By Ian Froese

There’s nothing quite like a summer day by the water, a cold drink in hand and not a worry in the world as you ponder which Manitoba political party deserves your vote, right?

OK, fine. Chances are you aren’t deciphering the intricacies of campaign policies with your feet up this summer. You’d rather think about the number of drinks in the cooler. We get it.

But for the next little while, we’ll try to make you care. CBC Manitoba is publishing a weekly newsletter to keep you abreast of the election.

Now it’s a question of whether Manitobans will care enough during summer’s last gasps to not only vote, but follow the campaigns. 

If you’ve read this far, maybe that’s you.

JUST THE FACTS

Since we get that you don’t treat provincial budget documents as summer reading material, we’ve enlisted Bartley Kives and Jacques Marcoux as our resident fact-checkers. They’re separating fact from fiction while the parties stump for votes.

In the early days of the campaign, the Tories boasted the average Manitoban would save $2,020 in their taxes under their government, while the Manitoba New Democrats warned the Progressive Conservatives would slap a new tax on health-care. Neither are entirely accurate.

Our number-crunchers also found the PCs are telling the truth when they say they’re spending more on health-care than their predecessor, but it’s nothing to gloat about. 

Meanwhile, NDP Leader Wab Kinew's claim he can create 50,000 new jobs by spending more on infrastructure is as "muddy as a bucket full of Red River water," Kives wrote.

THIS WEEK IN ELECTION HEADLINES

Perhaps one way to rouse a sleepy electorate is with attack ads. Both the PCs and NDP have resorted to the tactic, but experts warn the parties not to go overboard.

Meanwhile, the Liberals are trying to outmuscle the Green Party on its own turf. At the launch of their election campaign, Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont emphasized they are the choice if Manitobans want to “cancel the apocalypse” of climate change.

And here’s a roundup of some of the other promises so far:

Tories: spending $2 billion more on health-care, building 13 new schools and creating 40,000 new private-sector jobs.

NDP: spending $6.6 billion for more roads, hospitals and schools, securing 600 new child care spaces per year and creating a safe consumption site in downtown Winnipeg.

Liberals: boosting the minimum wage to $15 in two years, cutting wait times for knee and hip replacements and training more mental-health professionals.

Greens: providing a guaranteed liveable income (similar to the Liberal promise) and creating 20,000 new child-care spaces over 10 years. 

FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

The NDP's leader has been known to start his media events with a little play on words. “How do you do, I’m Wab Kinew,” he quips, often to a smirk or two from someone who hasn’t heard the former rapper’s rhyme. Not one to forgo a jab at Kinew, Pallister has been rhyming himself. “There’s nothing new with Wab Kinew and the NDP,” he likes to say. 

Are you groaning yet? Well, here’s another: Kinew’s branded campaign van has been christened the Portager because “it carries the Kinew across the land.”

HAVE YOUR SAY

Conventional wisdom says voters don’t pay attention to summer election campaigns. What do you think? If you aren’t on pins and needles, what would get your attention?

Tell us what you think at talkback@cbc.ca. 

YOUR ELECTION GUIDE

Where to vote, what to bring, how to register.

In case you don't know the drill, here's what you need to know before you vote on Tuesday, September 10.

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