Brandon—Souris

Brandon—Souris covers the southwestern corner of Manitoba, stretching from the city of Brandon westward to the Saskatchewan border and south to the United States border. The riding takes in a vast expanse of agricultural prairie along with the smaller communities of Souris, Virden, Killarney, Carberry, and Roblin, as well as Canadian Forces Base Shilo approximately 35 kilometres east of Brandon.

Candidates

Merv Tweed (Conservative) — Tweed had held the Brandon—Souris seat since 2004 and was seeking his fourth term. Born in Medora, Manitoba, and educated at Brandon University, he had operated a used car dealership for 17 years before entering politics. His political career began in municipal government, where he served as a councillor in the Rural Municipality of Brenda for five years and as deputy reeve for three. He then served in the Manitoba legislature as MLA for Turtle Mountain from 1995 to 2004, during which time he was appointed Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism in the Filmon government in 1999.

John Bouché (NDP) — Bouché ran as the NDP candidate in Brandon—Souris.

Dave Barnes (Green Party) — Barnes stood as the Green Party candidate in the riding.

Wes Penner (Liberal) — Penner ran as the Liberal candidate in Brandon—Souris.

About the Riding

Brandon—Souris in 2011 was anchored by the city of Brandon, Manitoba's second-largest city with a population of approximately 46,000. Known as the Wheat City, Brandon's economy was historically rooted in agriculture, but by 2011 it had diversified into food processing, manufacturing, and military-related activity. The Maple Leaf Foods pork processing plant on Richmond Avenue East, which had opened in 1999 and expanded to a second production shift in 2008, was one of the city's largest employers and had been a significant driver of immigration to the area, attracting workers from the Philippines, Latin America, and elsewhere.

Canadian Forces Base Shilo, located within the riding east of Brandon, served as a major training facility for the Canadian Army and was a substantial economic contributor to the region. Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College provided the local post-secondary education base.

Beyond Brandon, the riding was overwhelmingly agricultural. Wheat, canola, and cattle production dominated the rural economy across the southwestern Manitoba prairies. The town of Virden, near the Saskatchewan border, was also a centre for oil extraction in the Williston Basin. Turtle Mountain Provincial Park, along the riding's southern boundary near the U.S. border, was a notable natural feature. Agricultural policy, grain transportation, and rural infrastructure were the predominant federal issues in a riding that had been reliably Conservative and its predecessor parties for decades.