Matt Austman has his name on the ballot as the NDP candidate for the Lakeside constituency. Austman says he's been active in the party for a few years, and shares the NDP's values. He explains why he ran for the Lakeside constituency.

"One of the reasons I was interested in running in Lakeside is that I actually did a masters degree in incarceration issues. And as you know, there's a large prison at Stony Mountain in the constituency. I have a genuine interest in some of the issues facing the area and the people, and the prison itself. But I also just believe that the NDP has the right program to address things like incarceration, and also create good jobs, strengthen education, and invest in our health care system."

Austman says people of Lakeside sahre concerns with the rest of the province.

"They talk a lot about infrastructure, access to health care, investing in our public schools to make sure our class sizes are down, and that we have the right teachers in the classroom. And all those things I think the party has a good record to stand on. But moving forward I think we have the best plan to serve the interest of all Manitobans, and that includes the people of Lakeside."

He outlines his focus.

"I understand a lot of people have concerns, whether it's infrastructure and flood protection, or access to health care services in rural Manitoba. I'd say to them, the choice ahead of us is pretty clear. I think that we can go with a choice that would prioritize cuts to spending, which would only hurt those services. Or we can choose a path forward that focuses on strategic investments in those services, and can also create good jobs in the region. So, I hope I can count on your vote. For the people of Lakeside, I think there's a clear choice. And I look forward to talking to more people in the constituency in the coming weeks."