Manitoba is experiencing a political climate full of uncertainty and tension as we quickly approach the Provincial Election on October 3rd. It seems that we have reached a dire situation when it comes to a variety of crucial topics, especially those that are important to young people and university students. I know that many people find themselves in a situation where they feel disillusioned or mis- or under-represented in the political system in Manitoba, and in our country in general. Whether it is because they are a member of a group whose rights are under attack, or simply someone who is tired of not seeing whatever change it is that they want to see, it can be very difficult to get themselves out to the polls. Despite these challenging times and feelings, it is more crucial than ever to exercise your democratic right to indicate who you want to see as the leader of our province. I urge young people to also raise their voice in other important ways. Participate in conversations about political issues, learn more about our political system, participate in groups or clubs that provide you with feelings of belonging or safety, and anything else that gives you some sense of balance amidst a tense political context.
There is a wide range of information available about each of the parties and their leaders that I encourage you to read ahead of voting. In addition, The Quill has been given the opportunity to hear from Wab Kinew, our Manitoba NDP leader. As a fourth year Political Science major, I was asked to formulate questions that I felt would address issues most important to Brandon University students, and I was able to receive answers about his party’s stance on them as we head into the election. I covered the topics of encouraging voter turnout, 2SLGBTQ+ rights, the dire state of our healthcare system, the skyrocketing cost of living, harm reduction and safe consumption sites, and ways to protect public safety and youth. I hope that his words, as well as my words of encouragement about finding safe spaces within this potentially frightening time, will give you the support that you need to share your voice in this election. It may make a significant difference in the election outcome, even if it feels as though your voice on its own is not enough to create change.
Encouraging Voter Turnout
Q: What would you say to encourage young people (or anyone), who feels that they do not have much of an influence and therefore decides not to vote? Why is it important that they get out to vote even if they do not feel that it makes a difference?
A: I know that some people might be disillusioned or turned off from politics in general. But this election is so important because we can make life better in Manitoba. We can elect an NDP government that brings people together to do common sense things like hire more health care staff and cut the monthly bills that people face.
Your vote is always powerful. Voting is a right that people have taken to the streets and flooded the legislature in the hopes of obtaining. And this year, it might be even more powerful, because your vote can change the government.
Q: In relation to encouraging young people to vote, I would also like to address the current climate we have been facing in Manitoba with campaigns to ban LGBTQ+ inclusive content in schools in many of our communities. What would you say to reassure young LGBTQ+ and allies as they are voting in this frightening and uneasy environment?
A: The Manitoba NDP will always support and defend 2SLGBTQ+ Manitobans, including children and youth. Hate and discrimination have no place in our province.
Heather Stefanson is trying use the rise in hatred directed towards 2SLGBTQ+ people across North America to divide Manitobans. Our team knows that’s wrong. Now more than ever we need to come together as Manitobans and work to make a place where every person is valued.
That includes in our schools. We trust teachers, because we know they have the best interests of students in mind. I was proud to call for the repudiation of book ban attempts in Brandon earlier this year, and I will always stand up for 2SLGBTQ+ youth.
Healthcare
Q: Could you give a brief overview of the NDP’s plan towards repairing the healthcare system if elected?
A: Health care is in crisis in our province after seven years of Heather Stefanson’s PCs. Manitobans know it’s time for change. Our plan for fixing health care starts with taking care of the people who take care of us. That means working with health care professionals to staff up the health care system and provide more opportunities to train doctors and nurses here in Manitoba by expanding U of M’s Bannatyne Campus and adding 10 doctor training seats in Brandon. Young people who pursue a career in health care are not just training for a job – they are answering a calling. And we believe in having the training and supports they need to pursue that calling right here in Manitoba. We want to make health care an inspiring field where you can do cutting edge cancer research at a centre of excellence or care for the seniors who raised you at a care home in your community. We know an important part of this is changing the culture in health care by listening to and respecting doctors, nurses, and other health care providers. And that’s what our team is committed to doing.
Once we have filled the vacancies in our health care system, we will work to build up our capacity. In addition to reopening the three ERs in Winnipeg that the PCs shut down, we will build a new Neighbourhood Illness and Injury Clinic and a new Primary Care Team Clinic in Brandon. We will make prescription birth control free for all Manitobans, address the family doctor shortage, and restore health coverage for international post-secondary students.
Cost of Living
Q: Can you address your party’s stance on the issue of rent control, and how you plan to mitigate this issue if elected?
