Article appeared in the Sept 29, 2011 issue of the Interlake Spectator…
A small, but interested, crowd of fewer than 50 people gathered at the Community Hall in Arborg on Sept. 21 to listen to the four candidates vying to represent the Interlake riding in the Manitoba Legislature come Oct. 4. One of them will represent Interlakers living within new boundaries: St. Laurent to the south, Eddystone to the west, Lake St. Martin to the north, and Arborg to the east.
The candidates forum was hosted by the Arborg and District Chamber of Commerce to give candidates a chance to answer specific questions put to them by business and the general public. The debate was monitored by Reg Perry. Candidates were allotted five minutes for opening remarks, two minutes to answer questions, one minute for rebuttals, and three minutes for closing remarks. Ron Johnston was the time keeper.
Incumbent, Tom Nevakshonoff (NDP), and new-comers Steve Lupky (PC), Albert Ratt (LIB), and John Zasitko (IND) each gave it their best shot in answering the 11 questions put to them.
For the most part, the debate was a friendly affair, but with Lupky becoming visibly irritated from time to time with the political posturing of Nevakshonoff. Zasitko enjoyed the odd swipe at the Progressive Conservative Party by making a point, more than once, of praising the New Democrats. Ratt stood his ground throughout, without trying to make his opponents look bad. However, he was at a disadvantage in that his party, the Liberals, had only divulged its platform that day. Numerous times, Ratt was reduced to reading from the Liberal booklet, and encouraged people to visit the Liberal Party website to learn more about its platform.
Questions ranged from Bipole III, to the education tax, water management, infrastructure, minimum wage, agriculture, housing, healthcare and senior issues.
There were few surprises in the answers given by candidates, which pretty much conformed to party lines. Zasitko, however, had no such limitation, and at times appeared to be ‘winging it’. He did, come up with a few interesting ideas. On the Bipole question, he suggested that whoever wins the election will “put their poles wherever they want.” While Ratt insisted, just as logically, that the power lines should be dug under water, the least expensive and most environmentally friendly way. “It’s the way of the future,” he said.
In their closing remarks, Nevakshonoff promised to focus on the core issues of education, healthy living, technical vocational training in rural areas, infrastructure, and funding programs for farmers.
Lupky urged voters to look forward to what can be done, “together and cooperatively…to make this a place better for everyone.”
Zasitko remarked that candidates should be required to live in the riding they hope to represent.
Ratt asked voters to seriously consider the Liberal platform.
“The only way your needs will be addressed is through who you elect.”
