Campaign Politics

Jonathan Craven visits the vast, northern Manitoba riding of Churchill, where a tight race between the NDP and Liberal candidates is expected. In the last federal election, CBC actress-turned Liberal MP Tina Keeper beat NDP candidate Niki Ashton. She brought the riding back into Liberal hands after nearly a decade of New Democrat representation. Ashton, a 26-year-old University College of the North instructor, is taking another run at the seat. In 2006, NDP support was split between Ashton and former NDP MP Bev Desjarlais, who left the party over her same-sex marriage position and ran as an Independent. Newcomers to the race include Wally Daudrich, who is running for the Conservatives, and Green Party candidate Saara Harvie. The candidates also talk about the many challenges of campaigning in an area that is three times the size of England.