PCs promise funds for victims of violence while protesters call for landfill search

Progressive Conservative candidate Kevin Klein promised new supports for victims of violence on Wednesday, while protesters outside his office sought justice for other victims of crime.

A dozen people in favour of a landfill search for the remains of two First Nations women drummed, sang and chanted in the parking lot outside Klein's campaign office in Kirkfield Park.

Their voices could be heard inside the office as Klein promised $10 million to combat domestic violence and support survivors.

Klein, whose mother was killed by her partner in the 1990s, said the protesters supporting the landfill search are free to make their voices heard.

"I didn't anticipate that, but I understand," he said.

"Listen, my mother was murdered as well, and I'm not comparing it to what the families are going through, I think each and every one of us experience a different pain, and we travel down a different path. And I believe that we live in a country where peaceful protests are allowed."

If re-elected, the Tories committed $5 million to expand domestic violence and sexual assault counselling services in Manitoba, as well as an extra $5 million for women's shelters across the province.

"I want a government that listens to victims and walks the walk, and I will do everything I can to stand with victims," Klein said.

The Kirkfield Park incumbent shrugged away any suggestion the Tories' decision to actively campaign on their opposition to the landfill search was emboldening the protesters.

Rather, the former newspaper publisher took aim at media reporting about the landfill search. He said there wasn't enough coverage about PC commitments to prevent serious crimes, or whether the federal government would move forward on a search of the landfill.

He then accused the media of focusing on negative subjects when it comes to the Progressive Conservatives.

"Do you see any headlines that talk about what we've accomplished in Kirkfield Park?" said Klein, who was first elected in a byelection late last year.

"You see any headlines about the positive aspects of other candidates that are running and the experience that they bring?"

He then declined to speak about new PC advertisements that spoke negatively about various NDP candidates. He said he hadn't seen the advertisements.

Wednesday's protest comes after PC leader Heather Stefanson's constituency office was defaced earlier this week with red handprints and signs demanding a search of the landfill were left outside. 

Police have investigated, but officers said Wednesday it hasn't received a complaint from Stefanson or the PCs. 

Uzoma Asagwara, incumbent NDP candidate for Union Station, said the PCs are using their opposition to a landfill search to divide Manitobans.

"For Heather Stefanson and for Kevin Klein and PC candidates to intentionally make families' suffering worse by taking the approach that they have is disgraceful," Asagwara said.

"[Manitobans] will have the chance to vote out a government who would take such a callous and harmful approach."

Asagwara pointed to commitments the NDP have made to strengthen health care for domestic violence victims.

"Our team just last week stood with the experts in forensic health care. We stood with the frontline providers of sexual assault nurse examiner care and committed to a provincial strategy," said Asagwara.

Meanwhille, Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont criticized the PCs for campaigning against those who support a landfill search.

"As Manitobans, we cannot be selective about which victims of crime we stand with. You can't run a campaign against the families of murder victims in a landfill and then claim you care," Lamont said in a statement.

Election day in Manitoba is Oct. 3.