Plenty of twists in Minto campaign

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This article was published 28/03/2016 (3792 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — It’s not the most hotly contested seat in Winnipeg, but the race in Minto has become an epicentre for fringe candidates and party flip-floppers this election.

The West End constituency has been held by New Democrat Andrew Swan since a 2004 byelection.

Green party candidate Don Woodstock has dug in his heels by deciding to run as an independent. Woodstock ran in the civic election, provincially for the Liberals in 2007 and federally for the Green party in 2015.

His replacement in Minto for the Green party is another perennial candidate, Martha Jo Willard, who has run provincially and federally for the Liberals.

Add in the anti-tax, anti-government Manitoba Party, which until recently listed former city councillor Harvey Smith as its candidate in Minto, although Smith denies he is running for the party — and the race to replace Swan is one to watch, if only for the twists and turns.

“All my friends would be awfully surprised to see me desert the NDP and go to the Manitoba Party,” said Smith, who was an NDP MLA in the 1980s. “I’m not too fond of Andrew Swan, but I will vote for him because I want the government to be re-elected.”

Manitoba Party president Gary Marshall offers a different perspective, saying Smith has nomination papers in order. He said Smith just has to hand the papers in. Smith said he had no idea he was on the Manitoba Party website until he was informed by the Winnipeg Free Press. His name has since been removed from the website.

“We never really know until the nomination papers are filed,” said Marshall, adding he is hopeful Smith will join the team.

All candidates have until 1 p.m. Tuesday to file their nomination papers.

Woodstock alleges he was dropped by the Green party after being nominated last May because of his actions during the fall federal election. The Winnipeg Transit bus driver ran in Winnipeg Centre and famously goaded former NDP MP Pat Martin during a debate at Portage Place to the point where Martin lashed out, calling Woodstock a “son of a bitch.”

“The Green party elite, which is a handful of members of the provincial Green party, to my total shock and dismay, they were very upset with the fact I strayed from the script in my debates with Pat Martin,” Woodstock said.

Motorists driving down Notre Dame Avenue have likely noticed Woodstock’s “Keeping it real, keeping them honest” pink-tinged billboard as they pass Lipton Street.

Woodstock alleges the Manitoba Greens share ties with the federal NDP after candidates shared campaign offices during the federal election, which influenced the party to force him off the ballot.

It’s a charge Manitoba Green Leader James Beddome calls “absolutely ridiculous.”

“It was a council decision. We didn’t feel he was the right candidate to represent the Green party,” Beddome said.

Swan is the only member of the Gang of Five running for re-election. The Gang of Five cabinet ministers sparked an unsuccessful revolt against party leader Greg Selinger in late 2015.

In 2011, Swan won the riding with about 66 per cent of the vote. The seat hasn’t left the NDP’s hands since its creation in 1999.

Woodstock and Willard (and possibly Smith) will be taking on Swan, along with former school teacher Demetre Balaktsis, who is running for the Liberals. Consultant Belinda Squance is running for the Progressive Conservatives.

“It’s a democracy and anyone who wants to put their name forward is entitled to do so,” said Swan, who says he has already erected 300 signs in the West End.

“I never take anything for granted.”

Minto is considered a safe seat for the NDP.

Woodstock said as he goes door-knocking, he is hearing a lot of anger toward the NDP and Swan’s decision to resign as justice minister to protest Selinger’s leadership.

“As the justice minister, he came out and said, and these were his words, that Greg Selinger no longer had the interests of Manitobans. He is more caring about being leader,” Woodstock said. “That’s an indictment on the man’s leadership, and the direction the party is going. It is strengthening my belief, what I am hearing on the ground that people are totally fed up with the politics of government.”

Manitobans head to the polls April 19.

» Winnipeg Free Press