Overview
As Manitoba heads into the final week of the campaign all parties are focused on solidifying their messaging and preparing to mobilize their supporters.
This weekend, NDP Leader Wab Kinew visited Thompson, Pimicikamak Cree Nation, and Grand Rapids where he promised to improve the Thompson Hospital if elected. The party also committed to providing $2.4 million in funding to hire seven new full-time nurse examiners to support victims of sexual assault in the area.
Meanwhile, the Manitoba Liberals announced that if elected they would address the impacts of previous government of austerity by increasing government support for the arts and culture sector.
On Monday, Stefanson traveled to Brandon to announce that a re-elected PC government would spend an additional $2 million on the Downtown Community Safety Partnership program. This is an area where the Party hopes to keep both seats. While Brandon- West is currently held by the PCs, there is not a Liberal candidate running, making it target for the NDP looking to attract abandoned Liberal voters. The city’s other riding, Brandon East, was previously held by the NDP from 1969 to 2016. However, in the past two elections, the NDP has split the progressive vote with the Liberals resulting in a PC win. These two ridings will be ones to watch as Manitoba quickly approaches election day.
On Saturday, the PCs ran a full- page advertisement in the Winnipeg Free Press reiterating that they will ‘Stand Firm’ on their decision not to search the Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two Indigenous women believed to be murdered by an alleged serial killer. Chief Kyra Wilson of Long Plain First Nation has called the ad ‘disgusting’ and a ‘complete disregard for everyone impacted’ Observers have speculated that this may be a defensive strategy as polling shows the PCs trailing the NDP by a significant margin. Stefanson claims that a feasibility report done on the issue has out ruled any possibility of conducting the search safely, while the authors of the referenced report have reportedly disagreed with this conclusion stating that the associated risks can be mitigated.
Campaign Announcements
PC
NDP
In the News
- Press Progress- Manitoba PC Leader Heather Stefanson’s ‘willful engagement’ with anti- 2SLGBTQ+ movement concerning, advocates say
- The Free Press- ‘We had our minds made up’: Advance voters head to the polls
- Winnipeg Sun- Lawyer for silica sand mine puts little stock in Springfield referendum results
- The Free Press- Former Liberal party leader campaigns for ‘close family friend’ PC MLA
- CBC News- Former Winnipeg police officer to lead new transit security force
- CBC News– Inability to get cataract surgery close to home ‘failure of our provincial health care,’ says Brandon man