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See information, reaction and views of Manitobans about the election in Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette »

Infrequently Asked Questions

Dauphin - Swan River - Marquette

"Dishonesty with our politicians is the biggest problem that our country is in right now."

David Andres (Christian Heritage Party)

What is a pressing issue unique to your riding, and what would you do about it?

Infrastructure is key in Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette, Andres said.

"Our roads are in very poor condition," he said, suggesting the federal government should come up with a comprehensive plan for road renewal, and work work with the province to spend more money collected from gas taxes to fix roads.

"That's one thing I would do, is work very hard on road renewal."

What do you like least about politics?

"Over the last 30, years our politicians, they try and say what people want to hear, and not the truth, and [they're] just not honest with the people," Andres said.

"We need to be honest, we need to speak the truth and live by it. Dishonesty with our politicians is the biggest problem that our country is in right now."

What is your riding's best-kept secret?

Small-town Manitoba has a lot to offer people, Andres said.

"Since I was in high school, its been promoted that the best thing that people can do is go to the city and get good government jobs. [But] really, rural Canada offers a lot more than what they're being credited with. And that is the best-kept secret."

What is the best advice you've ever received?

"The best advice I have ever received is to accept Jesus Christ as my personal saviour," he said. "That gives me eternal life and gives me a future beyond my life here on earth."

What book could you not finish?

"I've never had one that I read and couldn't finish."

What is your usual mode of transportation?

"I drive a GMC half-ton and a Volkswagen car," he said.

"I drive the Volkswagen because it's very fuel efficient," and he believes that the best way to take care of the environment is to actually reduce fuel consumption, rather than using pollution controls.

By Julijana Capone, a student in the Creative Communications program at Red River College.

"If it's not life-or-death, it's not really important."

Inky Mark, Conservative

What is a pressing issue unique to your riding, and what would you do about it?

"The rising price of fuel impacts rural Canadians differently than urban Canadians, because rural Canadians don't have access to public transport," said Mark. "Folks in the city can ride a bus, ride a subway or they could even bicycle, whereas rural people have a long distance to travel to get to work."

Mark suggests the federal Competition Bureau has "no teeth," and that the Competition Act should be revamped to ensure that Canadians aren't "being gouged."

What do you like least about politics?

Mark takes issue with control of the political system.

"I've said this a number of times to my colleagues: your only worth is really your bulk that we bring to Ottawa," he said.

"When it comes to direct democracy and representing the folks at home, there is not a lot of leeway for that and that applies to all parties. I believe in representative democracy. I believe the majority of views of the riding should count."

What is your riding's best-kept secret?

"You couldn't find a better place to live because of the people," Mark said.

"The people are friendly, easy going and laid back. Also, the safety is another thing about the riding. It's a very safe place to live."

What is the best advice you've ever received?

"The best advice I've received is take my time. Live life. Don't have a knee-jerk reaction to everything. Just kind of take a breath," he said.

"I reflect that to my staff. If it's not life-or-death, it's not really important. And that might be reflective of my age too," added Mark, who turned 60 last November.

What book could you not finish?

"I have no time to read," says Mark. "I'm not much of a fiction reader. I'm more of a concrete fact type of guy. I read lots of newspapers.

"Actually I was given a book just recently about Islam and I started reading it but didn't finish it," he said.

What is your usual mode of transportation?

Mark says he and his wife each have their own Smart Car; Mark likes them because they're good for the environment and save money on fuel.

The incumbent candidate said he's also found other ways to get around when he's in Manitoba on breaks from Ottawa business.

"This year … I used my electric scooter around Dauphin," he said. "It was fun, and it didn't cost me any money."

View Indy Mark's Canada Votes Profile »

By Ezra Ginsburg, a student in the Creative Communications program at Red River College.

"Even though your mind is screaming, 'This is ridiculous and doesn't make sense,' your heart is telling you that it is worth it."

Wendy Menzies (Liberal)

What is a pressing issue unique to your riding, and what would you do about it?

