Look beyond headlines before casting vote
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Editor’s Note:
During an election or byelection period, The Brandon Sun only publishes letters from candidates or the parties that they represent if they are taking issue with something that has been reported by this newspaper regarding their election campaign.
— Matt Goerzen, managing editor
As your Manitoba Liberal candidate in Spruce Woods, I want to speak directly to you, the people whose voices truly matter in this byelection.
Over the past weeks, The Sun’s media coverage has framed this byelection as a two-party race, when it is indeed a three-party race.
For example, on Aug. 22, reporter Alex Lambert ended his story with “In Spruce Woods, the Liberal party has never garnered more than 14.2 per cent of the vote, and has never finished higher than the NDP or Progressive Conservatives.”
And on Aug. 8, he began with “Voters in Brandon’s North Hill don’t think the Liberals have a shot at winning the upcoming Spruce Woods byelection, something Liberal candidate Stephen Reid disagrees with.”
Too often, stories about this race have begun and ended with the same message: that the Liberals “can’t win.” This framing, repeated again and again, doesn’t just report, it shapes perceptions. When voters are told their vote is a “waste,” it discourages participation, silences choice and weakens our democracy.
I entered this race because I believe Spruce Woods deserves better. Our riding deserves a real conversation about solutions about small business, about health care, about education, about respecting all communities and about building opportunity for the next generation. Reducing this campaign to a headline of “who can or cannot win” takes away from that important conversation.
At the end of the day, it’s not reporters or columnists who decide who represents Spruce Woods. It’s you, the voters. And every vote matters. A strong Liberal voice in this legislature can make a difference, not just in holding governments accountable, but in bringing forward fresh ideas that reflect the real priorities of our communities.
I want to make it clear, a vote for Stephen Reid in this byelection is not a wasted vote. It’s well documented that the PCs and NDP have long forgotten this riding, despite the recent obvious investment promises. Maybe it’s time for something new. A leader who is educated, well-researched and well-spoken, who can give a real voice to the people of Spruce Woods. Someone who is strong in negotiations and collaboration, who can get the best deal for our people.
I’m asking you to look beyond the headlines and consider what could be, what we can accomplish together, and what kind of representative you want for Spruce Woods.
Stephen Reid
Manitoba Liberal Candidate for Spruce Woods