Summary: A large rural riding with the exception of Dauphin, Conservative MP Robert Sopuck seeks re-election here. He’ll battle two former incumbents, Inky Mark, who was the MP here for 13 years, and is now running as an independent; and the NDP’s Laverne Lewycky, who lasted just one term in office from 1980-1984.
Boundaries: Roughly everything in Manitoba to the north of Highway 1 and to the west of Lake Manitoba until Lake Winnipegosis.
Last Election: Robert Sopuck won this riding by 37 per cent over NDP candidate Cheryl Osborne last election, when it was known as Dauphin-Swan Lake-Marquette.
History: This riding has generally elected right-wing parties since the 1950s, but elected an NDP candidate in the 1993 election and also in 1980, when they elected current NDP candidate Laverne Lewycky.
Demographics: Aboriginals make up 25.2 per cent of the population, the second highest number in Manitoba. A full 18.9 per cent of people were seniors in the 2011 census, the highest figure in the province.
Candidates
Conservative: Robert Sopuck, MP since 2010
NDP: Laverne Lewycky, MP for Dauphin from 1980 to 1984
Liberals Ray Piché, president of MGEU Local 58 and retired RCMP officer
Green: Kate Storey, organic farmer
Independent: Inky Mark, Reform/Alliance/PC/Conservative MP for the riding from 1997 to 2010