Meet the Candidate (Riding Mountain): Jim Oliver, People’s Party of Canada

PPC Candidate Jim Oliver Enters the Political Arena in Riding Mountain

The newly named Riding Mountain electoral district—formerly known as Dauphin–Swan River–Neepawa—shares its name with one of its smallest communities: the village of Riding Mountain. It’s here that Jim Oliver, candidate for the People’s Party of Canada (PPC), has made his home since 2021.

Before moving to the area, Oliver co-owned an automotive parts business for 12 years. He later worked as a professional tattoo artist in Winnipeg, a career he stepped away from after COVID-19 lockdowns disrupted his ability to work in the field. Since relocating, he’s settled on a quarter-section of land near the eastern edge of Riding Mountain National Park.

“This is a very important time in Canadian history,” says Oliver, who is making his first foray into politics in this election. One of the PPC’s central concerns—and a key reason Oliver says he decided to run—is immigration. The party, led by Maxime Bernier, is calling for a moratorium on immigration, citing what Oliver refers to as “unchecked immigration” and its potential consequences.

Another issue Oliver highlights is what he describes as “radical gender ideology” in schools, which he believes is inappropriate for children. He characterizes these conversations as a form of indoctrination and says they should not be part of the educational curriculum.

On the environment, the PPC has long opposed the federal carbon tax, which was recently altered by the Liberal government. Oliver says that while climate change and pipeline policies have become key budget items for both current and previous governments, the real cost, in his view, is being borne by Canadians in the form of increased taxation and reduced freedoms.

“All we’re doing,” he says, “is paying more taxes and trading freedoms away in the hope of maintaining some of what we already have.”

As the election nears, Oliver presents himself as a voice for those who feel left behind by mainstream parties—seeking to raise concerns he believes aren’t being addressed in the national conversation.