About Ron Kostyshyn
When were you born?
Between 1946 and 1965 (Baby Boomer)
Tell our readers a bit about your professional life. What do you do for a living? If you're an incumbent candidate, what did you do before you entered politics?
I was born, raised and have lived my whole life on the family farm in Mossey River Municipality, Manitoba. With one exception, after graduating high school, I had a ten-year career with an engineering firm in Saskatoon. When Dad fell ill, my wife and I returned home to the farm to raise our daughters here, while running the family farm for 40 years.
What's the highest level of education you've attained?
Trades certificate or diploma
How long have you lived in the constituency? If you don't currently live there, what led you to run there instead of where you live?
All my life with the exception of 10 years in Saskatoon as a young adult.
What is the biggest challenge facing your constituency, and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge in this constituency is maintaining family farms to support the economic growth of those farms and the economic spins-offs our rural communities depend on. Rural communities must maintain good schools, and local hospitals with talented staff and modern equipment. All of this is threatened by the recent PC changes to the modernization of Crown Land Transfers for ranchers.
As I see it, when investors from other countries and provinces take control of long-term Crown Land Leases the risk is depopulation of farm families. That means fewer students in our schools, a drain on resources and staff for our hospitals, and fewer jobs in our community. The PCs pretend to support rural communities but their actions don’t support that.
If elected, what will be your first priority?
Healthcare is priority number one! We must attract and retain our medical professionals and allied staff. No matter where you live in Manitoba, you should have access to health care close to home. As part of an NDP government, I would reinstate the rural doctor recruitment fund Pallister cut – and then double it. We will attract more staff to keep rural health centres open with incentives for nurses, nurse practitioners and lab techs. And we will reduce wait times for ambulances and improve cell service so you can make that emergency call.
Who are your role models in politics, and why?
Rosann Wowchuk, the Former MLA from Swan River. She outworked everyone, had endless time for her constituents and knew how to get the job done. I was lucky to be mentored by her, and I hope to be as successful.
And, of course, former Premier Gary Doer, because he showed Manitobans that New Democrats make a real difference and run good governments. Manitoba grew in wealth and population during those years, including strong supports for Healthcare and Education.
Tell us something about yourself that voters might find surprising.
After working for an engineering firm for ten years and returning home, I heard the need locally for infrastructure needs. I took up the call to lobby our Province and sought elected offices as a Councillor and Reeve. I am honored that local ratepayers endorsed me in that role for 28 years.
I had subsequent roles as Vice-President and President of all Manitoba Watershed Districts, as well as serving as the representative for 16 Parkland district municipalities at the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, which Im very proud of.
Other candidates in constituency:
Gord Wood (Progressive Conservative)