Riding Mountain candidates hustle for votes

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This article was published 22/04/2025 (346 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With less than a week remaining before Canadians head to the polls, candidates in the newly named Riding Mountain constituency are ramping up their efforts to connect with voters in a region known for its traditionally strong Conservative support.

In the 2021 federal election, under the riding’s previous name of Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa, the Conservative party dominated with 59 per cent of the vote, while the NDP, Liberals, People’s Party of Canada and Greens trailed significantly. As the political landscape evolves and new voices emerge, this year’s candidates are navigating familiar and shifting ground to make their messages heard.

Incumbent MP Dan Mazier, running for re-election under the Conservative banner, told the Sun he has leaned heavily into grassroots campaigning.

“I’ve been from Treherne to Foxwarren, Swan River, Mafeking, Winnipegosis and everywhere in between, knocking on tens of thousands of doors,” Mazier said. “Voters want a candidate who shows up, listens and works hard.”

The incumbent said he has sensed a strong appetite for change at the national level, particularly among voters dissatisfied with the current Liberal government. Despite the riding’s conservative leanings, Mazier insists he’s not taking anything for granted. “I’m campaigning in every part of this constituency because that’s what real representation means,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jim Oliver, a first-time candidate for the People’s Party of Canada, is running what he candidly calls “a one-man show.”

“Dan Mazier’s got hundreds of volunteers. I’ve got a few key people helping me, but I’m largely doing this myself,” Oliver told the Sun. “It’s been a positive experience, though, and I’m hearing strong support from people who align with the PPC’s values.”

Despite the PPC garnering 10.5 per cent of the vote in 2021, Oliver believes his party could more than double that support this time around, especially as frustrations with mainstream parties mount.

“We’re offering something different — real alternatives,” he said. “Our message on issues like uncontrolled immigration, radical gender ideology and the erosion of traditional freedoms is resonating. The mainstream media is largely ignoring our party; we were excluded from the debates, but people are listening.”

Oliver emphasized the PPC’s opposition to what he views as overreach on issues ranging from environmental policy to gender identity. He also aimed at both the Liberal and Conservative parties, accusing them of advancing similar globalist agendas under different banners.

“This riding is traditional, yes, but that doesn’t mean it can’t change. People here are fed up,” he said.

Liberal candidate Terry Hayward told the Sun the tide is shifting, adding the campaign has been “going extremely well,” and that he’s seeing more engagement than in previous years. In 2021, the Liberals received 12.7 per cent of the riding’s vote.

“There’s a very strong drive to have recognition that people are going to be voting for Canada this election, not for their party,” Hayward said. “That tells me there are a lot of concerned Canadians, some of them Conservative, who are rethinking their vote.”

Hayward, who believes the Liberals are poised to form a majority government, argues that voters in Riding Mountain have a rare opportunity.

“This is their opportunity to have a member of Parliament sitting on the government benches,” he said. “Quite often, rural seems to be the not-talked-about part of Canada. But we have a huge population that lives in these areas.”

He praised Liberal Leader Mark Carney for his experience and composure, and though Carney has not yet visited the riding during the campaign, Hayward hopes Manitobans will see him return to the province in the final days before the vote.

NDP candidate Andrew Douglas Maxwell did not respond to the Sun’s email. The NDP placed second in the riding in 2021, albeit distantly, with 14.5 per cent of the vote.

As campaigning enters its final stretch, visible and strategic voter engagement shifts are becoming clear.

Mazier has stuck to face-to-face interactions, confident that meeting people where they are builds lasting trust. His approach reflects a more traditional style, heavily reliant on door-knocking and community events.

By contrast, Oliver’s campaign, while limited in resources, has been heavily message-driven. “We know we’re excluded from the debates and ignored by the mainstream media,” he said. “So we’ve been using social media, phone calls and word-of-mouth. Every conversation counts.”

Hayward, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of personal engagement combined with national vision. “I’m getting a very big, positive reception at the doors,” he said. “People are talking a lot about this election. They are recognizing the importance of it — and that they’re voting for the country, not just a party.”

The candidates agree on one point — voters in Riding Mountain are not apathetic. Whether they want to maintain the course or shift it dramatically, people are engaged.

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