Manitoba Election 2016: Brandon West riding

Summary: Brandon West is one of the two ridings in Brandon. PC MLA Reg Helwer is seeking re-election.

Boundaries: This riding in southwest Manitoba takes in the western part of the City of Brandon. It’s bordered by Spruce Woods to the west, 18th Street to the east, the Trans-Canada Highway to the north and the south by city limits.

Last Election: PC MLA Reg Helwer beat NDP candidate Jim Murrary by 151 votes, 48-46 per cent.

History: The original riding of Brandon West existed from 1886 to 1888 after Brandon was divided into two electoral divisions. It was eliminated in 1888 when the city became a single riding again. However, Brandon West came became a riding once again in 1968 when the city was again divided into two electoral districts. Brandon West is often considered the more right wing of the two Brandon ridings, but NDP have taken power. Scott Smith of the NDP won the seat in 1999, and retained it with over 60 per cent of the vote in 2003. However, in 2007 he lost the seat to PC candidate Rick Borotsik by just 56 votes.

Candidates 

NDP: Linda Ross, associate professor of psychology at Brandon University

Progressive Conservative: Reg Helwer, PC MLA Brandon West 

Liberal: Billy Moore