Candidates clash on health, ‘parental rights’

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This article was published 20/09/2023 (987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon East candidates were put in the hot seat during Tuesday night’s debate at Brandon University, where they were asked to sound off on a variety of contentious topics that included health-care funding, Indigenous reconciliation and the true meaning behind “parental rights.”

This event at BU’s Lorne Watson Recital Hall served as a major public showcase for local educators Glen Simard (NDP) and Trenton Zazalak (Liberal), who are gunning for the seat of incumbent Len Isleifson (Progressive Conservatives).

The first question of the night revolved around health care, with Simard and Isleifson going back and forth on the failings of their respective parties when they were in power.

Simard claims that the PCs have “destroyed” Manitoba’s health-care system over the past seven years, with issues like doctor shortages and worker burnout being felt especially here in Westman.

Isleifson retorted by stating that the NDP’s management of the health-care system during their time in power was disastrous, resulting in long wait times and systemic mismanagement.

However, Simard shot back by highlighting NDP health-care investments right here in Brandon, including expansions to the Brandon Regional Health Centre and its CancerCare facility.

Zazalak said he believes Brandon East constituents should do away with the traditional PC-NDP voting pattern, describing this political dynamic as an old car that is becoming way too expensive to maintain.

“And if you don’t fix all those things, it eventually catches up to you,” the Liberal candidate said. “Either you spend a lot of money to fix the car back up or you just trash it. Maybe it’s time to trash both parties and buy a new one.”

Isleifson — who first won this seat in Brandon East in 2016 — spent most of the evening defending the record of his PC government, which has been embroiled in a number of controversies throughout the campaign season.

One of the major issues that has dogged the PCs throughout the summer involved Premier Heather Stefanson’s lack of action on the search for two murdered Indigenous women who police believe are hidden within the Prairie Green Landfill near Winnipeg.

Stefanson has publicly stated that a search for these missing women would be too dangerous to enact, sparking major public backlash from members of Indigenous communities and its allies.

During Tuesday’s debate, Isleifson wouldn’t commit to either side of the debate, stating that the PCs are committed to broader Indigenous reconciliation initiatives beyond this specific issue.

However, Zazalak and Simard made no qualms about their support for searching the landfill, with the former taking a “costs be damned” approach to this issue, while the latter stated that a garbage dump shouldn’t be anyone’s final resting place.

“We need to work with the federal government, and the Manitoba NDP will work with the federal government to find Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran,” Simard said.

Another PC talking point over the past couple of months involves championing “parental rights,” with the party supporting the idea of enhancing the Public Schools Act to give parents more oversight into what’s taking place in the classroom.

Critics of this pledge, including NDP Leader Wab Kinew, have characterized it as an “anti-LGBTQ+ dog whistle, especially in light of new policies in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick that require children under 16 to have parental consent before they can officially change their preferred first names or pronouns at school.

Isleifson denied that this move to boost “parental rights” has a bigoted motivation, stating there is no harm in updating a policy that hasn’t been modified since 1996.

But Simard, speaking from his personal experience as a teacher, stated that most of these proposed changes to the Public Schools Act are redundant, since he regularly consults with parents about the goings-on in the classroom.

Additionally, Simard expressed concern over the pronoun policies being passed in other Canadian policies, stating it directly contradicts the overriding goal of every educator, which is to create a safe space for all students.

“A lot of times kids will confide in their teacher first if they’re going through a transition or if they’re struggling with their identity,” he said.

“And I would shudder at the thought of being forced to share those feelings that a student shared with me … and out a kid to their parents when they’ve confided in me. I just don’t understand how that can be keeping kids safe.”

While all three candidates consistently butted heads Tuesday night, they were all at least united in their desire to grow Manitoba’s second-largest urban area.

Isleifson believes that the right way to ensure Brandon’s prosperous future is continued investment in the community, highlighting the PCs’ funding of institutions like the Brandon Police Service and the Brandon Regional Health Centre.

“I have been listening to residents in Brandon East. I have heard loud and clear about health, affordability and safety,” he said.

“And with your continued support … I will continue to work hard for our community that I have invested in for 61 years.”

Zazalak reiterated his point about breaking from Manitoba’s two-party system through voting for the Liberals, referencing how the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result.

“I expect the people of Brandon to stand up and say ‘we want a different outcome, we need to do things differently … for the future,’” he said.

Simard closed out the debate by simply encouraging people to go out and vote next month, pitching himself as an outsider who can get things done.

“What you see is what you get, and I hope to have your vote on Oct. 3,” he said.

While the provincial election is taking place Oct. 3, advance voting begins this Saturday.

From Sept. 23-30, Brandon East constituents can submit their ballots at Assiniboine Community College (1430 Victoria Ave. East) or the local election office (144 Sixth St.).

Visit electionsmanitoba.ca/en/voting/advancelocations for more details.

A rundown of Tuesday night’s Brandon West debate is available to read on The Brandon Sun website.

» kdarbyson@brandonsun.com