Federal election campaigns launched in Manitoba for April 28
Campaigning for the federal election in Manitoba has officially begun. Liberal Leader Mark Carney called the election on March 23. Canadians have until April 28 to make their voting decisions. In Winnipeg, political signs are starting to appear as candidates prepare for the election. Manitoba has 14 federal ridings, with eight located in Winnipeg. Due to recent changes in riding boundaries, some voters might find themselves in different electoral areas this year. Pollster Curtis Brown from Probe Research believes many races will be competitive. He noted that three months ago, there was uncertainty about which Liberals might retain their seats. Now, discussions focus on close contests between the Liberals, Conservatives, and NDP. One key riding to watch is Winnipeg West. Doug Eyolfson, a Liberal, held this seat until 2019 when Conservative Marty Morantz won. In the 2021 federal election, Morantz won again but by just 460 votes. Elmwood-Transcona is another important riding. The NDP’s Leila Dance narrowly won a byelection there in September, with Conservatives and Liberals following behind. Brown anticipates that Conservatives will maintain their hold on five rural ridings in southern Manitoba. Recently, Conservative MP Larry Maguire from Brandon-Souris announced he would not run for re-election due to health issues, but this is not expected to change the outlook for that seat. Many Winnipeg residents highlighted the trade war with the United States as their main concern. Voter Kim Ewert expressed worry about how candidates will handle issues related to tariffs. Richard Schram, also affected by tariffs, is still undecided about who to vote for. International student Shrey Talati, who cannot vote, agreed that a candidate’s economic knowledge is crucial. Brown referred to Winnipeg South as a “bellwether” riding, emphasizing its tendency to align with the party that forms the government.