Brandon West
Green Party of Manitoba (GPM) - Candidate: Bill Marsh
The candidate did not respond by our September 20, 2023 deadline
New Democratic Party of Manitoba (NDP) - Candidate: Quentin Robinson
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
Ten years before his death my father suffered a series of strokes. Subsequently he faced mobility issues and, at times, struggled with verbal communication. He, and family members, had to come to terms with the reality that some simple activities were not simple anymore, they required planning and new equipment. It meant that not all public spaces were accessible to him. This was physically and emotionally difficult for all involved.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
Priority 3, to meet basic needs, seems most significant to me. Employment challenges and income inequality means that Manitobans with disabilities can have a harder time getting proper housing, nutrition or accessing health care. Those basics need to be taken care of.
Q: Disability discrimination has made up the largest share by far of all the formal complaints lodged with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission over the last 20 years. What do you think accounts for this and what do you think needs to be done to address it?
These statistics are sad and alarming. I think those numbers are high because so many who live with disabilities are so under resourced and, therefore, chronically struggling and frustrated in the systems they try to navigate. This obviously has to change.
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba (PC) - Candidate: Wayne Balcaen
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
I am hearing impaired and have lived with that for the past 15 years to the point I require hearing aids for daily, functional ability. My entire life I have seen my father struggle with mobility issues due to severe back injuries. When he was living, my maternal grandfather was in a wheelchair, and my maternal grandmother required a walker for mobility. I am quite aware of challenges that are faced by individuals with various disabilities.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
I think the area of greatest interest that the public and political parties/governments should be focusing on is ensuring all basic needs are met. I know the PC Government has made improvements and steps towards this but there’s still much we can do and I will be an advocate for my community if I’m honoured to be the next MLA.
Q: Disability discrimination has made up the largest share by far of all the formal complaints lodged with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission over the last 20 years. What do you think accounts for this and what do you think needs to be done to address it?
Discrimination is likely largely driven by a lack of awareness. As community leaders MLAs need to champion this and I am promising this to be one of my focus areas.