in the government to help each person with their concerns. I want to be one of the leaders of changes to reduce poverty and improve low income levels as well as for supporting and leading the way to deal with climate change.Manitoba is marking its 150th anniversary next year. Suggest one way we can make it a memorable occasion.
To celebrate this anniversary, we need to commit to implementing at least one carbon reduction program like a province-wide composting program. Some other options for this project are: recycling, solar panel installations, repurposing items for resale rather than buying new, improving homes for better quality of life through energy saving such as increasing insulation. Many opportunities for ideas to reduce carbon dioxide (greenhouse gases) will need to be implemented, resulting in the improvement of our quality of life. We can choose different projects in each riding if desired. This will also help develop a sense of community. Climate change for Canada and Manitoba is being dealt with by adding a gradually increasing carbon tax starting at $50/tonne in 2020/21 to an increase of $150/tonne by 2030/31, as per the federal government. The revenue will be used to (a.) finance green infrastructure projects that make it easy for people to reduce their use of fossil fuels; and, (b.) rebate most of the revenue in the form of lower income taxes and a Basic Income supplement plan.Tell us something about yourself that voters might find surprising.
I love turtles, having rescued several thousand unwanted pet turtles from across Canada, returning them to their natural habitat in Alabama by flying them home with the help of Air Canada.
http://www.ctlca.com/
https://twitter.com/DrMJW
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No response given
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Age: 63
Profession: I’ve done work not only as an Orderly, but also went on to work as a Teaching Assistant at McGill and then as a Professor at Queen’s University, Kingston . I continued teaching in different universities after I married and was helping raise our two children. We came to Winnipeg 17 years ago and I joined the Communist Party of Canada Club located in the North End.
What is the biggest issue facing your community, and how would you address it?
poverty, unemployment and under-employment for those in working years with few union jobs available and a very few good pensions for our Seniors. The historic Canadian genocide and cultural genocide of First Nations people is on display in Notre Dame riding. The Indigenous Canadians aren’t viewed properly. Drug and alcohol addiction and mental health problems among some in this community are a generational problem. We are seeing the symptoms of genocide in the 21st Century. I would address this by fighting to make a new, equal and voluntary partnership with the indigenous Nations both in the Constitution and in economic action. Implement recommendations of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. Reinforce and empower the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Make a just settlement of Indigenous land claims. We need to create decent jobs for all our people of all communities, raising the minimum wage to $ 20 per hour, creating community programs of healthy recreation for all the children and young people after school and on weekends, and fighting to increase pensions for older Manitobans who have justly earned a good happy retirement.Why did you decide to run for office?
to continue my work as a political activist for average Canadians in Notre Dame Riding to improve transit, to make a decent wage of 20$ per hour the law, and to earn the trust of my constituents as a fighter for their concerns - not the concerns of the rich. -To Implement recommendations of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. -To reinforce and empower the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Make a just settlement of Indigenous land claims.Tell us something about yourself that voters might find surprising.
I have volunteered in Winnipeg hospitals helping stroke and aphasia patients. My mother lived to be 98 (!) and died on St Patrick’s day 2018. She lived with us in our small home and I was her primary Care-giver. I miss her wit and presence. It was a privilege to care for my Mum in our home.
http://permanentred.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/andrewtaylorcp
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No response given