Glenn Zaretski, Green Saint Boniface-Saint Vital

Why do you want this job?

I've got several reasons. First of all, I've been involved in environmental issues for a long time. One of my pictures in my high schoolyearbook is of me in a fringe jacket, marching and holding a sign saying,"Recycle aluminum cans." That's been a common thread in my life. I've worked with the Green Party for a number of years, and the opportunity came up when the previous person decided not to run this year, so I stepped up.

Personally, I've done a lot of fundraising, I've got my own companies I've run, I'm a successful businessman. I think it's an opportunity for personal growth. You could say it's on my bucket list.

And everything that's going on in our political system right now scares the heck out of me. I know there's a huge anti-Harper campaign and all that. I'm not anti-Conservative, but there are things out there like Bill C-51, Bill C-59 that I want to change. It's like you're walking down the street, and you see a house on fire. What do you do? You look around, the firemen aren't here, and the paramedics aren't here, so you jump in. I feel that's another reason I'm doing this. People have to get more involved. I was in the background, and I had to step up a little bit more. The house is on fire, so I needed to jump in and do my bit.

What's the biggest issue in your riding?

From my perspective, all of Canada needs to look at the tarsands, the environment. One thing that is oneverybody's radar here is the pipeline. We've got a natural gas pipeline that goes through here. They want to reroute it and put all thisheavy tarsands stuff through, and they'll have to dilute thatwith all kinds of chemicals, and who knows what's going to happen? It comes through Winnipeg and goes under our aqueduct from Shoal Lake, which is another issue. All these issues are combined.

What's the biggest issue facing the country?

Climate change is top on my priority list. If your climate is collapsing around you, you've got problems. We've got to look at moving into a new economy. They're buildingsolar panels in the desert in Saudi Arabia. Those guys are doing that, but what are we doing? We're putting all our eggs in one basket in the tarsands and oil industry.

What would you do with the Senate?

Renovations. I like analogies. I just finished renovating the top story of our house so one of my sons could have a kitchen and a living room. And I don't think it should be abolished. In the past, it's done a lot of good things. We're looking at all the bad things right now. It's a matter of making changes, but I wouldn't abolish it outright.

Winnipeg was described as the most racist city in Canada. What would you do to combat racism in your riding?

My next album, actually, has several songs dealing with this kind of problem, about missing and murdered aboriginal women. I'm a helper. I work as afire-keeper. I go to sweat lodges. Although I grew up with a Christian background in the United Church, that's something I did in my spiritual path. I'm constantly going to The Forks' Oodena Circle, playing music, setting up sound systems for events.

I'm involved in the background a lot in these kinds of issues. It's something that's dear to my heart. I'm educating myself, and I see the opposite side. People maybe only get one view [of indigenous people], but you don't see a lot of the other people who are educated, who are trying to help themselves and other people. There are so many groups that need our support, and wherever I'm able to help, I will. And talk to that guy on the street. Listen to his stories.

What role should the federal government play in dealing with climate change?

A big part. We've got to get right in there. The first thing I would do isreinstate protections for our waterways. The government has got a play a big role in this and set an example, start moving to that clean economy. Instead of subsidizing these big oil companies, put that money intoclean energy. If the Saudis are going to be doing it, we should be doing it.

If there is one government policy you think another country handles better, what is it?

Let's look at our tarsands. There are other countries in Scandinavia thatdidn't let big oil companies drill in the oceans unless they were paid a fair rate. On paper, every citizen in that country is now a millionaire, and their health care and everything is covered for the rest of their lives. You look at what's going on in those situations, and otherpeople are doing it, so why can't we? The Pope, in every speech he makes, he talks about the climate. Let's get on board here.

Under what circumstances is deficit spending a good choice?

Well, sometimes you want to do a few renovations in your house, even if your house is paid off. It makes more sense for you to take out a loan or go into deficit, because I need to get that stuff done now. When the roof is leaking, you need to fix it. Sometimes you do go into deficit when you're in good fiscal health. There might be times it might be a good idea.

What do you believe is the single most effective way to fight crime?

Probably early education. It's certainly not throwing more people in jail. I think they come out worse criminals than when they went in in the first place. Also: rehabilitation instead of punishment. That's it in a nutshell.

What should be done about homegrown terrorism?

I think we had all the tools in place before Bill C-51. Do we need to have more security set up? No, we just have to work together a little bit better. If there's one thing I could do that wouldn't cost billions and billions of dollars, I'd geteverybody on the same page, not just protecting their own turf.

If there were a gay pride parade in your riding, would you go? Why?

I've gone, starting way back when I lived in Toronto. I haven't had to be swayed one way or the other. I've always been open-minded. Beinginvolved in the arts, it's just part of my community. Everybody should go support these communities. Everyone is a minority of some sort.

Have you or your family had a frustrating experience with the health-care system? What would you do to fix the problem?

I've had both good and bad experiences. We have a son who has schizophrenia. Before it was diagnosed, we had all sorts of difficulties getting into the proper care. We were fortunate enough that we had a couple people that were able tohelp us and point us in the right direction. Once we got into the system, we got good care. It's there, but you have to know how to manoeuvre the map to get into it, and youhave to stand up for your rights and fight. My wife and I were really advocating for a long time. We had the two of us, but it's probably really difficult for people on their own. When this is done, my wife and I are thinking of getting intomental health advocacy. Our son is a success case, so he's one of the people you don't always hear about.

Over a decade ago, I had a heart operation, and I got the best care that I thought was possible. The doctors that I had then are no longer around. I was told if I were to go for that same operation now, they'd have to send me off to Calgary or Edmonton. I needed it very quickly when it happened to me. I wasscheduled for an operation in June, and I would have died before then, but they bumped me up to February. Once again, I had good service once I got into the system. There's good, and there's bad.

What would you do to get morepeopleto vote?

I'm doing everything I can. I'm like a one-manarmy here. Now I've got a few people helping me out. I put up signs. I go door-to-door. Any chance I have, I talk to people. I go to forums and schools and universities. If they're not voters, their parents are, and I think I can pass information along. Whoever I can talk to, I do. I've always gone to events, but now I go as a candidate. But vote your conscience. If you don't vote for what you really want, you're not going to get it.

What's a better use of federal dollars: fixing roads or building rapid transit infrastructure?

I'll go with fixing roads. It's not that one's more important than the other, but I have more of a connection to fixing roads. I've travelled by vehicle across North America. I've travelled across Europe and Canadaextensively as a musician. To me, our roads are atrocious. We go camping in the United States, pulling this little trailer, and when we getback, it's bouncing up and down. It's sonoticeable when you go to other places and you see how good the roads are.Here in Winnipeg, the potholes are atrocious.

Would you support legalizing a small amount of marijuana? Have you ever tried it?

We'rein favour of legalizing marijuana. It would be like liquor or cigarettes. It would be taxed, and it wouldn't be handed out to 13-year-olds. Education about the harms and chances and risks involved would be another part of it.

I've smoked marijuana. I haven't for a long time. I experimented back in university. When I was touring as a musician, I hadaccess to a lot of harder drugs, but I never took any of them. I didn't want to get messed up.