Carney headlines Winnipeg rally as election nears end

WINNIPEG — Regularly reserved for bar crawls and cover bands, the Pyramid Cabaret featured Liberal Leader Mark Carney as its headliner Thursday, as red-clad supporters rallied in the prime minister’s second stop in Winnipeg before election day.

“It is great to be back in Winnipeg, back so quickly,” he said to cheers from the audience.

Bartenders slung soda and water under the Pyramid’s disco ball to hundreds of supporters, who were holding signs that read “Never 51” and “Canada Strong.”

Carney, who was last in the city for a news conference and rally April 1, repeated many of the talking points that he has carried throughout the campaign. That included condemning the “tragedy” of the trade war and heightened tensions with the U.S. and calling Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre a “lifelong politician who worships at the altar of the free market.”

“I’m still learning how to be a politician — I think it’s a good thing — but I think I’m a pragmatist,” he said.

“So when I see something that’s not working, I will change it.”

Carney reiterated a promise to put in legislation that would remove federal barriers to interprovincial trade by July 1 — “free trade in Canada by Canada Day,” Carney said.

“We need one economy in this country, not 13.”

Flanked by Liberal candidates who joined the leader on stage, Diana Fox-Carney described her husband as empathetic and strong-willed.

“Criss-crossing over the country over the past weeks, I think you’ve seen my husband is incredibly hard-working, that he is committed to listening to all of the many people like yourselves that he’s met along the years,” she said.

After the rally, Winnipeg Centre candidate Rahul Walia accepted a friendship bracelet from one of the few youth in attendance and took photos with supporters.

He told the Winnipeg Free Press he knows he’s up against a strong contender in NDP candidate Leah Gazan, but believes the Liberal party will prevail federally.

“Even for me, I don’t know, but all I know is (it will be a) Liberal majority,” he said.

Most of the Liberal candidates were in attendance, including those from historically blue ridings.

Liberal Rhonda Nichol, running in Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman, is well-aware Tory incumbent James Bezan has represented the area for more than 20 years, but said knocking on doors has shown her that some longtime Conservatives are done with the party because of its leadership.

“I know I’m a longshot, but we don’t have a lot of good data from our area, but I do believe we have a really good chance,” she said.

For some in the audience, the rally felt like a victory lap after a month of successful campaigning in Manitoba.

Among those ready to rock was Manny Calisto, a retired school teacher who said he’s becoming “increasingly more confident with each day” the Liberal party will lead Canada after Monday’s election.

“It’s not necessarily based on the polls, which clearly are showing that’s likely to happen,” the 59-year-old said.

“I think I’m more confident because I really strongly believe that Canada will not follow the U.S. example.”

While waiting to get into the venue, Nicole Van Osch said the race isn’t over until it’s over.

“I’m semi-confident, but don’t want to take anything for granted,” she said.

During Carney’s first stop in Winnipeg, he visited New Flyer Industries in Transcona and met with Premier Wab Kinew but made no new policy announcements. His second visit came as all three major party leaders were darting across the country to make their final pitches to voters.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh held a rally in Transcona Wednesday evening and spoke with media Thursday morning. Poilievre was in Halifax on Thursday.

A Probe Research poll released Wednesday found 43 per cent of Manitoba respondents were either decided or leaning toward voting Liberal, while 40 per cent were supporting the Tories.

In Winnipeg, that gap grew to 50 per cent Liberal and 32 per cent Conservative. Rural and northern Manitobans surveyed showed 54 per cent Conservative support and 32 per cent Liberal support.

» Winnipeg Free Press