Treaty 1 Territory, Homeland of the Red River Métis, Winnipeg, MB - Today Manitoba Liberals officially launched the campaign of Willard Reaves, their candidate to be the next MLA for Fort Whyte, saying that the former Manitoba Sheriff and Winnipeg Blue Bomber is the only candidate who can deliver the change that voters are looking for.
“I’ve been knocking on doors for three months in all kinds of weather - the people of Fort Whyte are looking for an MLA they can trust. Someone who will actually show up at the door, listen and work for them,” said Reaves. “They don’t want an MLA who is just a mouthpiece - they say they want someone who will be free to advocate for them. We’re the only party who will offer that."
“If the last two years have shown us anything, it’s that this government has completely mismanaged our health care system," said Dougald Lamont, MLA for St. Boniface and Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party. “Willard is running for all the reasons I did - because he wants to make a difference and make things right, and because Manitobans need and deserve a better option. This by-election can be used to send a strong message that the direction this government has been on is the wrong one.”
Lamont said he has been hearing from PC voters who say they won’t vote conservative again after the way Premier Heather Stefanson’s government failed to handle the pandemic and appeared to give 'occupation protests' a free pass to blockade highways, borders, and streets around the Manitoba Legislature - despite pleas from residents who were harassed or who were blocked from travelling in Winnipeg, Emerson, and elsewhere.
To anyone who asks why Reaves chose to enter the political arena now, the answer is clear.
“My wife is a nurse. After seeing the way this government has failed the health care system, failed health care workers, and failed all Manitobans throughout the pandemic, I could not continue to sit on the sidelines any longer. You can’t trust the people who broke the system to fix the system. Only the Manitoba Liberals have the broad vision and independence that were necessary for me to get involved. This is a party that lets you stay true to yourself. Only Manitobans get to tell me what to do.”
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