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See information, reaction and views of Manitobans about the election in Elmwood - Transcona »

Infrequently Asked Questions

Elmwood - Transcona

"It's strange to me, when I think of all the values that Canada is supposed to stand [for], that we have this winner-take-all type politics."

Chris Hrynkow (Green Party)

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

The issue of the closure of the Disraeli Freeway is most pressing at the time being, Hrynkow said.

"We [The Green Party] are just wondering why the next question isn't asked: Why is this, like, freeway system the only way to link Elmwood with Winnipeg? Why isn't there effective public transport, like, cheap bus or rail public transport into the city that is fast, efficient and effective?" he said.

"That transportation link issue is a big thing for Transcona because right now, to link with the rest of the city on public transport . . . it's very, very inconvenient, very, very time consuming."

Hrynkow states that the Green Party would like to have an effective transportation service that's offered frequently and is affordable for everybody.

What do you like least about politics?

This is Hrynkow's first time running in the political race. He believes that because of the conformity of political parties, "the potential of politics is being lost.

"It's this political spectrum, where people talk about left and right and stuff like that, and then if you're in one camp or the other," he said.

"It's strange to me, when I think of all the values that Canada is supposed to stand [for], that we have this winner-take-all type politics. It discourages quality candidates from smaller parties."

What is your riding's best-kept secret?

"There's an incredible amount of solidarity in the riding," Hrynkow said.

You see that reflected, sort of, in Transcona in the union tradition for instance . . . [and] in the community centres they have in Elmwood and Transcona.

People make fun of these areas, but they don't see the incredible sense of community that's there. I think that's kind of sad in a way."

What is the best advice you've ever received?

Hrynkow was advised by a mentor to read a book called The Dream of the Earth [by Thomas Berry].

"Reading that book just changed my whole perspective. It opened me up to the type of philosophy the Green Party has . . . to see how social justice and ecological issues were linked together. That's what that book did for me," he said.

What book could you not finish?

Hrynkow said he always finishes reading the books he starts.

"I think it's important to understand different perspectives," he said. "If I started investing in the author I always completed it.

"I've always been interested in reading. It's just not something that I've ever done where I've stopped reading. Maybe it's a flaw in my character."

What is your usual mode of transportation?

Hrynkow rides his bicycle everywhere from spring to fall, but when the snow comes, he uses Winnipeg Transit.

"I really like the idea that it's almost like your investing in your body… and you're getting where you need to go," he said.

"Also when I started learning about what carbon emissions were . . . I said, 'Well, this is really interesting.' Instead of putting the money into gas or something like that . . . it's like I'm investing in my health and I'm also not doing this thing that will hurt future generations. It's the greatest invention: the bicycle."

View Chris Hrynkow's Canada Votes Profile »

By Chantelle Ducharme, a student in the Creative Communications program at Red River College.

"I couldn't get along without a minivan."

Jim Maloway (NDP)

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

The top of mind issue right now for Maloway is the closure of the Disraeli Bridge for at least 16 months.

"We have advocated that the city add an extra two lanes immediately to avoid a closure of the bridge," he said.

Maloway invited all Manitobans to visit his website to take a survey about the bridge closure.

What do you like least about politics?

Maloway has been in politics for about 35 years now and has been elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly sevent times in 23 years.

There's nothing he really dislikes about politics, he said, although he raised concerns about the public's lack of interest in the system.

"The fact that people increasingly, you know, are non-voters . . . that's disturbing because they, you know, they are passing on the issues," he said.

"I with there were more people not opting out," he said, joking that more people would participate if they weren't reasonably happy with the way things are going.

What is your riding's best-kept secret?

Maloway feels the new Buhler Recreation Centre in Transcona is a great place.

"It's beautiful. There's huge baseball diamonds -- you know, recreation activities that we really need in the area."

What is the best advice you've ever received?

Although he gets a lot of good advice all the time, he feels the best lately was to run in the federal election.

"It's been a very exciting experience for me," he said. "It wasn't something I was going to do. It was not something I expected to be doing, either."

What book could you not finish?

Maloway could not finish On the Take an expose about Brian Mulroney by Stevie Cameron.

"I just don't seem to be able to get it done," he said. "I read pieces of it and then I stop and then I start again. I've had it for a long time now."

What is your usual mode of transportation?

Maloway usually uses his Pontiac Montana minivan to drive his kids around. It also comes in handy while campaigning.

"We're always carrying around signs, stakes . . . equipment around here and there all the time in it," he said.

"Driving people out to vote for advance polls and stuff like that. I couldn't get along without a minivan . . . I'm tied to them, I like them a lot."

View Jim Maloway's Canada Votes Profile »

By Chantelle Ducharme, a student in the Creative Communications program at Red River College.

"Politicians should do the right thing when they can."

Wes Penner (Liberal)

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

"My riding is concerned about safety and crime and criminals not allowed on the street," Penner said. "The concern for the law and order is quite high here -- so public safety and keeping gangs and criminals from roaming around too freely."

Penner would like to restructure the justice system as part of a Liberal government.

"It needs a great deal of reform; it really needs to be restructured from the bottom up," he said. "It needs some careful study to come up with some very substantial changes. It should be addressed so that young people do not engage in the life of crime."