Riding Mountain National Park.

"There are a number of cattlemen in the area surrounding the whole park. These cattlemen have to have their cattle tested for tuberculosis on a regular basis because there has been some positive testing of tuberculosis within the elk population in the park," said Menzies.

"These cattlemen for years have been trying to get federal assistance," she added. "I wrote on their behalf and met with members of Parliament to assist with this. I got a letter back from the Minister of Agriculture and he had several reasons why he couldn't do it. I believe that the federal government does have the ability to help with this."

What do you like least about politics?

"I think it's important for the general population to become well-informed," said Menzies.

"It doesn't always happen. Regardless of the decisions that are being made, I think it's important to base those decisions on being well-informed. It would be nice if that could happen. It's part of our responsibility as an electorate."

What is your riding's best-kept secret?

"My riding's best-kept secret is the ecology and the diversity," said Menzies.

"[The riding's] parkland is absolutely phenomenal. It's gorgeous. You have rolling hills, forests, Canadian Shield and grain fields. It's the diversity of the whole riding."

What is the best advice you've ever received?

"The best advice I've ever received is to do something [when] even though all logic tells you not do it, your heart tells you to keep going," she said.

"Even though your mind is screaming, 'This is ridiculous and doesn't make sense,' your heart is telling you that it is worth it. Even though you're doing something that seems to be illogical, your heart compels you to do it."

What book could you not finish?

Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas by Elaine Pagels.

"It's not that I don't want to finish the book, but I just ran out of time. I also began reading something else, as well."

What is your usual mode of transportation?

"I like to walk when I can. Our primary mode of transportation is a vehicle, though," she said. Menzies and her husband drive a Honda, she said.

"We're trying to downsize to one vehicle because our kids are grown up. We're trying to find something that will pull a boat, yet be efficient on gasoline."

View Wendy Menzies's Canada Votes Profile »

By Ezra Ginsburg, a student in the Creative Communications program at Red River College.

"There's no victory unless the people that you serve are better off after you've served for four years."

Charles Prefontaine (People's Political Party of Canada)

What is a pressing issue unique to your riding, and what would you do about it?

Prefontaine is concerned about the future of the Canadian Wheat Board issue

"The ruling Conservatives have sort of used a divide-and-conquer tactic to break the cohesiveness amongst farmers. I would encourage farmers to stick together," said Prefontaine.

"Some of them may make a few dollars without the wheat board, but in difficult times, they're going to find out that the Wheat Board, you know, can be their friend more than anything else."

What do you like least about politics?

"I was thinking about that the other day, a lot of politicians think that when they get elected they've won. I don't think anybody wins anything until after their mandate, after your four years or five years . . . that the people are well-served," he said.

"Then maybe you can celebrate a little bit. A lot of people think that it's a game to be won rather than working with the people. There's no victory unless the people that you serve are better off after you've served for four years."

What is your riding's best-kept secret?

"The beautiful countryside. And it is a beautiful area to drive through, the rolling hills," Prefontaine said.

"Obviously, it's a rural community that have values that are mostly kept intact. They have stronger family bonds and they need to realize that and to keep that. And the fact that they're producing our food -- I mean, we can't do anything without farmers."

What is the best advice you've ever received?

"I guess some of the better advice is concerning the strength of the family, the value of women in the family, the value of women in society," he said.

"Personally, I've recognized that in my own family. A friend of mine says, you know, marry somebody that's like your mother."

What book could you not finish?

"The only time I don't finish books is if I've got other books going at the same time. On my table, it's just full of stuff to be reading," he said.

"But I probably think that any book that is blatantly racist," or that uses "a sick form of humour that debase women, or debase families or debase creation."

What is your usual mode of transportation?

"It usually is a vehicle, a car," he said.

"I was working straight nights for quite a while so it was almost kind of necessary to get to and from work at, you know, midnight.

"I still use it because I'm always stopping here and there after work. It's a Chrysler Sebring. It's a six-cylinder, small six-cylinder. I also have a motorcycle. I use that a bit, but not too much."

