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SpecialEdition Brandon-SourisCandidatesQ&A

As Canadians prepare to head to the polls in one of the most consequential federal elections in recent memory, the Brandon Chamber of Commerce is proud to share this Special Federal Election Edition of The Glance

This issue is dedicated to amplifying the voices of the candidates running in the Brandon–Souris riding by presenting their unedited responses to a series of questions focused on business growth, economic recovery, and development opportunities for Canadian enterprises

We believe our members deserve clarity on where each candidate stands on the issues that matter most to our business community access to skilled labour, infrastructure investment, taxation, international trade, and local economic development.

The Chamber remains strictly non-partisan Our role is not to endorse candidates, but to inform and equip our members with the knowledge they need to make confident, informed decisions at the ballot box

We thank all participating candidates for their time, and we encourage all Chamber members to read, reflect, and most importantly vote

Voting Information and Resources

A Candidates Debate will be held Wednesday, April 23 at the Brandon University Evan's Theatre from 7-9 pm. This event is open to the public. All are encouraged to attend and hear directly from the candidates

Elections Canada

For voter registration, advance polling information, mail-in ballots, and details about where and how to vote, visit: �� www.elections.ca

GRANT JACKSON

As your Conservative Party of Canada candidate for Brandon-Souris, Grant is committed to defending our rural way of life Alongside his fellow Conservative colleagues, he’s committed to restoring the promise of Canada Led by Pierre Poilievre they’ll build an economy that works for everyone protect the safety and security of our streets and ensure that families can thrive no matter where they live They’ll stand up for Canadian sovereignty, rebuild our military, and give young people the hope they need to build a brighter future

Grant is a community leader and a tireless volunteer for multiple organizations Born and raised in Souris, Grant received his Bachelor of Arts with Honours at Brandon University after graduating from Souris School

Throughout his career, Grant worked for Larry Maguire, Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris, both in Brandon and on Parliament Hill, gaining valuable experience at the federal level Grant has worked at the Manitoba Legislature supporting our Progressive Conservative Government on files in Justice, Families, Mental Health and Community Wellness, Environment and Climate, and as Special Advisor to the Premier

Grant calls Souris home and is actively involved in volunteering for the Souris Curling Club the Western Manitoba Youth Choir and other community organizations He has also volunteered his time supporting the PC Party of Manitoba for over 10 years, serving as Vice-President Policy for Spruce Woods Constituency Association, and later as Regional Director for Southwest Manitoba on the PC Party of Manitoba Board

GRANT JACKSON

1. What specific policies do you propose to support stability and growth of small and medium-sized businesses?

Small and medium sized businesses are the backbone of rural economies and play a crucial role in the economy in Brandon-Souris The Conservative Party of Canada is committed to protecting and elevating these small and medium businesses, their owners, and workers To support the stability and growth of these enterprises the government needs to get out of the way and let them do business A Conservative government will eliminate 25% of all red tape within the first two years of our mandate Red tape chokes ambition, drives up costs, and makes it easier for foreign businesses to compete with us Ten years of Liberal government have seen the bureaucracy grow, only for wait and delivery times to slow Less red tape and fewer regulations will allow business owners to operate more efficiently and grow faster creating good-paying jobs for Canadians

2. What is your position on corporate tax rates and tax incentives? Will you commit to policies that support business stability and job retention, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises?

A Conservative government will be focused on bringing stability for small and medium sized businesses The Liberal government implemented tax changes such as the capital gains tax increase without even passing legislation A Conservative government will convene a tax reform task force within 60 days of forming government made up of entrepreneurs, tax experts, and industry leaders The task force will be focused on lowering taxes on work, hiring, and job retention Our government will also reduce income taxes by 15% so the average worker can keep an extra $900 each year, while dual-income families will keep $1800 more

3. What strategies do you have to address labour shortages and ensure businesses can access the skilled workers they need? How do you see Canada’s immigration targets contributing to a strong and skilled workforce?

