3 main political parties pledge to support new agriculture education facility in Brandon

Manitoba's three main political parties like to emphasize their differences, but during a debate in Brandon, it was one of their similarities that stood out.

The Progressive Conservatives, New Democrats and Liberals all committed to financially support the building of a new facility for agriculture education at Assiniboine Community College, party leaders said during the Tuesday morning debate, hosted by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce at the Keystone Centre.

The almost $120-million Prairie Innovation Centre would allow the college's agriculture and food processing program to expand from 300 students to around 800.

The unanimous support from the political parties left Assiniboine president Mark Frison confident the centre will be built, regardless of which party is elected to form Manitoba's government next week.

"Here's a place where they could all agree on something that's a good idea and an idea whose time has come," Frison said.

The new centre, which is years in the making, is a response to significant labour shortages in the agriculture sector. By 2029, the country is expected to be short 123,000 agriculture workers, meaning about one in three jobs in the industry won't be filled. 

NDP Leader Wab Kinew offered the most specifics on his party's plans. He said an NDP government would commit $60 million, which is nearly half of the total cost of the centre. The college is asking for federal government funding and private donations to cover the rest. 

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said his party, if elected, would ensure the remaining costs are covered.

Progressive Conservative Leader Heather Stefanson said it is prudent to wait for plans to be finalized before making an investment promise, "but I know that this final plan will move forward."

"We will be participating in that, absolutely."

Frison was already confident the Tories would commit to funding, since the party, while in government, put up $10 million for initial planning, along with funding for 216 child-care spaces in the same building.

"You've already got $30 million in motion," he said. "[Stopping] the train — that probably wouldn't happen."

The centre would offer 16 new or expanded educational programs under its roof. It would occupy the Parkland building, the site of the former Brandon Mental Health Centre. The premises have been empty since the 1990s. 

Takes over former mental health hospital

Tuesday's debate, coming just one week before election day, took place in a city where one riding — Brandon East — will be closely watched as Manitobans cast their ballots. That riding flipped from the NDP to the Tories in 2016.

Beyond agreement on the Prairie Innovation Centre, the debate was punctuated by the areas in which the leaders disagreed.

Stefanson was in the midst of listing off PC investments in health care, including additional medicine and intensive care beds at Brandon Regional Health Centre, when her 90 seconds of speaking time was cut off.

"There's so many good news stories here for Brandon," she said with a smile. "We just have to get out and let everyone know about them."

The NDP's Kinew accused the PCs of putting up a "mission accomplished" banner prematurely.

"At the start of this election campaign, the emergency department in Carberry closed," he said.

Lamont accused the NDP of copying parts of the Liberal platform. While the New Democrats are promising to add 10 physician training seats in Westman, he said his party is calling for the University of Manitoba to establish a medical campus in Brandon that specializes in training people to work in rural and northern communities.

That approach "just makes sense, instead of just putting all of our eggs in one basket and concentrating all of our development in Winnipeg," he said.

Advance voting in the 2023 election is now open. Election day is Oct. 3.

• Read full coverage of the 2023 Manitoba election here