2011 Manitoba Election Archive

IMPORTANT: The information below is from the 2011 Manitoba Election.

Visit www.ManitobaElection.ca for Open Democracy Manitoba's latest Manitoba Election voter resource.

Frequently Asked Questions


How are the news articles collected?

Articles are automatically gathered from Google News by searching for the full names of the candidates in the upcoming Manitoba election. The search location is set to Manitoba using the advanced search properties.

If a specific news article is not showing up in our system it is because it has not been indexed by Google News. Because our news gathering is an automated process we cannot manually add news stories to a constituency or candidate page.


How can candidate information be updated?

Candidates can send us updated photos and information via email: manitoba.election@gmail.com

Emails should be sent from the email address we have listed for a candidate if possible.

We will do our best to process all updates within 48 hours of their receipt.

After September 2 (for the 2012 by-election) and October 2 (for the 2011 election) we will no longer be accepting candidate updates. Updates received after this date will not be posted to our site. This deadline exists to ensure that our site remains accurate and consistent during the week of the election.


How do you decide what candidate information to list?

Email Addresses and Phone Numbers: Found on either the political party website, the candidate's website, or on the candidate's facebook page. Phone numbers are only listed if they are for a campaign office.

Websites: Sites have been found using Google, through the political party website, or supplied by the candidates. Sites must be election related. MLA incumbent websites are also listed on the incumbents page.

Twitter and YouTube Accounts: Found by searching Google, twitter, youtube, the candidate's website, facebook, or supplied by the candidates.

Photos: Found on political party websites, facebook pages, or supplied by the candidate.

Facebook Pages: Found by searching Facebook or supplied by candidates. In most cases we will link to candidate election fan pages or profiles created specifically for the election. If no candidate page exists we will link to candidate name profiles where 1) the wall and info sections are publicly viewable, and 2) there is an indication that this individual is a candidate on either their 'wall' and/or 'info' pages. If an incumbent is using their MLA page/profile to promote their upcoming candidacy, the MLA page/profile will be used until a candidate page/profile becomes available. Private profiles will be linked to candidate only by request.


How can a debate or forum be listed on your calendar?

Debates and forums can be brought to our attention via email: manitoba.election@gmail.com


How are issue websites added to your issue resources page?

Issue websites are found using Google or are submitted by the public. If you have created or are aware of an election issue website that is not featured on our issue resources page, please bring it to our attention by emailing us at manitoba.election@gmail.com.

One of the following two criteria must be met in order to be listed:

  • The issue website was created to raise awareness about a specific issue for the 2011 Manitoba election. The issue site must mention this election directly, or the organization behind the page must have issued a media release linking the issue to this election.

  • The issue in question is specifically mentioned in the platform of any of the running parties.

The following search criteria were used in finding issue websites:

  • A search through the first ten pages of Google search results using the following search criteria: Manitoba Election 2011

  • A search through the first ten pages of Google search results using the following search criteria: Manitoba Election issues

  • A search through the first three pages of Google search results through the following search criteria: Manitoba Election 2011 (name of each topic area contained within each department name of the Manitoba government). For example, for the department ‘Manitoba Food, Agriculture and Rural Initiatives' the following searches would be made: Manitoba election 2011 food, Manitoba election 2011 agriculture, Manitoba election 2011 rural.

Please note that ManitobaElection.ca will not post issue websites:

  • That promote violence, hatred, or intolerance towards any identifiable group or person.
  • That are the product of a registered political party.

How can a blog or website be added to your online resources section?

Email us your election related blogs or websites: manitoba.election@gmail.com

Our criteria is the following: A significant proportion of the blog entries, or a specific section of the blog or website, must relate to information relevent to the Manitoba provincial election. Further, the blog or website will not promote intollerance or hateful views to any identifiable group, or exist solely to promote or discredit a single candidate.


How were the parties selected for your political parties page?

Parties were selected using the list of parties registered with Elections Manitoba. There are five registered parties:

  • Communist Party of Canada – Manitoba
  • Manitoba Liberal Party
  • New Democratic Party of Manitoba
  • The Green Party of Manitoba
  • The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba

How did you make this website?

The website is powered by the following technologies:


Are the operations of your website transparent?

This website was created in the spirit of openness, community and accountability.

The history of this site can be seen in our Press Releases and Press Mentions.

The source code that powers this website is available on github.

The source code and website data are released free and unencumbered into the public domain.

See our source code license for more information.


How is your website funded?

No funding was required to build this website. The site was built and is maintained by a group of passionate volunteers.


What process did you follow for the candidate questionnaires?

When sending out candidate questionnaires, we distribute questionnaires to all MLA candidates in the election.

The following constraints accompanied the questionnaire:

"Please see the six questions below and respond at your earliest convenience. Responses are limited to 200 words per question. We will only post responses that are within this limit. You need not reply to all the questions."

All questionnaires were sent via email. We collected the required email addresses using the process described above. For candidates without a public email address, the questionnaires were sent to their party's campaign office.

Replies are posted in batches as they are received.

After September 2 (for the 2012 by-election) and October 2 (for the 2011 election) we will no longer accept candidate questionnaire responses. Replies received after this date will not be posted to our site. Also, as noted above, we will no longer accept updates to any candidate information after this date.


What questions did you ask each candidate in your questionnaire?

2012 Fort Whyte By-Election

  1. Why did you decide to run in the 2012 Manitoba by-election?
  2. What experience will you bring to compliment your role as MLA?
  3. Is there anything in particular you would like to change in our province? In your electoral division?
  4. What values or ideals will you adhere to if elected?
  5. What do you enjoy most about the Fort Whyte electoral division?
  6. Do you have any other comments regarding your candidacy?

2011

  1. Why did you decide to run in the 2011 Manitoba election?
  2. What experience will you bring to compliment your role as MLA?
  3. Is there anything in particular you would like to change in our province? In your electoral division?
  4. What is one thing you stand for that is not a part of your political party's platform?
  5. Do you have any other comments regarding your candidacy?
  6. What is your favourite location in the electoral division you are currently a candidate for?

What process did you follow for the party questionnaires?

On September 24th, 2011 we distributed questionnaires to all registered political parties in the 2011 Manitoba provincial election.

The following constraints accompanied the questionnaire:

"Please see the five questions below and respond at your earliest convenience. The response to the first question is limited to 500 words, and the rest of them are limited to 200 words per question."

All questionnaires were sent via email. Replies are posted within 24 hours of their arrival.


What questions did you ask each party in your questionnaire?

  1. What are the main issues that your party stands for? Why are these issues important?
  2. What makes your party different from other political parties?
  3. What are the first things you would like to do if you form government after the 2011 election?
  4. Why should a voter choose to vote for your party?
  5. Do you have any other comments regarding your party that you would like to share?