Normally safe Fort Whyte seat could be in play in byelection as PC government's popularity slides

The well-to-do Fort Whyteconstituencywould normally be consideredone of the safest Tory seats in Winnipeg but it may not look that way after next week's byelection.

The popularity of the governing Progressive Conservatives enteredatailspin in the pandemic, and not even a new leader inHeather Stefanson has turned it around.

If that plummeting support is felt in aTory stronghold likeFort Whyte, which was represented by former premier Brian Pallister,it could underscorethe challenges the governing party faces in getting re-elected in 2023.

"Avery thin win or even a loss would be a very, very strong indicator for the PCs[that] they're really in deep trouble in Winnipeg," said University of Manitoba political scientist Christopher Adams,referring, in part, to recent polling that suggests the NDP enjoy more popular support than the Tories, particularly in vote-rich Winnipeg.

The Tories are trying to hold onto theriding, which Pallisterhandilywon in 2019 with 57 per cent of votes cast. The NDP came in a distant second, with 17.9per cent of the vote and the Liberals got third place with17.6 per cent.

In the byelectionfor the seat left vacant afterthe former premier's resignation,the PCs have a star candidate in former Winnipeg Blue Bomber and accomplishedentrepreneur Obby Khan.

The candidates likely to be histoughest foes in the March 22 byelectionhave name recognitiontoo:Liberal Willard Reaves is also anex-Blue Bomber, and the NDP's Trudy Schroeder was previously the executive director of boththe Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Winnipeg Folk Festival.

Nicolas Geddertis running for the Green Party and Patrick Allard is an Independent candidate.

Record speaks for itself: Khan

If Fort Whyte voters are tiring ofthe Progressive Conservatives,Khan isn't saying.

His reception at the door has been positive,withpeople telling him they're thrilled he's running, he said.But he isn't taking the race for granted.

"Every election is a fight, every game I played is a fight, every business I open is competition, right?"

Khan isproud of what he's accomplished after retiring from his nine-year CFL career in 2012. He'slaunched the Shawarma Khan restaurant chain,theGreen Carrotjuice company and, more recently, the online marketplace GoodLocal all while working for anumber of volunteer causes, he said.

"I ask people to look at an entire body of what I've done and then vote for me, because I will bring that strong voice to Fort Whyte."

Khan said the PC Party makes sense for him as it is "fiscally responsible [and]socially minded," and heapplauds its support ofsmall businesses.

Asked if the Tories did enough to respond to COVID-19,he acknowledged the challenges of governing during a pandemic.

"I mean, shoulda, coulda, woulda.I think the government did the best they could at the time under the advice they were given by public health orders, from doctors, from experts in the area," Khan said.

"No one knew what was happening, what was going on, what was going to happen."

As the candidate regarded as the favourite to win the race, he's also a target forthe opposition.

He's taken heat for the fact hisGoodLocal business receiveda $500,000 provincial grant administered through the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, though Khan argued it supported 450businesses selling their products online.

"What has the opposition done to help small businesses at that level, at that scale?" he asked.

Reaves started door-knocking in November

Reaves said his dedication to becoming the riding's next MLAis apparentto Fort Whytevoters.

Sincehe became the Liberal candidate last November, hehas knocked on doors six days a week, no matter how many extreme cold warnings the city saw.

On the chilliestdays, Reaves would tell votershe met that it's not always going to be great weather.

"It's just like in politics, you have to take the good with the bad and right now in politics isbad," he said.

Reaves, astar Blue Bomber running back in the 1980swho went on to work in the provincial justice department and in retail,confessed he's votedToryin the past, but said he'sbeen frustrated by thegovernment's decisions. He said thehealth-care system is in disarray, as his wife, a nurse, can attest.

"The way they have done things with our health-care system itjust really teesme off to no end."

The Liberals are investing time and energyin the race. A winwould givethe party a fourth seat in the 57-seat legislature and, in turn, official status, meaning morefunding and more time to speak during question period.

Reaves said he wouldn't be running for office if he didn't think he'd have a chance.

"I've never played for second place."

Send a message to government: NDP

The NDP'sSchroeder acknowledges Fort Whytehasn't historically supported her party, but she said voters shouldsend a message to a government that's lost its way.

"When I meet people who are dyed-in-the-woolConservative, Isay, you know what, you're not marrying me.This is not a lifetime commitment."

Instead, an NDP vote is "sayingto the Conservatives, 'You've got to do better; don't take us for granted,'" said Schroeder.

She's also discouraging voters from choosingthe Liberals, saying her party, which currently holds17 seats, is the most viable option for a strong opposition voice.

"The government will not change if I go there," she said.

But "what we need right now are many voices that can actually help to urge the government to move in the right direction."

Schroeder said hernon-profit leadership bona fides are an asset in the political realm.She whittled down significant deficits while leading the symphony and Folk Festival, and said her ability to stretch a penny is "almost legendary."

"I don't change things by cutting. I change things by growing organizations, by finding opportunity," she said.

Schroeder has committed to campaigning again in the 2023 general election and building theNDP's presence in the riding.

The Green Party is using the byelection to prepare for that election.

Geddert, who ran for the partyin the 2019 election in Elmwood, said his campaign is giving new youth members a chance to getelection experience under their belt.

"When I have that disillusionment and disheartenment in politics, I go to our youth committee meetings andit gives me a sense that we're going to be OK," he said.

With a career in housing,Geddertsaid if elected, he'd explore waysto increase the stock of ecologically built and socially conscious homes.

He'd also like government to provide more funding and support to social service organizations.

Allard, the Independent candidate in the race, has been an outspoken critic of pandemic restrictions.

He was arrestedforallegedlytaking part in two outdoor public gatheringsthat exceeded capacity limits, and for allegations heencouragedpeople toblockroads into IG Fieldbecause only vaccinated people could attend CFL games.

Allardsaid he isn'tat odds with law enforcement.

"I do agree with following the law. I do agree that if you don't like the law, you run for office and change it."

Allardwants public health decisionsdebated at the floor of the legislature, rather than requiringthe government to sign off. He adds he isn't a one-issue candidate and would provide a voice to those who feel ignored.

Advance voting continues until March 17. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the March 22 voting day. More information, including voting locations, is available at the Elections Manitoba website.

Pallister's Fort Whyte seat up for grabs

2 years ago

Duration 3:00

The well-to-do Fort Whyte constituency would normally be considered one of the safest Tory seats in Winnipeg but it may not look that way after next week's byelection.