# Portage—Lisgar

Portage—Lisgar is a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1997.

## Demographics

| Population, 2021 census | 100,417 |
| Electors | 68,241 |
| Area (km$^2$) | 12,559.18 |
| Population density (people per km$^2$) | 8 |
    According to the 2021 Canadian census
Ethnic groups: 82.3% White, 11.5% Indigenous, 2.2% Filipino, 1.5% South Asian
Languages: 70.5% English, 11.7% German, 7.7% Plautdietsch/Low German/Low Saxon, 3.5% French, 1.5% Russian, 1.2% Tagalog
Median income: $37,200 (2020) Average income: $45,560 (2020)
Panethnic groups in Portage—Lisgar (2011−2021) :
| Panethnic group | 2021 | 2021 | 2016 | 2016 | 2011 | 2011 |
| Panethnic group | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % |
| European | 77,810 | 82.3% | 78,120 | 85.34% | 75,645 | 88.41% |
| Indigenous | 10,835 | 11.46% | 10,475 | 11.44% | 7,870 | 9.2% |
| Southeast Asian | 2,170 | 2.3% | 975 | 1.07% | 510 | 0.6% |
| South Asian | 1,425 | 1.51% | 555 | 0.61% | 340 | 0.4% |
| African | 750 | 0.79% | 430 | 0.47% | 435 | 0.51% |
| Latin American | 605 | 0.64% | 220 | 0.24% | 245 | 0.29% |
| East Asian | 395 | 0.42% | 390 | 0.43% | 70 | 0.08% |
| Middle Eastern | 310 | 0.33% | 235 | 0.26% | 280 | 0.33% |
| Other/multiracial | 265 | 0.28% | 155 | 0.17% | 15 | 0.02% |
| Total responses | 94,550 | 94.16% | 91,545 | 94.03% | 85,565 | 94.01% |
| Total population | 100,417 | 100% | 97,354 | 100% | 91,019 | 100% |
| Notes: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses. Demographics based on 2012 Canadian federal electoral redistribution riding boundaries. |||||||
According to the 2011 Census, Portage—Lisgar was the riding with the highest percentage of native German speakers (23.6% of the population at the time) in all of Canada. Only Inuktitut (Nunavut: 66.8%) and Panjabi (Punjabi) (Newton—North Delta, in British Columbia: 33.4%) exceed this concentration of native speakers of a non-official language in a single riding.

## Geography

This is a rural district that encompasses most of Central Manitoba. It includes the cities of Portage la Prairie, Winkler, and Morden, and the towns of Carman, Morris and Altona.
As a rural Western riding, the Conservatives dominate this riding, except for in First Nations areas. In 2021, due to opposition to COVID-19 restrictions, the People's Party broke through and were able to do strongly in areas with large Mennonite populations like the Rural Municipality of Stanley, the Municipality of Rhineland and Winkler, municipalities that went heavily Conservative in 2019. Because of this shift in 2021, the Conservatives did best in rural areas with fewer Mennonites, such as the Municipality of Norfolk Treherne. In 2021, the NDP was able to win both the Swan Lake First Nation and Long Plain First Nation. The Liberals are also strong in the Long Plain First Nation, which they won in 2019, and also have some residual strength in the Rural Municipality of St. François Xavier.

## History

The electoral district was created in 1996 from the former districts of Lisgar—Marquette and Portage—Interlake. It originally consisted of the rural municipalities of Argyle, Cartier, Dufferin, Grey, Lakeview, Lorne, Louise, Macdonald, North Cypress, North Norfolk, Pembina, Portage la Prairie (except for the northeast corner), Roblin, Roland, South Norfolk, Stanley, Thompson, Victoria and Westbourne; the cities of Portage la Prairie and Winkler; the towns of Carberry, Carman, Gladstone, Manitou, Morden, Pilot Mound, and Treherne; the villages of Cartwright, Crystal City, MacGregor, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Somerset, and St. Claude; and the Indian reserves of Dakota Plains 6A, Long Plain 6, and Swan Lake 7.
In the 2003 redistribution, it lost the rural municipalities of Lakeview and Westbourne and the town of Gladstone to Dauphin—Swan River; and the rural municipalities of Argyle, North Cypress and Roblin, the town of Carberry, and the village of Cartwright to the riding of Brandon—Souris. It gained the rural municipalities of Rhineland and St. François Xavier; and the towns of Altona, Gretna and Plum Coulee from Provencher.
In the 2012 electoral redistribution, this riding lost the rural municipality of North Norfolk and the town of MacGregor to Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa and the rural municipalities of Victoria, and Louise and the town of Pilot Mound and the village of Crystal City to Brandon—Souris. It gained the rural municipality and the town of Morris from Provencher and remainder of the rural municipality of Portage la Prairie from Selkirk—Interlake.

