Winnipeg South Centre

Winnipeg South Centre is an urban federal riding in south-central Winnipeg, Manitoba, encompassing established residential neighbourhoods along the Assiniboine River. The by-election was called following the death of Liberal MP Jim Carr on December 12, 2022. Carr, who had served as Minister of Natural Resources and Minister of International Trade Diversification under Prime Minister Trudeau, had been battling multiple myeloma since his diagnosis in October 2019. He had represented the riding since 2015.

Candidates

Ben Carr (Liberal) — The son of the late Jim Carr, Ben Carr had spent most of his career in education, working as a high school teacher, coach, and principal before moving into government relations as a vice-president at Indigenous Strategy Alliance, a private consulting firm. He had also worked as a federal government staffer in the office of then-Canadian Heritage Minister Melanie Joly and had co-chaired his father's 2021 re-election campaign.

Damir Stipanovic (Conservative) — An air traffic controller and member of the Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve, Stipanovic was nominated as the Conservative candidate for the by-election. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre campaigned alongside him in the riding.

Julia Riddell (NDP) — A clinical psychologist who had previously run in the same riding in the 2021 federal election, Riddell moved to Winnipeg in 2018 to complete her residency and settled in the Earl Grey neighbourhood. She had been involved in grassroots organizing and numerous community initiatives.

Douglas Hemmerling (Green Party) — A graduate of the University of Manitoba Asper School of Business and the Lakehead University Environmental Education Program, Hemmerling had spent over twelve years as an educator in the public school system in Winnipeg, where he developed environmental education curricula. He also ran for the Greens in the riding in 2021.

Tylor Baer ran for the People's Party of Canada. The ballot featured a record-setting 48 candidates, with 42 independents participating as part of a coordinated effort by the Longest Ballot Committee to protest the first-past-the-post voting system.

About the Riding

Winnipeg South Centre lies entirely south of the Assiniboine River, covering well-established neighbourhoods including River Heights, Crescentwood, Tuxedo, Fort Garry, Earl Grey, Grant Park, and Riverview. The riding includes Wellington Crescent, one of Winnipeg's most affluent streets, as well as middle-class residential areas with tree-lined streets and parks along the riverbank.

The riding's economy is oriented toward professional services, education, healthcare, and government. Major institutions in and near the riding include the University of Manitoba's Fort Garry campus, several hospitals, and numerous schools. The average household income in the riding stood at approximately $109,800 in 2020, reflecting its middle-class to upper-middle-class character.

The population is predominantly of European descent, with significant Filipino, South Asian, and Indigenous communities. The riding has historically been competitive between Liberals and Conservatives, with the NDP also maintaining a presence.