Dawson Trail PCs acclaim Kyle Waczko as candidate

In an uncontested nomination meeting held at the Lorette Sportsplex on Aug. 15,Manitoba’s Dawson Trail Progressive Conservatives nominated Kyle Waczko to be their candidate in the next provincial election.

Dawson Trail required a nomination meeting after current PC MLA Bob Lagasse left the caucus to sit as an independent.

“I’ve learned over the years the importance of strong communities and giving back,” said Waczko, who has served as a councillor for the RM of Ste Anne in Ward 2 since 2022, which is also a position his wife Rebecca hopes to replace him in.

Building community and the importance of relationships is a principle Waczko and his wife have put into practice since moving to Ste Anne from Winnipeg. Volunteering as a firefighter and extensive work with Duck’s Unlimited Canada, in addition to spearheading the Ste Anne COPP program, has provided the Waczkos with both the networks and connections needed to establish valuable working relationships for getting things accomplished.

“Helping people meet others through our small events, you really see the impact people can make together,” said Waczko.

“In small towns, you know everybody, who your neighbours are, who the members of the local fire department are, who’s on which community committee and who your local councillor is. Living in a small town where locals know about the issues firsthand, from drainage to the need for housing, recreation, daycare, senior programming, concerns for safe communities … we need to work together as a team and make quality changes for the people of Dawson Trail, and I am proud to be that voice,” he said.

Waczko admits that belief in coalition building and grassroots networking stands in sharp contrast with the partisan nature of the current Manitoba legislature and the acrimonious environment that has become a trademark of its practice of politics. But Waczko said he will not be engaging in that kind of behaviour and will instead be focusing on meeting the needs of his constituents.

“I’m not much into mudslinging … that’s what I hate about politics in general, but that building (the legislature) is for adults and they’re behaving like children,” said Waczko.

“I found that (politics) is another extension of volunteering. How do I make this place better? Under the Progressive Conservative banner, we all work together. From moving out here, you realize the importance of volunteering. To reach across the aisle and make things happen that make sense for the people here. You can do things, make things happen, and that’s what we need,” said Waczko.

Manitoba PC party president Peter Smith agrees with his new candidate’s perspective on politics.

“I’ve been talking to him for a while. He’s well liked by everyone who meets him. He’s going to be a great candidate for us. He’s got a good network (of supporters), good speaking skills, is certainly known to the community, so I am really happy to have him on our team,” said Smith.

Reaching across the aisle in a partisan legislature and coalition building are tactics which can seem out of place in today’s politics, but Smith is enthusiastic about Waczko’s approach and retuning functionality to get things done.

“The theatre of the nasty, and its very nasty,” said Smith. “The PCs are pretty good about it. We’ve been told not to heckle, but they don’t always follow that … It’s just such a toxic environment.”

Waczko intends to change that partisan practice and return a grassroots perspective to politics in Manitoba if elected, and the fresh approach seems to be a welcome one to PC party officials who are rapidly preparing for the next election and have begun a string of nominations across southern Manitoba.

In a statement released to media, PC leader Obby Khan said Waczko’s record stands for itself.

“On top of working over 40 hours a week as a plumber, he makes time to serve as a councillor, fundraise for his community, volunteer as a firefighter, and be a loving father and husband,” he said. “That’s the level of dedication that Dawson Trail families deserve.”

After accepting the nomination, Waczko shared his goals.

“We need to be comfortable at our own dinner table, listening to the issues that affect our communities at a grassroots level. I believe hard work needs to pay off.”

The 44th Manitoba general election will be held no later than Oct. 5, 2027.