### Members of Parliament

This riding has elected the following members of Parliament:
| Parliament | Years | Member | Party |
| Portage—Lisgar Riding created from Lisgar—Marquette, and Portage—Interlake |||||
| 36th | 1997–2000 | Jake Hoeppner | Reform |
| 36th | 2000–2000 | Jake Hoeppner | Alliance |
| 37th | 2000–2003 | Brian Pallister | Alliance |
| 37th | 2003–2004 | Brian Pallister | Conservative |
| 38th | 2004–2006 | Brian Pallister | Conservative |
| 39th | 2006–2008 | Brian Pallister | Conservative |
| 40th | 2008–2011 | Candice Bergen | Conservative |
| 41st | 2011–2015 | Candice Bergen | Conservative |
| 42nd | 2015–2019 | Candice Bergen | Conservative |
| 43rd | 2019–2021 | Candice Bergen | Conservative |
| 44th | 2021–2023 | Candice Bergen | Conservative |
| 44th | 2023–present | Branden Leslie | Conservative |

### Current member of Parliament

Its most recent member of Parliament was Candice Bergen, who resigned on February 1, 2023. She was first elected in the 2008 Canadian federal election.

## Election results

vteCanadian federal by-election, June 19, 2023 Resignation of Candice Bergen :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Branden Leslie | 20,250 | 64.95 | +12.43 |
| | People's | Max Bernier | 5,352 | 17.16 | −4.42 |
| | Liberal | Kerry Smith | 2,666 | 8.55 | −2.40 |
| | New Democratic | Lisa Tessier-Burch | 2,208 | 7.08 | −6.30 |
| | Green | Nicolas Geddert | 704 | 2.26 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 31,180 | 99.40 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 188 | 0.60 | −0.15 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,368 | 45.47 | −20.77 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 68,988 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +8.42 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
vte2021 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Candice Bergen | 23,819 | 52.52 | –18.28 | $75,005.66 |
| | People's | Solomon Wiebe | 9,790 | 21.58 | +18.97 | $12,104.29 |
| | New Democratic | Ken Friesen | 6,068 | 13.38 | +4.70 | $2,822.40 |
| | Liberal | Andrew Carrier | 4,967 | 10.95 | +0.24 | $14,348.06 |
| | Christian Heritage | Jerome Dondo | 712 | 1.57 | –0.36 | $7,509.16 |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 45,356 | 99.25 | – | $111,667.24 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 341 | 0.75 | +0.13 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,697 | 66.24 | –0.40 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 68,991 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | –18.62 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
2021 federal election redistributed results :
| Party | Vote | % |
| Conservative | 22,445 | 52.15 |
| People's | 9,418 | 21.88 |
| New Democratic | 5,778 | 13.42 |
| Liberal | 4,720 | 10.97 |
| Others | 681 | 1.58 |
vte2019 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Candice Bergen | 31,600 | 70.79 | +9.95 | $60,166.75 |
| | Liberal | Ken Werbiski | 4,779 | 10.71 | −15.08 | $18,673.74 |
| | New Democratic | Cindy Friesen | 3,872 | 8.67 | +2.47 | $0.00 |
| | Green | Beverley Eert | 2,356 | 5.28 | +1.30 | $6,945.06 |
| | People's | Aaron Archer | 1,169 | 2.62 | | $1,048.91 |
| | Christian Heritage | Jerome Dondo | 860 | 1.93 | −1.27 | $21,830.60 |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 44,636 | 99.39 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 275 | 0.61 | +0.23 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,911 | 68.64 | +1.19 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 67,397 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +12.52 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
vte2015 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Candice Bergen | 25,060 | 60.84 | −14.95 | $91,365.21 |
| | Liberal | Ken Werbiski | 10,621 | 25.79 | +19.81 | $12,481.25 |
| | New Democratic | Dean Harder | 2,554 | 6.20 | −4.01 | $7,315.22 |
| | Green | Bev Eert | 1,637 | 3.97 | −1.67 | $7,832.39 |
| | Christian Heritage | Jerome Dondo | 1,315 | 3.19 | | $20,134.89 |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 41,187 | 99.62 | | $208,924.52 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 159 | 0.38 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,346 | 65.44 | – |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 63,180 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | −17.38 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
^ Change is from redistributed results
2011 federal election redistributed results :
| Party | Vote | % |
| Conservative | 25,738 | 75.79 |
| New Democratic | 3,467 | 10.21 |
| Liberal | 2,031 | 5.98 |
| Green | 1,916 | 5.64 |
| Others | 807 | 2.38 |
vte2011 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Candice Hoeppner | 26,899 | 75.99 | +7.72 | – |
| | New Democratic | Mohamed Alli | 3,478 | 9.83 | +2.54 | – |
| | Liberal | MJ Willard | 2,221 | 6.27 | −7.28 | – |
| | Green | Matthew Friesen | 1,996 | 5.64 | −2.43 | – |
