Byelection candidates in northern Manitoba riding hope to bring prosperity, renewal to communities

Anorthern Manitoba constituencythat has historically leaned New Democrat only has two challengers vying for theseat in this week's byelection.

Progressive Conservative Charlotte Larocquesaidpeople in theThompson riding would be better represented by her, a voice within government.

ButEric Redhead said the PCs have left the health-care system"dilapidated" and only the NDPwill prioritize the North.

On Tuesday, voters will decide.

The byelectionbetween Larocque,the former president of the Thompson Chamber of Commerce, and Redhead, the former chief of ShamattawaFirst Nation, will fill the seat left vacantfollowing the death of the NDP'sDanielle Adams, who died in a highway crash last December. The Liberals decided against contesting the racein tribute to Adams.

The NDP has won the seat in all but two elections since 1969. Steve Ashtonwas the riding's MLA for more than 30 yearsuntil he was defeatedin 2016by Kelly Bindle of the PCs. Bindle lasted one term in the office. In 2019,Adams won the race with a margin of victory of 19 percentage points.

Both candidates say they've experienced the ups and downs of life in northern Manitoba, and they're the best equipped to advancethe region.

Hauling water was way of life: Redhead

Growing up inShamattawa, a remote fly-in community,Redhead said he was surrounded by social and family issues. He remembers hauling buckets of water from the river because he lived withoutrunning water.

"At the time, you don't realize that what you're living through isn't normal," Redhead said.

He said he's long worked to make life better for people, whether it was through jobs inhealth careor in crisis response.

It prepared him for becomingchief of Shamattawa First Nation when he pleaded for military help and got itfor a crisis in whichroughly a third of the on-reserve population of 1,300 had COVID-19.

He said he learned to negotiate with other levels of government to get what'sneeded. He pressedfor military help, built 28 homes withfederal funding and advocatedfor a water treatment plant that'll permanently end the boil water advisories running on and off for years.

"I've accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish as chief. All the promises I've made, I've set out and completed those," Redhead said.

"I thought it was time to move on to a higher level and advocate on a whole different level."

Redhead said health care is top of mindafter speaking with voters in every community during his campaign.

"They feel as though it's dilapidated," he said, and lamenteda high nurse vacancy rate and thestory of a woman whoneeded to pay $2,000 out ofpocket to get to Winnipeg andaccess an abortion.

He saidhighway safety and the cost of living are other top priorities.

"I know under a new NDP government that the North will get what it deserves."

Learning from the past

Redhead said he is a changed man since he was charged in 2006 with assault against his former partner, in which he was granted an absolute discharge (a finding of guilt but no convictionis registered). Several months later, he was again charged with assault but those charges were stayed.

All provincial election candidates in Manitoba are required to discloseif they have committed an offence under the Criminal Code.

"I do not have a criminal record. I did seek restorative justice and I tookcounselling for many, many months. Through that process, I gained skills, I've learned things that I should have learned growing up, but I didn't. And since then, I've been better for it."

Redhead said he and hisformer partner now have a good relationship.

Larocque said voters should decide for themselves if Redhead's past matters to them.

She wants voters to consider which candidate can make an immediate difference in their lives, she said.

"This is a byelection; it's not going to change the party in power. It would be better to have a voice at the decision-making table rather than having somebody across the room fighting against them."

She's been impressed by the PC government's approach to getting projects done through inclusivity.She cited a Lynn Lake mining project in which the community, First Nation partners and other government levels all have a say.

One day before the byelection was called, the PCs joined other levels of government in pledging$15 million for anew aquatic centre for Thompson.

A business owner with experience inhuman resources and team empowerment, Larocque said she has noticed thateconomic development, health care and road improvements have all fallen behind.

She wouldn't cast blame on anyone individual or government, but said she's running to "create the prosperity that I know isthere," citing mining as one example.

Seeing the challenges first-hand

Larocque, who ran for the federal Conservatives in the 2021 election in northern Manitoba,said government ministers have made a point of visiting the North and she would be eager, as MLA, to show them around.

"I want them to know what I'm talking about when I say, 'This community has no drinking water. This community needs housing.'

"When you see somebody with two toddlers and a big hole in their doorandit's40 C and the snow coming, that's no way to liveI have my fingers crossed and I'm hoping voters make an intelligent choice, and that we can actually create that positive change."