Manitoba's largest federal riding held by NDP being challenged by new candidate
The largest federal riding in the province is being challenged by a new candidate.
Churchill-Keewatinook Aski covers the entire top half of Manitoba – a lot of ground to cover for candidates, but NDP incumbent Niki Ashton is no stranger to the area.
“We’ve done a lot of work with communities here in our part of the country over the years, and a lot of work during the COVID-19 crisis, and we’ve certainly heard a lot of recognition and appreciation," she said.
Ashton has held the seat for the NDP since 2008.
She said there is a housing crisis for remote First Nation communities in her riding, which has led to severe overcrowding in homes and uninhabitable conditions.
“One of the key factors that has contributed to the spread of COVID-19, and to particular outbreaks in communities like Shamattawa and Red Sucker Lake is because of the housing situation, and we need to see the federal government take that seriously," Ashton said.
Kelly Saunders, an associate professor of political science at Brandon University, said this riding could potentially change hands this election.
She said Liberal candidate Shirley Robinson is gaining a lot of support from the riding, and has been endorsed by First Nations leaders in the province, including Grand Chief Arlen Dumas.
“Ms. Robinson is a Cree woman from Cross Lake, a former band councillor, so she has a lot of great political skills and community relationships that she’s bringing to her candidacy," Saunders said.
Saunders said the riding has a large Indigenous population, and there is a lot of mining and steel work going on in the area.
“(The unions) are where Niki Ashton and the NDP support really draws from, so it’s going to go Indigenous vote and it’s going to go union vote, that’s where you’re really going to see the battle between the NDP and the Liberals play out," she said.
Liberal candidate Shirley Robinson said she believes she would be a strong voice for northern Manitobans.
“My heart is for my people in this riding, and it’s not specifically Indigenous, it’s everyone in this riding – they deserve a true voice," Robinson said.
If elected, Robinson has a lot she wants to accomplish, including pushing for progress in the 94 calls to action form the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
“Our infrastructure, the all-weather roads, our railway, and of course our very poor internet service," she said.
There are three other candidates in the race for Churchill-Keewatinook Aski, including Conservative candidate Charlotte Larocque, Green party candidate Ralph McLean, and Dylan Young with the People’s Party of Canada.
Manitobans cast their votes on September 20.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
"It's a bit of a complicated pattern; we've got a lot going on," said Jennifer Smith of the Meteorological Service of Canada in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday. "[As is] typical with weather, all of these things are related."
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.