Winnipeg South-Centre: Storm may be ‘more perfect’ for Liberals

A Liberal incumbent in Manitoba is trying to win his first general election. CTV’s Jeff Keele has more on the riding of Winnipeg South-Centre.

Royden Brousseau said he’s been door knocking for a year in Winnipeg South-Centre.

The Conservative Party of Canada candidate said he’s running because he feels the country has been stagnant over the last decade under the Liberals.

“I want to be part of a government that can do better for Canadians, that can grow the size of the pie for families,” said Brousseau.

Brousseau has worked in the energy and resources sectors, as well as corporate finance. He said he’s working hard to win the riding where he grew up.

“We’ve knocked more than 37,000 doors in the riding,” he said. “I’ve had the opportunity to connect with thousands of constituents, and there’s momentum.”

But he’s up against an incumbent whose party has seen a momentum change since changing leaders. Ben Carr was one of the Liberal MPs who publicly called for Justin Trudeau to leave.

“People are coming to the conclusion that Mark Carney is the person that the country needs to meet the moment, so I think we’re seeing a lot of support reflected in the signs,” said Carr.

Carr won a byelection in 2023 after his father, Jim, who was the MP, passed away.

“I’m very proud of what I’ve accomplished as my own person,” said Carr. “I had a long career as an educator in this riding.”

The seat is a typical Liberal stronghold, but it did flip blue under Stephen Harper for a term.

Andrew Enns of polling firm Leger said the Liberals are rebounding post-Trudeau, and the polls show the NDP are down, trends that could favour Carr.

“I think right now the storm right now is actually more perfect for the Liberals when I look at South-Centre.” Said Enns

The NDP candidate in South-Centre is Jorge Requena Ramos.

“I don’t know that I can win the election, but for me, just having a platform is already a victory,” said Ramos.

The artistic director of the West End Cultural Centre said he’s in the race to reach young people.

“Eighteen- to 35-year-old voters are really not engaged, they’re disillusioned with the system,” said Ramos. “I want them to remember that they are inheriting the world from us.”

There are four other candidates in the race. Chris Petriew is the Green Party candidate, Jaclyn Cummings represents the People’s Party of Canada, Cam Scott is the Communist Party candidate, and Tait Palsson is running as an Independent candidate.