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The federal Conservatives have picked an electrician and self-professed proud union member to carry its banner in the upcoming byelection in blue-collar Elmwood-Transcona.
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The Conservative Party of Canada announced Friday Colin Reynolds as their candidate in the riding which has been predominantly held by the NDP since it’s creation in 1988 as Winnipeg-Transcona.
In a video posted on social media Friday morning, Reynolds described himself as a construction electrician and “proud member” of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2085 who grew up in Valley Gardens. He and his wife have three adult children, two of which live in Transcona.
“Jagmeet Singh and Justin Trudeau’s costly coalition does not represent union workers like me,” he said, referring to a confidence-and-supply agreement between the two parties. “Thanks to the NDP and Liberals in Ottawa, everything is more expensive, and crime and chaos run rampant in Winnipeg streets. Enough is enough.”
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A byelection must be called by Sept. 29, according to Elections Canada. The latest date it can be held is Nov. 18.
The riding has predominantly belonged to the NDP and the Blaikie family from the beginning. Daniel Blaikie held the seat for nearly a decade until he resigned earlier this year for a role advising Premier Wab Kinew’s government. Blaikie’s late father, Bill, was an MP for almost 30 years before that.
The Conservatives held the seat from 2011 to 2015.
In May, NDP members selected Leila Dance, the executive director of the Transcona BIZ, as their candidate. The governing Liberals have yet to say who will carry their banner in the byelection.
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