Ray Piche, Liberal Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa

Why do you want this job?

I was always into politics when I was in the RCMP, which was very hard because it's very non-partisan.

The big reason for me wanting to get involved with politics, or more involved at this level, is I have 21- and a 25-year-old sons. I really have a hard time burdening them, leaving this mess of a country with them. It really bothers me. I really feel that there's a great injustice going on right now in Canada. We need to change, and I don't think that we should be leaving this on the shoulders of our children and hopefully one day our grandchildren, so that's part of why I'm going into this.

I'm a retired RCMP member;I fall under veterans affairs. My wife and I owned two small businesses at CFB Shilo. I take offence to the way government's treated our veterans. The closure of the office in Brandon and others across Canada it really bothers me, so I felt it was time to do something about it.

What's the biggest issue in the country and in your riding?

My riding is very large, and right smack in the middle of our riding is Riding Mountain National Park.

About three years ago, the Conservative government turned it into a three-season park [from four season]. It's surrounded by small communities and basically is the central park of our riding and of our area. It affects small businesses that are surrounding the park.

Of course, the park being three-season, closer to the winter, really affects all the businesses. It affects Manitobans. We're not bears here, we don't hibernate because it's winter;we still go out and do things. Winter sports and activities are a big part of us in Manitoba, so it's an important park.

The other big issue that affects the riding, but globally too, is health. People have to travel big distances to see specialists, so people in the northern part of the riding have to drive to Brandon sometimes to see specialists.

I realize this is a provincial mandate, but the federal government should be taking a lead role in working with all the partnerships of the provincial and territorial leaders to solve these problems.

What would you do with the Senate?

It's been dealt with by the Liberals as far as I'm concerned. They're no longer part of the caucus.

The Senate should be basically appointed from non-partisan individuals. The Senate is a sober second thought for the House. It's a required body. It's there.

Winnipeg was described as the most racist city in Canada. What would you do to combat racism?

When you consider about 36 per cent of the people in my riding are aboriginal or Mtis, I would work with all groups.

I mean, racism is something that I was not really familiar with until I moved out west. I grew up in Montreal where I never really encountered it, where I did in Manitoba.

I'm not saying it's all terrible or that everybody's a racist, because that would be a very false statement. Working together, to me, is a dialogue, a discussion and forming partnerships. If I see it at my workplace, I would immediately deal with it. If I was the MP and I had issues with racism, I would do the same. It's not an acceptable practice.

What role should the federal government play in dealing with climate change?

Climate change is there. We have to accept it. It's part of what we are.

We need a government that, first of all, accepts that it's there, that climate change is occurring. Then we need to deal with it maybe reinstate a few more scientists and have some evidence-based data to deal with it but we need to deal with it. I'm not a scientist, so I would hopefully work with some scientists about it.

If there was one government policy you think is done better in another country, what is it?

The regulating the distribution of marijuana in the state of Colorado in the U.S. of A., I think it's a great thing. It's proven that the crime rate has gone down, there's more money in the coffers, they're able to spend money for themselves and take care of themselves a lot better. I really think that's something we should look into.

Under what circumstances is deficit spending a good choice?

Trudeau has made it very clear that he wants a modest deficit. To me, as a small business owner, if I were to invest in another business, this would be the time to do it. There is no better time to invest in our future.

We need to do something to stimulate growth of our country. We need to find employment and jobs for our young people so that they stay in the different communities where they live.

What do you believe is the single most effective way to fight crime?

Only one? Well, I'm not sure I can come up with a good answer for that if you're only giving me the option of one.

It depends on what type of crime you're talking about.

For me to give you a general answer would be very difficult and, in my opinion, would be irresponsible on my part. I've been in the RCMP for 21 years. I could give you multiple things you can do, but to give you one for the general term of crime is really not a fair statement.

What should be done about homegrown terrorism?

Well, if we identify homegrown terrorism, it should be dealt with with our laws. We have laws in Canada that deal with these types of crimes as we do with all other types of crimes.

If they're located or identified, the police should deal with them, and people should be charged accordingly and brought before the courts.

If there was a gay pride parade in your riding, would you go? Why or why not?

Yes. I support all people. That's the nice thing about our country you can go.

Have either your or your family had a frustrating experience with the health-care system, and what would you do to fix the problem?

I can't really think of one that I've had.

A lot of people in the Dauphin and the Swan River area have been talking to us about [having to travel].

Lots of the health issues in this province are provincial issues. It's a provincial thing, but because the federal is not taking a leading role. They basically took the health accordand said, "That's it. It's done."

The problem is that there's no leadership from the federal government. In Canada, we have health care, which is very important. We're able to get proper health care, no matter where you live in Canada. Well, to me, that becomes a problem when you don't have a federal government taking the leading role on making sure that all Canadians have proper health care.

What would you do to get more people to vote?

On my contact cards, we are requesting people to vote for those that we find out are not registered.On our Facebook page and Twitter, we completely try to make sure people are registered, make sure they go vote. When we knock on doors, we always talk about voting, we talk about the polls, we talk about advanced polls.

I mean, encouraging people to vote is good business. It doesn't matter what party you're for, I believe all Canadians should be encouraging other Canadians to vote.

What's a better use of federal dollars: fixing roads or building rapid transit infrastructure?

Both. Not spending it on attack ads or partisan ads. Both are important.

Would you support legalizing a small amount of marijuana? Have you ever tried it?

I've never tried marijuana, and I would use the word regulate and distribute marijuana, which is the same thing we do with liquor. But yes, I'd support it.

We don't use the world legalize in the sale of liquor. What we've done is regulated the sale and distribution to the public. We would do the same thing with marijuana.