What do you like least about politics?

Penner feels personal attacks on other politicians are inappropriate.

"I don't like the irrelevant snipping," he said. "I don't like bad politics like that. I would like a democracy where you just discuss the issues and ways to solve them, not on personal attacks."

What is your riding's best-kept secret?

Although he has run for office three times in the Provencher riding, this is Penner's first run at Elmwood-Transcona, so he says he's not familiar yet with all of the area's secrets.

"They're still keeping that one from me, so I wouldn't know it. If it's the best kept secret I'm sure I haven't been here long enough to know," said Penner.

If the area does hold deep, dark secrets, Penner would "like to address them and help them solve the problem," he said. "Secrets vary from individual to individual."

What is the best advice you've ever received?

"Politicians should do the right thing when they can," he said Otto Lang, a cabinet minister in the 1960s and 1970s, told him about a year ago.

"You're not always able. If you get the opportunity to do the right thing, do it. Politically, that was the best advice I got. I found it to be the full truth."

What book could you not finish?

Penner is writing a book that he has not finished about what he can do for Canadian people.

"I haven't been able to finish it because I haven't been elected yet. I hope I can finish it soon. Because there are a lot of things I would like to do for Canadians."

One book he says he hasn't yet finished is the Bible.

"There’s still a few sections here and there that I have not read," he said. "Not very many, but there are a few. I keep going back to my favorite part to read over again."

What is your usual mode of transportation?

"Usually by car. I own about six vehicles and I drive them all about even," he said.

Penner said he has three cars -- one car for personal use and his other two for his business -- and he uses two van to transport passengers, and a Chevy truck for hauling cargo.

View Wes Penner's Canada Votes Profile »

By Chantelle Ducharme, a student in the Creative Communications program at Red River College.

"Politicians will promise the constituents anything to get them elected. I don't think that's right."

Rob Scott (Christian Heritage Party)

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

Scott believes that Concordia Hospital is just one of many hospitals where the standard of health care is not up to par.

"We've got Concordia Hospital in the Transcona-Elmwood riding, and it requires better health care. There's a lot of waiting time and people in the hallways still. That's one of the issues we want to deal with."

What do you like least about politics?

Scott dislikes the deception that he says comes with politics.

"Politicians will promise the constituents anything to get them elected. I don't think that's right. I think we should be more honest with the constituents."

What is your riding's best-kept secret?

The friendly people are what make Elmwood-Transcona a great riding, Scott says.

"Our people are friendly. You know, it's 'Friendly Manitoba,' but I think in Elmwood-Transcona people especially are friendly," he said.

"You can walk down the street and say hello to others, even though you don't know them."

What is the best advice you've ever received?

"You have to have integrity and you have to follow through with what you say you will do," he said. "The reason that's the best advice is because then people can believe and trust you."

What book could you not finish?

Although he couldn't name a specific book, Scott remembers a time when he didn't have much time for reading.

"When I was in university 30 years ago, we had all these things to read and I didn't read all of them. It's just because I didn't have the time at that time," he said.

"I had what I thought was more important things to do and that didn't include reading."

What is your usual mode of transportation?

This is a two-prong question for Scott. Although he drives an older Cutlass Supreme, he also uses his feet to get around.

"My usual mode of transportation is a vehicle because I go a distance. But if it's just around Transcona, my wife and I walk quite a bit. And of course that has the benefit of exercising and you also get to meet the people and see what's happening in the community."

By Karen Kornelsen, a student in the Creative Communications program at Red River College.

"'Keep it simple' has been very good for me all my life."

Thomas Steen (Conservative)

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

"The Disraeli Bridge is an issue. It needs to be renovated," Steen said.

"It's not a federal issue, but if we could help with anything that would be something I'd like to try to do with funding."

What do you like least about politics?

Steen said he's put off by name-calling.

"Sometimes it's pretty nasty, but sometimes it's pretty cute too. I was called Paris Hilton."

What is your riding's best-kept secret?

"It has a little bit of a bad rap around the city. Or had. Used to -- I remember a long time ago. But it's a very nice area," he said.

Steen believes because Elmwood-Transcona is geographically distant from other areas of Winnipeg, people misunderstand the area and don't see "how nice people are and how nice it is.

"I think the south part of town might not know how nice it is out here," he said.

What is the best advice you've ever received?

"To keep it simple," Steen said. "'Keep it simple' has been very good for me all my life."

What book could you not finish?

Steen said he's forgotten a lot of books on airplanes, and thus left them unfinished.

'Pillars of the Earth' [by Ken Follett] -- can't follow it. I lost three books [and] I couldn't buy a fourth one," he said.

"But it was only a few pages left. I read the book; I think I know the ending without reading it. It was a good one, it was worth buying three."

What is your usual mode of transportation?

"I've been all over the world, so depends on where I am. If I'm in Stockholm, Sweden, it's subway. In Winnipeg it's usually car," he said.

"Right now I'm driving a Buick. I'm very fond of cars -- old cars, classic cars. I like driving new cars, too. I've had a lot of cars in my day."

By Chantelle Ducharme, a student in the Creative Communications program at Red River College.