Manitoba Election 2016

David Sutherland - Dawson Trail

1. Why did you decide to run in the 2016 Manitoba election?

We live in a new, dynamic, fast paced world. Responses to changing conditions have to occur with some sense of time dynamics. If not the responses become a relic before it is ever put to use. I resigned from the P.C. Party when It became clear to me the PC party of Manitoba, that I have been associated with for the past 25 years, and was running for, was not interested in grassroots participation, but preferred to play on artificial turf. That is, any response to changing needs at the local level occurred with the speed of elephantine gestation. More-over the plan was made by a select few as to the direction of the party. Dawson Trail deserves better than this. The Manitoba Party offered grassroots participation, my experience, as well as my history for standing up for what I believe is right, regardless of the personal cost was valued. That is why I decided to run for the Manitoba Party.

2. What experience will you bring to complement your role as MLA?

I served ten years on Landmark Governing Committee, eight of them as the chair. I learned early to do all the homework required to interpret legislation.  The importance of this cannot be stressed enough if you ever hope to deal with the bureaucracy with any success. As a member of MENSA I bring a wealth of creative ways of changing the way Manitoba is run. All of my working life I have been a service tech. My minds default position is to solve problems, not just the result of problems, but the root causes.

3. Is there anything in particular you would like to change in our province? In your electoral division?

How the government is run, what services are required and are the services meeting expectations, is the start of a solid foundation to build on. Everything our government does now is so layered in excess we barely notice. Cost overruns of 400%? We are losing out on a much improved future if the costs we managed properly. Every dollar spent wisely, means other dollars can be spent elsewhere or returned to you via less taxes.

4. What key issue(s) / topic(s) would like to stand for in your role as MLA, and why is it important to you?

Question #3 is the basis of my answer to this question. There are too many areas I have suggestions to improve to answer here, so I can only provide a short synopsis. As a member of a small new party all I can really hope to achieve is to bring attention and solutions to a multitude of issues that can be corrected. But from that growth I hope to influence and inspire others to the positive can do attitude way of thinking and grow our party to form government in the near future.

5. What is one thing in particular that you value about the electoral division that you wish to represent?

The diversity between the Ag West and the Bush East, from the river lands to the sandy lands. The diversity of people and their perspectives is something I thrive on.

6. Do you have any other comments regarding your candidacy?

I would like to point out something I hear to often. “well nobody came to my door so why should I vote” or “I don’t know who to vote for or what they stand for” I have been to 4000+ of the 6,600 doors in Dawson Trail over the last two years. I have mailed out a postcard to every mailbox in Dawson Trail. I have done radio, T.V. and newspaper’s interviews, additionally all of the letters to the editor I written over the years and all the presentations at public hearings and meetings I have presented at. I have been to your house.