| | Christian Heritage | Jerome Dondo | 805 | 2.27 | −0.55 | – |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 35,399 | 99.59 | | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 147 | 0.41 | +0.06 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,546 | 59.44 | +5.67 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 59,799 | – | – |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +2.59 |
vte2008 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Candice Hoeppner | 22,036 | 68.27 | −1.52 | $57,186 |
| | Liberal | Ted Klassen | 4,374 | 13.55 | +2.16 | $19,807 |
| | Green | Charlie Howatt | 2,606 | 8.07 | +2.97 | $3,649 |
| | New Democratic | Mohamed Alli | 2,353 | 7.29 | −3.76 | $2,873 |
| | Christian Heritage | Len Lodder | 911 | 2.82 | +0.14 | $8,429 |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 32,280 | 99.64 | | $83,296 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 116 | 0.36 | +0.03 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,396 | 53.77 | –7.89 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 60,246 | – | – |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | −1.84 |
vte2006 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Brian Pallister | 25,719 | 69.78 | +3.85 | $44,321.83 |
| | Liberal | Garry McLean | 4,199 | 11.39 | −6.35 | $13,875.88 |
| | New Democratic | Daren Van Den Bussche | 4,072 | 11.05 | +1.70 | $2,450.07 |
| | Green | Charlie Howatt | 1,880 | 5.10 | +2.64 | $4,073.82 |
| | Christian Heritage | David Reimer | 987 | 2.68 | −1.51 | $9,372.57 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 36,857 | 99.67 | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 123 | 0.33 | −0.09 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,890 | 61.66 | +4.31 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 59,970 | – | – |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +5.10 |
| Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada. |||||||
vte2004 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Brian Pallister | 22,939 | 65.93 | −0.02 | $55,524.92 |
| | Liberal | Don Kuhl | 6,174 | 17.74 | −1.75 | $70,773.27 |
| | New Democratic | Daren Van Den Bussche | 3,251 | 9.34 | +3.89 | $13,159.49 |
| | Christian Heritage | David Reimer | 1,458 | 4.19 | | $12,986.64 |
| | Green | Marc Payette | 856 | 2.46 | | $649.69 |
| | Communist | Allister Cucksey | 117 | 0.34 | | $741.52 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 34,795 | 99.58 | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 146 | 0.42 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,941 | 57.35 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 60,922 | – | – |
| | Conservative notional hold | Conservative notional hold | Swing | Swing | +0.87 |
| Percentage change figures are compared to redistributed results from 2000. Conservative Party percentages are contrasted with the combined Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative percentages. |||||||
| Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada. |||||||
2000 federal election redistributed results :
| Party | Vote | % |
| Canadian Alliance | 17,680 | 51.63 |
| Liberal | 6,676 | 19.50 |
| Progressive Conservative | 4,902 | 14.32 |
| Independents | 3,118 | 9.11 |
| New Democratic | 1,866 | 5.45 |
vte2000 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Alliance | Brian Pallister | 17,318 | 50.31 | +10.07 | $44,417.63 |
| | Liberal | Gerry J.E. Gebler | 6,133 | 17.82 | +3.21 | $44,267.57 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Morley McDonald | 5,339 | 15.51 | −20.42 | $16,872.28 |
| | Independent | Jake Hoeppner | 3,558 | 10.34 | | $40,395.49 |
| | New Democratic | Diane Beresford | 2,073 | 6.02 | −1.17 | $3,880.73 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 34,421 | 99.71 | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 101 | 0.29 | −0.15 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,522 | 61.56 | +0.93 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 56,082 | – | – |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | Swing | +3.43 |
| Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada, Official Voting Results and Financial Returns, Elections Canada. |||||||
^ Canadian Alliance results compared to Reform
vte1997 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Reform | Jake Hoeppner | 13,532 | 40.25 | $55,221 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Brian Pallister | 12,083 | 35.94 | $52,473 |
| | Liberal | Heather Mack | 4,913 | 14.61 | $14,412 |
| | New Democratic | Glen Hallick | 2,420 | 7.20 | $9,391 |
| | Christian Heritage | Martin Dewit | 517 | 1.54 | $2,674 |
| | Canadian Action | Roy Lyall | 159 | 0.47 | $1,210 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 33,624 | 99.56 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 149 | 0.44 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,773 | 60.63 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 55,706 | – |
| Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada, Official Voting Results and Financial Returns, Elections Canada. |||||||