Joanne Levy, Liberal Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman

Why do you want this job?

I want this job because I have been working all my life to advocate for communities in more remote parts of the country, outside the major population centres, and I believe I have a voice, an energy and a passion to make sure this community is well represented in Ottawa.

What's the biggest issue for the country and in your riding?

It's complex. It starts with an absolute necessity for more economic activity. Everything else flows from that. In the country and this riding, we have an aging population that's going to need more health care, more affordable housing options and a whole range of things. It all starts with needing economic activity.

What would you do with the Senate?

I would follow the lead that Justin Trudeau has suggested. He has moved the formally appointed Liberal senators out of the caucus, which means they no longer have a voice in the day-to-day workings and policy direction of the party as it exists in Parliament. The Senate has suffered from its partisan appointments. We need to get the partisanship out of the Senate and find an open and transparent appointment process that puts people in there to do the job they're supposed to be doing, being the sober second thought to the elected House of Commons.

Winnipeg was described as the most racist city in Canada. What would you do to combat racism?

You have to create opportunities for different communities to get to know one another better.It starts with the education system, and we need to make sure that everyone who goes through school has the best possible information about how to see the various communities that make up our society.

We have to show more respect to one another and understand our history better. Our treaties aren't just something that was signed hundreds of years ago to just be forgotten. They're important pieces of paper and the indigenous people all have a really important place in our country. We should value and celebrate it and understand that our population in the next generation, especially in Manitoba, is going to be 20 per cent aboriginal, so we'd better learn to get along.

What role should the federal government play in dealing with climate change?

I think the federal government has a huge role to play in climate change. It starts with trying to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and, as Justin Trudeau has said, working with the provinces because they've already galloped ahead with some of their own initiatives. We've got to work together to find best practices, to co-ordinate, and the federal government should be there to ensure that certain standards are met. The successful programs in provinces should keep going ahead.

The federal government also has a lot to do with things like keeping fresh water sources protected or ensuring our economic activity is sustainable, working hand-in-hand with economic growth in a way that protects the environment.

If there was one government policy you think is done better in another country, what is it?

One of the things that's very close to my heart as someone involved with media is to look at expanded broadband capacity and speed. There are a number of countries that have leapt ahead in that field and we should be pursing that. Canada has really fallen behind in the last 10 years or so with a digital strategy, which is a shame, because I think with that kind of leadership, we could be much further along helping more remote areas access information.

Under what circumstances is deficit spending a good choice?

Deficit spending is a good choice when it's an investment. That's why I'm extremely pleased to talk about the infrastructure program that the Liberal Party is promising. Doubling the infrastructure spending over the next 10 years is going to help some of the big cities get rid of their transit gridlock. It's going to help areas like Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman deal with some of the flood mitigation that we need. It helps build affordable housing for our senior population, allowing for more young people to come work and live in our exciting small communities.

There's all kinds of stuff to do on the infrastructure side, and if that means we run a deficit of $10 billion a year for the first two years before we can move into balance, I think it's a good thing.

What do you believe is the single most effective way to fight crime?

The single most effective way to fight crime is to prevent it in the first place. What I mean is, by working with communities to ensure that everyone has a fair chance of success, that access to decent housing and education is taken care of, that mental health services are available to those that have difficulty in that respect. And of course we still need a judicial system in place for those who pose a danger to the public.

What should be done about homegrown terrorism?

What needs to be done is engaging communities and ensuring that everyone feels like they're part of the Canadian family. I think homegrown radicalization arises when people feel isolated and alienated and don't feel a part of the broader culture.

The other thing that needs to be done is to use tools we have in legislation and agencies to monitor and prevent radicalization over the internet. We know very well ISIS and similar groups have been chillingly effective at reaching out to communities far from Syria and the hotbeds of war and encouraging people who feel marginalized to join them. We have to be much more robust about working within those communities to stop that.

If there was a gay pride parade in your riding, would you go? Why or why not?

Of course I would go. I go to all sorts of parades in my riding and as far as I'm concerned, one is no less worthy of attendance than the other. When people are making a contribution and reaching out into a community, they should be given respect and consideration.

Have either you or your family had a frustrating experience with the health-care system, and what would you do to fix the problem?

I've been lucky. I haven't had to have much interaction with the health-care system other than yearly checkups. However, in my campaigning, I have certainly met people who have had brilliant experiences with the health-care system as well as people who have had abject disasters. Some of that is inevitable, whenever people are involved nothing is going to be perfect.

The big problem in this part of the province is recruiting and retaining physicians and other staff. We have dialysis machines that can't be used because the staff isn't there, and people have to drive from Gimli to Winnipeg to have dialysis and that's horrific.

People are worried about how they'll afford ambulance rides if they ever need them. That's a huge problem here.

What would you do to get more people to vote?

I think people would be more inclined to vote if the system didn't feel so alien to them. I've run into a lot of people who are embarrassed because they don't really understand our whole government system. They feel alienated from the whole voting procedure, of having to go and give a bunch of ID. Any time you set up a system where there's a feeling that you might be rejected, that's an issue. I think our so-called Fair Elections Act has imposed itself and given a real chill to some peoplethat's what I'm seeing at the door.

Politicians have to make every effort to go out and engage with people, to make them feel like their political system is integral to their community life and not just some political disturbance.

What's a better use of federal dollars: fixing roads or building rapid transit infrastructure?

Where I am, building and fixing roads is more important. We have a largely dispersed population, so rapid transit isn't high on the priorities. But even in a far-flung constituency like Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman, I think some consideration should be given for better access to some kind of group transport on a regular basis. The aging population means more people have to get rides to the doctor from, say, Teulonto Selkirk or Winnipeg, and it can be stressful just working out the logistics of travel in an area this size. Recently a major bus line reduced service on Highway 6 and that's had quite an impact.

Would you support legalizing a small amount of marijuana? Have you ever tried it?

Have I ever tried it? Please, I'm 64 years old, I grew up during the '60s, of course I've tried it.

But it was a long time ago, and quite frankly, I must be allergic or something because it made me sick to my stomach. It's been at least 30 years since I've touched it.

In regards to legalization, I think it makes good sense. Talking about reducing crime, I think one big way is legalizing marijuana so people who want access to it don't have to deal with crime and criminals in order to get it. It takes a lot of money, police time and court time that could be put to better use. I certainly support the legalization and regulation of marijuana.