Key Brandon riding flips orange as Manitoba Progressive Conservatives lose power to NDP

A pivotal Brandon riding flipped back to the Manitoba NDPas part of the party'smajority government win.

Glen Simard is the new MLA for Brandon East a stronghold for the NDPuntil 2016, when it was taken by the Progressive Conservativeswho then retained it in the 2019 election.

"It's humbling and we will rise together and work through the challenges that face Brandon," Simard said.

It was an important moment that involvedearning back the trust of voters to return Brandon East to the NDP, he said.

"Our next job is to keep it, with concrete, real action for the city," he said.

"First thing for Brandon is the first thing for all of Manitoba: we need to address some of the health-care challenges that exist."

Longtime NDP MLA Len Evans represented the area from its creation in 1969 until 1999, after which the NDP'sDrew Caldwell won the riding.

Then, in 2016, Progressive Conservative Len Isleifson beat Caldwell. Isleifsonwas re-elected in 2019 before losing to Simard on Tuesday.

The Liberal candidate was Trenton Zazalak.

Isleifsonwas disappointed he didn't win a third term but said he's satisfied with the work he's been able to accomplish.

"I've always said I'm not a lifelong politician. I need to get in there and do the work, and yeah, I would have liked one more term, but you know, the electorate spoke."

Simard campaigned on health care in western Manitoba, including a lack ofdoctors in Brandon. Maintaining affordable housing in southwestern Manitoba's biggest city and rejuvenating its downtown were also major campaign issues for the former teacher.

"I'm just so incredibly proud to take this on," Simard said. "We need to seriously take a look at the issues that are present downtown and work throughmeaningful change for them."

Affordable housing is a major factor in this, Simard said, and the NDPpromised to collaborate with agencies and allies in the community.

He also wants to to bring more attention to Brandon in the province's capital, Simard said.

"Whether NDP is in opposition or in government, I always think that it's a really good thing for Brandon, because we are surrounded by a sea of blue, and by reminding the governmentthat we exist is very important to anyone who represents this riding."

As ofWednesday morning, the PCs appeared toholdon toBrandon WestwithWayne Balcaenbut just barely, with theNDP's Quentin Robinson just 98 votes behind, according to Elections Manitoba.

The riding saw a race between new faces, afterPC MLA Reg Helwer announced he would not seekre-election.

It was "a roller-coaster all night watching the polls," Balcaen said at 12:30 a.m.

It was surprising to see how tight the race was, said Balcaen, whoexpected the historically-PC riding to be more in his favour. The 2023 election washis first foray into provincial politics.

The close race showed "every vote matters," Balcaen said.

"I wouldn't have changed anythingbecause I think we did everything that we needed to do here," Balcaen said. "I think Brandon West will be well represented."

He praised all candidates in Brandon East and West for resisting mud slinging.

"That was my first policy we will not attack individuals," Balcaen said.

In the lead up to the election, Balcaen said the PCs had a credible plan for affordable housing citing the party's promise to eliminatethe land transfer tax for first-time home buyers to encourage people to get out of rentals and into homes of their own.

Healso pledged to tackle the meth crisis hammering the city's downtown by putting money into harm-reduction initiativesbut would not commit to a supervised consumption site.

The Spruce Woods riding, which includes the northern part of Brandon, elected PC newcomer Grant Jackson. Former Tory MLA Cliff Cullen did not seek re-election.

Jacksondefeated Liberal Michelle Budiwski and the NDP's Melissa Ghidoni.

Robinson said it was an exciting night that reflected the change Manitobans wanted when he spoke with people. He believes the NDP found success because voters responded to a positive message.

"People really wanted a positive vision of who we can be and how we can be as a province," Robinson said.

Manitoba Votes 2023

1 year ago

Duration 4:00:01

Manitoba Votes 2023: CBC Manitoba's live election broadcast from the Manitoba Legislature, October 3, 2023.