Keystone Party of Manitoba explained

Keystone Party of Manitoba should not be confused with Keystone Party of Pennsylvania.

Keystone Party of Manitoba
Leader:Kevin Friesen
President:David Andres[1]
Colorcode:
  1. 5E419B
Headquarters:P.O. Box 904 Grunthal, Manitoba R0A 0R0[2]
Ideology:Right-libertarianism
Fiscal conservatism
Position:Centre-right to right-wing
Seats3 Title:Seats in Legislature
Country:Canada
State:Manitoba
Parties Dab1:List of political parties in Manitoba
Elections Dab1:List of Manitoba general elections

The Keystone Party of Manitoba is a provincial political party in Manitoba, Canada. It was registered on June 28, 2022.[3]

History

Foundation

The party was officially launched on July 15, 2022, at a meeting where it elected local farmer, Kevin Friesen, as its first leader. It describes itself as a grassroots party that seeks to overcome divides and promote a common Manitoban identity.[4] Described as far-right by multiple media outlets, party leadership insists they are "close to centre" and define their ideology on the protection of civil liberties.[5]

2023 election

See main article: 2023 Manitoba general election. The party amassed over 2,500 signatures of voters needed to become a registered party in Manitoba and hoped to field candidates in all 57 Manitoba constituencies during the 43rd Manitoba general election.[6] [7] The party is basing its campaign on trying to connect with voters disatisifed with government overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] The party hopes to garner votes from small-c Conservatives discontent with the longtime leadership of the provincial Conservative party and that party's failure to balance the province's budget during their tenure. The party will also be assisted as 10 longtime centrist members of the Conservative party are retiring, and their likely replacements would be more partisan. Additionally, the party is having trouble reaching its goal of running 57 candidates in all 57 districts due to the rural, agrarian nature of their platform and voter base which hasn't been received well in more urban parts of the province.[9] Another barrier is the hands off approach the party and its leadership are taking towards constituent associations, insisting on a grassroots approach and only allowing residents of the constituency to form an association, limiting the number of candidates they could run.[10] The party held its convention in the Austin community centre on June 17, 2023, to establish the party's constitution and policies.[11]

The Keystone Party only stood five candidates for the election. Their best showing was in Turtle Mountain where the party's leader, Kevin Friesen, stood, running on a platform of slashing government debt, reducing the cost of living, and repairing the district's roads.[12] Friesen received 1,489 votes or 17.1% of the electorate, coming in third place. The party's second best showing was in La Verendrye where the party's candidate, Matthew Wiebe received 736 votes or 9.8% of the electorate also coming in third place. Wiebe, a political outsider and farmer, stated that he ran because "people don’t trust the PC party to be conservative anymore."[13] [14] The party also stood candidates in Agassiz where they got 721 votes (9.7%), Swan River where they got 394 votes (5.2%), and Interlake-Gimli where they got 391 votes (3.8%). In total the party garnered 3,731 votes. Friesen stated that he was pleased and excited at the support the party got, especially since it was the first election they contested, and the fact that in every riding they contested they did better than the Green Party of Manitoba.[15]

44th Manitoba general election

Kevin Friesen stated that the party intends to stand for the 44th Manitoba general election immediately after the 43rd election. He also stated that he will again run in Turtle Mountain and that the main priority for the party was to win over conservatives dissatisfied with the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba.

Party platform

The party has a ten-point Statement of Principles. These principles are as follows:[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Board of Directors . Keystone Party of Manitoba . 30 July 2023.
  2. Web site: Registered Political Parties . . 24 July 2023.
  3. News: Ryan Stelter. Keystone Party officially registers with Elections Manitoba . . 28 June 2022 . 2022-06-29.
  4. Web site: McKendrick . Devon . 'We're going to set our sights high': New Keystone Party of Manitoba officially launches . winnipeg.ctvnews.ca . 22 October 2022.
  5. Web site: Baxter . Dave . KEYSTONE PARTY: Manitoba’s new right-wing political party ‘closer to the middle’ says its lead . www.thestar.com . Tornoto Star, Winnipeg Sun . 22 October 2022.
  6. Web site: Registered Parties in Manitoba . www.electionsmanitoba.ca . Manitoba Provincial government . 22 October 2022.
  7. Web site: Kives . Bartley . Keystone Party of Manitoba, formed in wake of pandemic, launches bid for disaffected voters . www.cbc.ca . 22 October 2022.
  8. Web site: Kives . Bartley . New right-of-centre Manitoba political party hopes to compete for seats in 2023 election . www.cbc.ca . 22 October 2022.
  9. Web site: Sanders . Carol . Keystone Party hopes to unlock retiring Tory seats . . 9 May 2023.
  10. Web site: Froese . Ian . PCs, NDP place candidates in competitive Manitoba election races as polling gap narrows . . 9 May 2023.
  11. Web site: Keystone Party Convention - Saturday . Keystone Party . 9 May 2023.
  12. Web site: Sawatzky . Betty . 'I'll be accountable to the people of Turtle Mountain' Kevin Friesen, Keystone Party of MB . discoverwestman.com . 19 October 2023.
  13. Web site: Vandermeulen . Greg . MANITOBA VOTES 2023 – LA VERENDRYE: Keystone Party candidate wants to give back . . 19 October 2023.
  14. Web site: Dueck . Shannon . Kleefeld resident fed up by current government, running as Keystone Party candidate . steinbachonline.com . 19 October 2023.
  15. Web site: Sawatzky . Betty . 'Keep us in mind on the next election' - Kevin Friesen KP Leader . discoverwestman.com . 19 October 2023.
  16. Web site: Statement of Principles . keystonepartymb.ca . Keystone Party . 22 October 2022.