Unfortunately, skilled labour shortages are becoming a problem for these enterprises A Conservative government will train 350 000 new apprentices over the next five years with an expanded Union Training and Innovation Program, and restore the $4000 apprenticeship grants the Liberals cancelled This program will create a large supply of skilled workers to get things built in Westman This program will have a massive impact on the housing shortage that is being faced across the country Canadians deserve safe homes to live in, but we lack the builders to build them Conservatives have a plan to create good-paying jobs and alleviate the housing crisis at the same time

4. What role should the government play in helping businesses recover from economic downturns and supply chain disruptions? Please share specific programs or policies that your party would introduce in response to tariffs implemented by the US and other trading partners

As President Trump continues to unjustifiably tariff Canadian goods, Conservatives will implement dollar-fordollar retaliatory tariffs The revenue raised from these tariffs will be redirected to the provinces and territories to be spent on whatever they choose including healthcare A Conservative government will also work with each province and territory to remove as many interprovincial trade barriers as possible It is unacceptable that it costs more money to do business with other Canadians than it does to do business with Americans Our Conservative team will build an economy that works with each other rather than working against each other

GRANT JACKSON

5. How do you see major infrastructure projects contributing to Canada’s economic stability and growth. What projects would your party pursue, if elected?

After ten years of Liberal government major infrastructure projects are on hold I am proud to be a part of a Conservative team who is eager to get things built in Canada again A Conservative government will repeal the “No-NewPipelines” Law and the Tanker Ban so we can build new pipelines and LNG terminals to export our energy overseas, ending our economic dependence on the United States We will also mandate six-month approvals and set a target for decisions on resource project applications within six months Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is also very interested in updating and elevating the Port of Churchill which would turn Manitoba into an economic superhub A fully functional Port of Churchill will create hundreds if not thousands of good-paying jobs for Manitobans and attract investment into our province like never before

6. What measures would you introduce to help Canadian businesses expand into international markets and remain competitive?

If the federal government wants to expand Canadian businesses into international markets and still remain competitive, we must invest in critical infrastructure such as ports and highways This is the best way to get our goods and services flowing across international borders Manitoba is accessible by land, sea, air, and is located in the middle of the country, which puts us in a unique position to distribute Canadian goods around the world We must also reduce red tape to keep our businesses competitive and to stop the flow of Canadian dollars and jobs across our southern border to the United States It is up to the federal government to create new trading opportunities with other countries around the world A Conservative government would focus on repairing existing and building new relationships with countries that have a demand for our high quality goods and services

7. What is your approach to strengthening domestic supply chains and reducing reliance on imports? How would your government ensure, following the election, that interprovincial trade barriers are fully dismantled?

With President Trump’s tariffs it is reckless to rely on the United States alone to buy our goods We need to trade more with ourselves, but governments impose massive trade barriers on us that cost $5100 per person To end reliance on the United States and bolster our domestic economy we will bring together the Premiers of every province and territory to remove as many trade barriers as possible create one standard set of trucking rules, create and implement a blue seal professional licensing standard so workers can work in all provinces To get the deal done, a Conservative government will offer the provinces a Free Trade Bonus Every time a provincial government removes a barrier, my government will calculate the resulting boost in GDP and give the increased federal tax revenue to that province for schools, hospitals or whatever else Premiers choose

8. What would your first priority be in harnessing the potential of communities within Brandon-Souris, if you were elected?

Brandon-Souris and Manitoba at-large have massive unrealized economic potential Our region has some of the world's best agriculture and energy It is vital that we protect and grow these industries, not just in production, but also processing and manufacturing If elected, I will always be a champion for our agriculture and energy sectors Growing these sectors will benefit our region immeasurably and create good-paying jobs for families in Brandon-Souris I also believe that the Brandon Municipal Airport plays a large role in the economic wellbeing of our area Securing funding to expand the airport, not just for passengers, but for cargo will turn Brandon, and the Westman region into an economic hub that attracts investment from across Canada and the world

QUENTIN ROBINSON

Quentin has lived in Central and Westman communities for 30 years and in Brandon for 9 years He has been committed to building the strength of communities in which he has lived and worked as a United Church minister and a Marriage and Family Therapist He has provided leadership in many volunteer organizations

A decade in farming as a custom grain harvester and livestock producer gives Quentin an appreciation for the hard work and dedication of all who work in the agricultural sector and for the struggles they often face to survive and thrive

Quentin enjoys being part of a faith community that welcomes and seeks fairness for all and stands against discrimination of all kinds

Along with his wife and musical friends he loves to sing and play at care homes and community concerts around the Westman area

QUENTIN ROBINSON

1 What specific policies do you propose to support stability and growth of small and medium-sized businesses?

I would just begin by acknowledging that small and medium size businesses are experts in their area So, whether it would be called a “policy” or a “practice” I will keep an open dialogue going with the Chamber and its members The input to policy by key stakeholders is a crucial contribution to success in my view That said, I believe our Build Canadian Buy Canadian policy will support jobs including with small and medium sized businesses National pharmacare and dental care will lower costs for any small or medium enterprise that provides insurance Plus, it will help lower absenteeism by keeping owners and employees healthier It also levels the playing field with larger employer to attract talent, making smaller businesses more competitive with larger employers that offer drug insurance Tax cuts for middleand lower-income people give more disposable income to those who are most likely to spend it at local small business Removing GST on essential items will boost demand for some retailers

2 What is your position on corporate tax rates and tax incentives? Will you commit to policies that support business stability and job retention, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises?

