Ridings
220 Portage-Lisgar
2006 Candidates:
RIDING PROFILE
This is a rural riding in southern Manitoba, west of Winnipeg. It
runs from the U.S. border in the south to Lake Manitoba in the northeast
corner. It includes Portage la Prairie, Winkler, Morden and Carman as well
as Long Plain and Swan Lake reserves. The eastern part of Spruce Woods Provincial
Park is in the west of the riding.
The riding is Canada's wheat belt and has a diversified agricultural
industry, followed by manufacturing and health and social services.
In the 2001 census, 23 per cent gave German as their mother tongue and
five per cent gave French. Almost 13 per cent of the population have less
than a Grade 9 education. The average family income was $53,269 in 2001
and unemployment was 4.1 per cent.
Portage-Lisgar was created in 1996 from 72 per cent of Lisgar-Marquette,
42 per cent of Portage-Interlake and 0.4 per cent of Brandon-Souris. In
2004, it kept 89 per cent of its former territory and added 10 per cent
of Provencher in the east and one per cent of Selkirk-Interlake.
Political History
Progressive Conservative George Muir held the old Lisgar riding from 1957
until he died in 1970. PC Jack Murta won the 1970 bylection there and
was re-elected five times, serving until 1988.
PC Charlie Mayer was the MP for Portage-Marquette and Lisgar-Marquette
from 1979 through 1993. He served in several cabinet posts, including
minister of state responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board, minister of
western economic diversification, minister of agriculture and minister
for small communities and rural areas.
Reformer Jake Hoeppner won in Lisgar-Marquette in 1993. He was re-elected
in Portage-Lisgar in 1997, when he defeated Pallister, then running as
a Progressive Conservative, by 1,449 votes. Hoeppner was kicked out of
the Reform party in 1999 after he criticized its leader, Preston Manning.
In 2000, Pallister ran under the Canadian Alliance banner and defeated
Liberal Gerry Gebler by 11,185 votes. Hoeppner, running as an Independent,
came fourth.
Pallister was re-elected in 2004, running as a Conservative, with 65
per cent of the vote.
Portage-Lisgar:
1997 - REF
2000 - CA
2004 - CON
CANDIDATE PROFILES
David Reimer
Party: Christian Heritage Party
Education: Attended Bible College from 1980-1985, where he received his ministry licence
Marital status: Married
Name of spouse: Katharine
Children: three
Career background: Moved to Alberta in 1986, where he was an associate pastor in Wetaskiwan, Alberta. In 1991, he moved back to Steinbach, Manitoba, where he and his wife pioneered Shalom Family worship centre
Community activities:
Electoral History
Federal: Defeated in Wetaskiwin in 1988. Defeated in Winnipeg North-St Paul in 1997. Defeated in Portage-Lisgar in 2004
Political History
Party: Served the Christian Heritage Party as a member of the Manitoba provincial council since 1992; served three terms as national prayer, ethics and personnel director. Vice-president of the CHP Manitoba provincial council. Interim deputy leader.
Tel: 204-326-7520
Brian Pallister
Party: Conservative Party of Canada
Birth date: July 6, 1951
Age: 54
Birthplace: Portage la Prairie, Man.
Education: BA and a B.Ed. from Brandon University
Profession: Insurance agent
Marital status: Married
Name of spouse: Esther
Children: Quinn and Shawn
Career background: Was a high school teacher in rural Manitoba from 1976-1979. After 1980, he became an insurance broker, estate planner and financial consultant. He founded Pallister Insurance and Financial Services in Portage la Prairie. He is the past chair of the Canadian Insurance Agents advisory Council (Sunlife) and a member of the Insurance Brokers Association.
Community Activities: He has been active in fundraising for the local Red Cross and served on the Portage and District Chamber of Commerce as a member and president. He has volunteered as a coach for various athletic teams, and co-founded a local fastball club called the Portage Diamonds. Was Manitoba chair of the Brandon University Foundation. He has participated as an organizer, coach and athlete in more than 50 international, national and provincial sports competitions, in five different sports, and was recently elected to the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame.
Electoral History
Provincial: Elected in Portage la Prairie in a byelection in September 1992; was re-elected in 1995
Federal: Defeated as PC in Portage-Lisgar in 1997; won as Canadian Alliance in 2000; won as Conservative in 2004
Political History
Cabinet: Minister of government services for Manitoba in May 1995
Committee: Former vice-chair of: Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. Former member: Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development and Natural Resources; Public Accounts; Finance
Caucus: Former critic for: Human Resources Development; Indian Affairs and Northern Development; Foreign Affairs; Regional Equity; National Revenue.
Tel: (204) 822-3984
Email: campaign@votepallister.com
Charlie Howatt
Party: Green Party of Canada
Age: 25
Birthplace:
Education: Degree in agriculture from the University of Manitoba
Profession: Farmer
Career Background: Farms near the community of Manitou, Man., growing grains, oilseeds and alfalfa as well as raising hogs in straw-based system rather than in a factory setting. Also works with honeybees at his neighbour's apiary. Recently, he has been working with the Pembina Soil and Crop Management Association, a local producer group that provides services for local producers as well as a forum for discussions about farming practices.
Tel: (204) 242-4285
Email: chowatt@greenparty.ca
Garry McLean
Party: Liberal Party of Canada
Birth Date: September 22, 1951
Age: 54
Birthplace: Lake Manitoba
Education: He graduated from Assiniboine Community College with a social services certificate
Career Background: He has worked at Lake Manitoba First Nation as a welfare administrator, band councillor, and general manager,
has been a Social Development and Local Government Officer with Indian Affairs of Canada and
Social Development Officer, Child Welfare Director, Economic Officer, Holistic Health Director and Advisor to the Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
in First Nations governments.
Community Activities: He has been involved with the Friendship Centres in Manitoba and other parts of Canada,
the City Of Winnipeg Race Relations Committee, the Ma Mawi Wa Chi Tata Centre, the Manitoba Folk Arts Council,
the Folklarama First Nations Pavilion and Global Forest Watch.
Telephone: (204) 856-2541
E-mail: portagelisgar06@hotmail.com
Daren Van Den Bussche
Party: New Democratic Party
Profession: Fire fighter
Marital status: Married
Name of spouse: Bonnie
Children: Kyle and Aaron
Career background: A firefighter with the City of Portage la Prairie, a certified medical technician and a Level II fire inspector
Community activities: Was co-chair of the Portage Collegiate Institute Safe Grad Committee and a past member of the Portage community policing committee. Is a founder and coach of Portage youth scrimmage hockey and served as a volunteer for Fire-fighters' Burn Fund, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, Children's Wish Foundation and the Portage United Way
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