1. Running for office is essentially a job interview, so let's start with a job interview question - What do you feel are your qualifications for office?
I’ve been the MLA for Flin Flon constituency for the past three years. During this term, I’ve served as the NDP critic for several portfolios, including Labour and Growth, Enterprise and Trade, as well as Caucus Chair. I’ve consistently spoken out on issues affecting the north, while Liberal and PC MLAs have not.
2. What is your plan for the future of Flin Flon’s economy? What role will industry/mining play in that plan?
I want mining to remain part of Flin Flon’s economy. However, we need to diversify. I see health care playing an important role. We need to become a regional hub. Training for mine jobs needs to be expanded. We should expand the mining academy and use abandoned mines as training facilities. We also need to explore using process facilities and licensed tailing facility to train for mines other than Hudbay.
3. What measures to benefit northern Manitoba and Flin Flon would you add to a provincial budget?
Funding for health care and obstetrics services in Flin Flon and throughout the constituency needs to be increased. Northern patient transportation should be properly funded too. Infrastructure spending on roads is always a concern.
4. Where do you believe infrastructure spending in Flin Flon should be focused? Should it be increased? Where will the funds come from?
When it comes to infrastructure spending, decisions shouldn’t just be up to the province. I’ll continue to work with communities to ensure that their priorities are addressed. As for funding, the government only has limited sources. I’ll be a strong voice to ensure the north gets its fair share of the provincial budget.
5. What is your plan regarding northern health care, specifically with local health care? What are your thoughts on the current state of Flin Flon health care?
The current state of health care is a disaster! I’ll work with the Saskatchewan and federal governments, northern communities and First Nations to turn Flin Flon General Hospital into a cross-border hub by adding more equipment, such as an MRI. Then, we’ll be able to attract more doctors. Ophthalmological services need to be available here too. We also need to look into expanding surgical and other services.
6. How do you plan to improve education in small, northern school divisions?
Northern school divisions should be able to negotiate collective agreements that meet their unique need to attract qualified teachers. The small class size initiative that the PC government killed needs to be reinstituted. We need to work with indigenous communities to expand educational opportunities. Frontier Collegiate needs to have its facilities upgraded and expanded so they can meet the needs of northern Manitoba.
7. What are your main concerns regarding environmental conservation? Do you support taxation on carbon emissions?
The environment is very important. Whether we like it or not, we need to change what we do, whether it’s reducing plastic use, recycling, or reducing our carbon footprint. We need to ensure any price on carbon is actually used to reduce our carbon footprint. One way could be to help Manitoba Hydro sell green energy throughout Canada. Responsible mining can be an important part of a green future too.
8. How do you plan to work with the Saskatchewan government to help solve inter-provincial issues with Flin Flon and neighbouring communities?
Inter-provincial issues have been a bone of contention forever. I’ve already been working with my counterparts in Saskatchewan to find solutions. Things like sharing medical records need to be addressed now. If we form government, I’ll work diligently with the Saskatchewan to address these issues. There are no simple answers and we need to think creatively.
9. Do you plan on changing Manitoba’s tax structure? If so how? How do anticipate the change in revenue will be used?
The NDP believes in fairness. We’ll index Personal Income Tax brackets and the Basic Personal Exemption Amount to inflation. We’ll ask the top 1% of income earners to contribute a bit more and use those funds to invest in public services for all Manitobans. We’ll help small businesses by increasing their tax threshold to allow approximately 2,000 more pay no income tax. And we’ll never introduce a health tax.
10. How do you feel about negative campaigning? Would you consider you and/or your party to be running a clean campaign? What about your opponents?
I hope that our campaign will remain clean while pointing out some of the downfalls of the PC government. Personally, I don’t want to see any personal attacks. That’s unfortunately not what we’ve seen from the PCs.
11. What policy or practice do you disagree with your party on and why? Would you consider breaking rank with the party on that issue?
I plan to be a strong voice within my party and an NDP government for northern issues, as I have been so far. Our voices will be heard.
12. In 30 words or less - What is your elevator pitch for undecided voters?
Do you care about healthcare, education and jobs? We need to ensure that northern Manitoba resources benefit all northern Manitobans.
13. What question do you wish we would have asked?
This was a great survey! It would have been nice to have questions on issues in other communities in our huge constituency.