We do not plan on changing corporate tax rates We believe that the policies stated above, by lowering costs for employers and keeping more money in the pockets of consumers, is also a path to stability and job retention, particularly for smaller local businesses

We plan to increase funding for training skilled workers We will improve foreign credential recognition, making it easier for qualified immigrants to work in key areas where there is demand, including healthcare Canada s strength comes from the people who have made it their home – from the First Nations who have stewarded the land for millennia to generation after generation of newcomers who have built their lives here We will create pathways to permanent residency for temporary workers who have worked in small and medium sized business, sometimes for years, so they can contribute to a stable workforce and strong economy

Economies are driven by three elements: consumer spending, government spending and what businesses spend to maintain and grow themselves In a time in which the business environment is insecure and business investment declines as a result, it is crucial to do what we can to keep stability in the other elements that drive the economy Government can play a key role in finding ways to support consumer confidence It can also choose to continue to fund the government services rather than cut them In that way Canadians continue to receive critical services and public employees remain active contributors to the economy Businesses continue to benefit from consumer and public sector spending as a result Specifically, a restructuring of EI would not only ensure workers would be sheltered from tariff inflicted harm, but allow consumer spending to continue supporting local small business To repeat, cuts to public sector workers would not be a responsible action during an economic downturn It would only further damage workers and businesses that rely on consumer spending We will keep public workers providing the services Canadians need An aggressive infrastructure program would create jobs and our Build Canadian Buy Canadian program would ensure both Canadian labour and materials would be used, which would support Canadian businesses

QUENTIN ROBINSON

5. How do you see major infrastructure projects contributing to Canada’s economic stability and growth. What projects would your party pursue, if elected?

Solid infrastructure is critical for the operation of businesses of all kinds. As noted above, infrastructure upgrades would be a part of our plan They would include those items that meet local needs whether they be roads, bridges, health facilities, sewers or other projects Building green infrastructure to help in the battle against climate change would be part of that Notably for Manitoba, we would support an expansion of the Port of Churchill to facilitate the movement of Canadian goods to the new markets necessitated by the tariffs and trade war

6. What measures would you introduce to help Canadian businesses expand into international markets and remain competitive?

In additions to our rich resources and entrepreneurial talent Canada has a natural advantage in establishing trade relationships with other nations who share high environmental standards and high labour standards We would increase efforts to market our strengths to such nations beyond the United States

Once again, maintaining open dialogue with the local business sector to know what specific kind of supply chain pinches they are experiencing is important Strengthening domestic supply chains requires making it easier to move Canadian made products across interprovincial borders Given our disrupted trade relationship with the United States there is a new sense of urgency to revisit interprovincial barriers and a recognition of the necessity of that We would work with provincial partners to remove barriers as quickly as possible, ensuring that a high environmental and health and safety standard is maintained as that occurs It also requires enhanced eastwest transportation links to ensure a reliable flow of goods Our infrastructure plan could facilitate this.

8. What would your first priority be in harnessing the potential of communities within Brandon-Souris, if you were elected?

My priority will be to sit down with community leadership from provincial, municipal, business and labour leaders to work together on shared priorities

NOTE ON CANDIDATE PARTICIPATION

The Brandon Chamber of Commerce extended an equal invitation to all declared candidates in the Brandon–Souris riding As of our publication deadline, the Liberal Party of Canada candidate had not submitted responses to the Chamber’s candidate questionnaire.

We welcome their input and will continue to share information with our members should it become available prior to the election

SETTING THE PACE FOR A GREATER BRANDON SINCE 1883

TheBrandonChamberofCommerceisanindependent, membershipfunded,non-profitorganizationthatrepresents Brandonbusinessfromthegrassrootslevel.

OurmissionistoencouragegrowthintheBrandoncommunityby fosteringaprogressivebusinessenvironment,favourableto enhancingexistingandattractingnewbusiness.