View Charles Prefontaine's Canada Votes Profile »

By Brenlee Coates, a student in the Creative Communications program at Red River College.

"Our government is there to protect people and help people."

Kate Storey (Green Party)

What is a pressing issue unique to your riding, and what would you do about it?

Farming and the cost of farm inputs are very important, Storey said.

"Farmers are really stretched this year and, in particular, are in tough to make ends meet. We have had a time of unusually high prices, which have been wonderful, but the input costs are still way out of line," said Storey.

"The first thing we would have to look at is to find ways for farmers to deal with those input costs. This is something that has not been addressed by the current government or the previous government. The Green Party would start investing directly in small businesses. This is the backbone of any economy, and our economy is getting a little shaky right now."

What do you like least about politics?

Storey dislikes the fighting for power.

"Our government is there to protect people and help people," said Storey. "We need co-operation from all parties and from all candidates no matter what their party affiliation may be."

What is your riding's best-kept secret?

'Our riding's best-kept secret is our aboriginal people. Close to a third of our population are First Nations people, and that is an untapped labour market," said Storey.

"Our governments have tried to integrate the First Nations in to our society, but I think it's time that we look at what they have to offer us."

What is the best advice you've ever received?

"Look before you leap, and sit back and think about what the effect of what you're doing will have in the future. That's part of what drew me to the Green Party," said Storey.

"One of our main policies is called the precautionary principle, which is a fancy way of saying: 'think about how the effect of what you're doing will have on future generations."

What book could you not finish?

"I started [Herman Melville's] Moby Dick and never finished it," said Storey.

"It was too long-winded. I value my time and I'm interested in getting somewhere. I'm sure Moby Dick gets better at the end, but the beginning was very long."

What is your usual mode of transportation?

"My usual mode of transportation is walking as far as day-to-day things go -- except that I happen to live in a rural area, and we have to get around by car," she said. "I drive an older car and we try to watch how much gas that we use."

View Kate Storey's Canada Votes Profile »

By Ezra Ginsburg, a student in the Creative Communications program at Red River College.

"You have to always put your heart into politics."

Ron Strynadka (NDP)

What is a pressing issue unique to your riding, and what would you do about it?

"There is a lot of farming in our area, and the Canadian Wheat Board has been under attack by the current Conservative government for the last two years," said Strynadka.

"The farmers want to keep the board and are in favor of it. If [the NDP] was in power, we would keep the Canadian Wheat Board and even expand it to cover more than it does now."

What do you like least about politics?

Strynadka is put off by infighting and mud-slinging.

"If you're going to run for politics and be in politics, you have to treat your fellow politician with respect and integrity," he said. "We are here to serve the people and should treat one another with respect."

What is your riding's best-kept secret?

"Our best kept secret is our beauty and small town living," Strynadka said.

"There are a lot of wonderful small communities that have lots to offer. We don't have the fast-paced city life, but we have lots for people to see and do. There are museums and all kinds of history in this whole area."

What is the best advice you've ever received?

"A senior MLA for the Thompson area once told me that you have to always put your heart into politics," he said.

And to go and see your constituents when you're at home and not in office. He told me to always listen to you constituents, find out their problems and always know the issues and where they're at."

What book could you not finish?

"I read a lot. I don't know if there has ever been a book I didn't finish," Strynadka said.

"I never read anything that doesn't interest me. I always finish my books."

What is your usual mode of transportation?

"My truck is part of my travel business. I haul travel trailers from the United States to Canada for an outfit in Saskatoon, so I use my three-quarter-ton diesel Ford truck," he said.

"When I'm home on leisure, I do ride a motorcycle. I ride a Suzuki C-90 1500 V-Twin and my wife rides a '83 Harley Sportster. The motorcycle is a little better on gas then my honkin' Diesel truck," he said.

By Ezra Ginsburg, , a student in the Creative Communications program at Red River College.