Melissa Wastasecoot, NDP Brandon-Souris

Why do you want this job?

I'm a person who has always stayed in the background. I'm pretty introverted, I'm shy, but I really enjoy working with people. I see there's a need for diversity in this riding. It's important that we have a diverse voice here. We have a large indigenous community and one First Nation. I really want to represent diversity in the community.

We need a change in government. When I was approached and asked if I would consider running, I just thought it would be a really good opportunity to get some more issues out there that need to be heard in this riding. I don't really look at it as a job. It's more like serving our community and trying to ensure that all communities here are listened to, and that their issues and their concerns are brought forward to the government.

What's the biggest issue for the country and in your riding?

(For the riding): It's hard to say there's one issue, really. I know right now things that have to do with families and seniors are really important. We have a young population here, but we also have a lot of seniors here that are in retirement, so those kinds of issues are high on my radar, and having affordable housing affects families and seniors. The number of seniors is going to double in the next 25 years, so we have to be proactive and look at these issues before they arise.

(For the country): I would say making sure you get out and vote and making sure you register. Please get out and vote. It's a really urgent time right now to get out and exercise our democratic right to vote. As a First Nations woman, our people only got the right to vote in 1969. We have to make sure that we have proper representatives in the government to make sure we can follow through on things.

What would you do with the Senate?

We want to abolish the Senate. I think people should put trust in their local MPs to bring their issues to Parliament. We've seen the scandals with appointed senators, and we're wasting millions of dollars on these people that don't want to play by any rules. We'd want to see that money spent elsewhere, maybe put into health care or child care, those kinds of things.

Winnipeg was described as the most racist city in Canada. What would you do to combat racism?

The first thing is education. Education is so important. We need to be proactive and preventative in our communities. I know in our province, some school divisions are starting to use some treaty curriculum in schools, so that's a really good, important first step to combating racism, particularly in regards to indigenous people. It's important to learn about our new Canadians and our immigrants and refugees. It's realizing that we're all human beings. It doesn't matter where we've come from, but we need to understand each other and what our histories and our different cultures are.

What role should the federal government play in dealing with climate change?

That is a huge thing. We face it every day. We need to start lowering greenhouse gas emissions. It should definitely be a federal responsibility. The NDP will make sure the oil companies and the gas companies need to go through rigorous environmental testing before they can actually go ahead and start doing things like the pipeline. It's an issue here in our riding, too. We have to start looking for solutions. As NDP, we want to encourage small businesses using green technology. It's really important. We have to think about our children and our grandchildren.

If there was one government policy you think is done better in another country, what is it?

The Scandinavian countries and what they're doing with child care and high minimum wages. Germany and Sweden recycle 99 per cent of their waste. That's amazing. We can follow so many examples out there from other countries that could help us greatly and help us progress. We should be taking leads from these places relating to climate change and the environment.

Under what circumstances is deficit spending a good choice?

Probably to kick-start the economy by creating more good, local manufacturing jobs.

What do you believe is the single most effective way to fight crime?

Prevention and education. We have to start these things at home. We have to start taking a more holistic approach to our communities and our families. I don't think adding more people to the police force or the RCMP is the right thing to do. I really believe in a holistic approach with our children, making sure that they're educated properly. We all know the difference between right and wrong. Unfortunately, people go through trials and tribulations in their lives that maybe lead them down the wrong path. We need to make sure people who leave incarceration can come back into society and have programs and services so they can integrate better.

We need to make sure our policemen and our RCMP officers have to learn about discrimination. I've had to deal with racism from police officers.

What should be done about homegrown terrorism?

I'm not sure. It's a hard question for me. I don't think shipping people back to their countries is a solution. It leads to a larger question about what we indigenous people have been through. We've been terrorized. Would we send everyone back?

I don't really see Bill C-24 as a proper way to deal with people. It just seems like we're turning them into second-class citizens. We're not fully accepting these people into society. I think it sends a really negative message to refugees and people who need to get to Canada for their safety, and people will not want to come here.

If there was a gay pride parade in your riding, would you go? Why or why not?

Yes. We just had our first gay pride parade, and it was amazing. It's about time. I took my kids to it, and it was a really great and inspiring event. It just shows you the diversity that needs to be represented here in the community and how long it's been overlooked. It's so important to acknowledge people, no matter their gender identification, their sexuality. We have to celebrate each other and encourage each other to live positively and be involved with each other. I went, and I participated, and I loved it. It's just wonderful, and I'm so happy that Brandon has made the commitment to hold this every year.

Have either you or your family had a frustrating experience with the health-care system, and what would you do to fix the problem?

I know there are long wait times. Our top priorities will be improving access to long-term access and home care and better mental health services, as well as health care delivered federally for indigenous people and refugees and veterans and the RCMP.

What would you do to get more people to vote?

We had an event here a few weeks ago called Rock the Vote. All the parties got together, and we had a fun afternoon to encourage people to get out and vote and make sure they know how to vote and how to register. I've been going out and meeting with people on the street and going to different organizations and asking them to make sure they vote. It's really important. The voting rules have changed, and you need to know what the changes are.

What's a better use of federal dollars: fixing roads or building rapid transit infrastructure?

Fixing roads is definitely an issue in this riding. The flooding has affected our rural roads, and our roads are important to us.

Would you support legalizing a small amount of marijuana? Have you ever tried it?

I did when I was younger.

I'm not sure about legalizing. I think decriminalizing is better with certain regulations.