MOOSOMIN — The first days of the federal election campaign have been busy in the Brandon-Souris riding. On Sunday, March 23, the election campaign officially began — the same day former MP Larry Maguire announced he would not seek re-election as a Member of Parliament, citing health issues.
This meant someone needed to step in for the Conservative Party in Brandon-Souris quickly. That candidate is Spruce Woods MLA Grant Jackson.
“It is certainly sudden, and Larry’s condition is very concerning, so he’s making the right decision for his personal health,” Jackson said. “I’m just honoured that the federal party has asked me to be the candidate, and I’m going to get out to the doors. I started door knocking last night to earn every vote that I can.”
The transition took place quickly, as Jackson explained how Maguire called him the very morning of his announcement.
“I got a phone call from Larry Sunday morning, letting me know what he was going to be announcing later publicly,” he said. “As a mentor, a friend, and an MLA in the region, he just wanted to give me the heads up. Then, not long after that, I got a phone call from the federal party asking me if I would be interested in being their candidate.”
With the short timeframe and already being into the writ period, there was no time for a nomination race. Jackson took a day to think about the new opportunity before deciding to accept.
“I went to Winnipeg, I had conversations with my Progressive Conservative MLA colleagues, who were all very supportive,” Jackson said. “Of course, they were sad to see me go, but very supportive if this is what I decided to do, and basically that was it. I had that much time to talk to my family, my partner’s family, and then we had to resign to the speaker, and we were off to the races.”
With Jackson’s departure as MLA, a by-election is expected in Spruce Woods.
“I’m encouraged that there are a number of people who have reached out to me already who are interested in running for the seat and for the Progressive Conservative nomination first,” he said.
Maguire followed the same route from MLA to MP when Merv Tweed resigned as MP.
“Merv Tweed was actually the MLA for Turtle Mountain for the Progressive Conservatives before he became the Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris, and then Larry was Arthur-Virden before he became MP,” Jackson explained.
People want change
Jackson says he is hearing a lot of feedback from constituents as he makes his way around the riding. Foremost is a resounding message of change needed in the governing party.
“I’m hearing lots about the fact that folks just do not believe that this Liberal government deserves a fourth term,” Jackson said.
Affordability is another huge topic.
“Seniors and folks on a fixed income have just been hammered time and time again over the last 10 years, and they have no more room to give,” Jackson says. He also pointed to the oil and gas industry in Western Manitoba, which has not been supported during that same timeframe.
“I plan to certainly be a strong voice for that industry and then our agricultural sector as well,” he said. There’s lots of concerns out there. We’re living in challenging times with tariffs and a potential trade war with our largest trade trading partner. I think we’re putting forward a common-sense plan that’s going to bring it home for industries in Westman and across the country.”
As for the spike in Liberal popularity in the polls post-Trudeau, Jackson says it’s clear that meant Trudeau had to go.
“I think anybody was better than Justin Trudeau, and so they’re seeing a little bump just because they finally made the right decision to tell him that his time was up,” he said. “That being said, Mark Carney has been involved right from the get-go here advising Justin Trudeau, the cabinet that he’s appointed behind him is almost exactly the same people that have supported the Liberal government and have been in key roles through the last 10 years.
“Our job as Conservative candidates across the country is to just make sure we’re delivering home the message to Manitobans, Saskatchewanians, and Canadians that these folks are exactly the same,” he continued. “They are promising things now in an attempt to get a fourth term, but their governing style will be exactly the same thing as you’ve seen the last 10 years. The only poll that matters is the poll on election day, and we’re going to work hard every day to make sure that we’re going to get this done and get a Conservative majority government for this country.”
One area Maguire was especially concerned with was the rising rates of dependence on food banks, and Jackson doesn’t see affordability improving in the near future.
“The stats in Manitoba are approaching 50 per cent of people who are unable or almost unable to make their monthly payment expectations in terms of bills and what they have going on in their lives,” Jackson said. “Almost 50 per cent—that’s just an astronomically high number that shouldn’t be anywhere near that level. I’m sure it’s similar in other provinces. We’ve just got to get those costs down for Manitobans and Canadians. Certainly, if a fourth term of the Liberal government gets elected, it will continue to increase. But I think that we’ve got a strong policy platform, and they’ll be more rolled out over the coming weeks that Canadians will see that we have a real plan to bring down costs.”