A: The Manitoba NDP will protect renters with stronger rent control. The Manitoba government oversees the Residential Tenancies board. And Heather Stefanson’s PCs have approved every single unfair above-guideline rent increase. This hurts renters during a time when the cost of living keeps going up.
A Manitoba NDP Government will bring in legislation that strengthens rent control by preventing landlords from applying for unnecessary and large rent increases or passing along increases that have not been approved. Our plan will also prevent landlords from revoking or reducing rent discounts within the first year an above-guideline increase is implemented.
Q: On the topic of the cost of living, I know you have discussed your desire to establish a committee to tackle issues of affordability, particularly rising grocery prices. Could you explain what this idea would look like in practice?
A: The rising cost of living is hurting Manitobans. Renters are struggling, and so many young people have told me they don't know if they will ever be able to afford a home. It’s getting harder to find a good job with wages that can cover rent, tuition, groceries, gas, and bills and still have a little extra at the end of the month.
But Heather Stefanson isn’t doing anything about it. She’s been handing out cheques to billionaire corporations like Loblaws while letting them gouge grocery prices. Unlike the PCs, we will always work with communities to tackle the issues we face, such as the affordability crisis. A Manitoba NDP Government will make life more affordable for Manitobans by freezing hydro rates, cutting the gas tax, bringing in stronger rent control and increasing the renter's tax credit to $700. We will also bring in free prescription birth control, provide more grants and student aid for post-secondary students, and restore health coverage for international post-secondary students.
Harm Reduction
Another topic important to young people, especially in Brandon and Winnipeg is harm reduction programs, such as mobile units with safe consumption supplies. Many of these life-saving programs do not receive funding or support.
Q: Could you give an overview of your thoughts on these programs, and how the NDP would approach supporting them?
A: The addictions crisis is a public health crisis, and I know that addictions are a major issue in Brandon. We need to listen to the experts and work with community groups to take action. The experts are clear that harm-reduction saves lives, connects people with health care and improves community safety. We need to build the Sobering Centre in Brandon.
A Manitoba NDP Government will create a system where no one is turned away when they are trying to get help. We will work with health and addictions experts to create a supervised consumption site. We will also expand treatment and detox beds to help Manitobans all across the province recover from addiction. We’ll invest in housing and social supports to help people in need. The addictions crisis impacts everyone in every community across the province, and we have to act now.
Q: I know that the NDP has chosen to delay Bill 33 regarding this issue. Could you briefly explain what this bill would do if passed, and why it is important to the efforts of harm reduction that it does not pass?
A: Heather Stefanson has failed to listen to experts and work with communities, and the addictions crisis is getting worse under her watch. This past spring, she tried to pass a bill that would limit access to addictions services and make it nearly impossible to open a supervised consumption site. We listened to harm reduction advocates and frontline workers who said this bill was a bad idea, and we stopped it from passing. And now it’s time for all of us to come together and stop the PC Government so we can bring in real harm reduction for Manitobans.
Public Safety and Youth
Another issue that is important to everyone is public safety and ensuring that everyone feels safe in their communities. You have discussed your intention to develop a strategy that involves law enforcement, community patrols, educators, and families to help reduce youth struggles.
Q: Could you explain what this type of strategy might look like?
A: There are so many groups that are already doing this work across Manitoba, including in Brandon – foot patrols like Bear Clan are a great example. These organizations are such an important part of our public safety strategy and we will work with them to make sure everyone feels safe in our communities. This is one way we will reduce youth crime in Manitoba – by ensuring every young person has the supports and opportunities they need to go down a good path.
A Manitoba NDP government will reduce youth crime by developing a comprehensive public safety strategy that brings together law enforcement, community safety patrols, educators, advocates and families. We will strengthen bail reforms and replace the closed Dauphin Jail with a Centre for Justice. We will address the root causes of crime and improve supports to set kids on the right path with more recreation and opportunities in their communities, like a universal meals program and more funding to local organizations. In Brandon, these community investments include our commitment to rebuild the Park Community Centre.
Another important piece of this is mental health. We know that many youth are struggling with mental health and aren’t able to access the supports they need. A Manitoba NDP Government will hire 100 mental health workers to work alongside law enforcement and respond to non-violent mental health calls. And we are committed to increasing team-based care in Manitoba, which means mental health and social workers will work alongside your family doctor. With this approach, your primary care providers can collaborate to provide the supports you need for your physical and mental health.
Q: What are the benefits of this type of program?
A: This approach is a smarter way to be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. And it has so many benefits. We know that by helping connect young people who are struggling to the supports they need, we will help set them on a good path and reduce the chances of them getting involved in criminal activity. And reducing youth crime will also make our communities safer.