Candidates in Tory stronghold Portage-Lisgar push for new representation

a map of the Portage-Lisgar riding. (Elections Canada)

While the Portage-Lisgar riding is a Conservative stronghold, other party candidates say the riding would benefit from a change in representation in the 2025 election.

The riding was created in 1996 and has remained a right-wing stronghold—first represented by the Reform and Alliance parties until they merged with the Progressive Conservatives to create the Conservative Party of Canada in 2003.

Since then, the riding has been held by Conservatives.

Most recently, Branden Leslie has represented the region in Ottawa. He was elected in a 2023 byelection, replacing former interim Conservative Party leader Candace Bergen, a candidate whose campaign he managed.

CTV News Winnipeg reached out to Leslie for an interview Friday but did not receive a response by our deadline.

Robert Kreis is running for the Liberals. He believes the riding is due for new representation.

“This riding would benefit far better if you didn’t know which party was going to win this riding until the last vote was counted,” he said.

Kreis, a past chair of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Winnipeg, said he has been hearing lots of concerns from voters on the trail over tariff and sovereignty threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

“Seniors are most concerned with that,” he said. “Perhaps in part, some of them have family members or themselves were around in the Second World War, so there’s some concern about that.”

Lisa Tessier, a long-time teacher who represented the NDP in the 2023 byelection, is representing the party again. She said affordability has been one of the concerns brought to her by voters.

“It’s in the forefront of everyone’s minds,” she said. “People want to know how they’re going to be able to afford just the basics and having to make choices between ‘Do I pay all these bills?’ or ‘Do I put food on the table?’”

Tessier feels having more parties represented in Ottawa is beneficial to Canadians and people in Portage-Lisgar.

“I know the NDP is not going to form government in this election, but Ottawa works better when more parties are present in Parliament,” she said. “The NDP has historically been the party that wants to work with other political parties and with government, whoever is in power, to get things done and to make life better for Canadians.”

There are two other candidates running in the riding.

Kevin Larson, a shop supervisor and a volunteer firefighter, is representing the People’s Party of Canada. The party finished in second place in the 2021 federal election.

“I feel that the major parties are so focused on votes and the cities where the majority of people are; this leaves rural Canada to be seen as seat placeholders for the major parties, without any real concern for our needs,” Larson said in an emailed statement.

“I want to be the voice and conscience of our riding.”

Janine G. Gibson, an organic agriculture consultant and activist, is representing the Green Party of Canada in the riding.

Election Day is April 28.