Polls opened in Winnipeg North and Dauphin - Swan River - Marquette at 8:30 a.m. Monday.

Kevin Chief – the NDP candidate in Winnipeg North – cast his ballot at Ralph Brown School on Andrews Street on Monday.

His main opponent, Kevin Lanoureux, was making some last minute calls.

There are a total of seven candidate running in Winnipeg North - including the Conservative Party's Julie Javier.

On Sunday, after months of campaigning, front-running byelection candidates in Winnipeg North spent the day before the election meeting voters and talking about crime.

Joined by his predecessor Judy Wasylycia-Leis, first-time NDP candidate Kevin Chief met voters in the riding.

"The idea of politics is about potential and how we actually realize the potential of what we have in our community," Chief said on Sunday.

Crime is a hot-button topic in the area. In October, a shooting spree left two men dead and a 13-year-old girl injured. The gunman is still at large.

Chief said more police are needed on the streets, but it's also time for politicians to get to the root of the problem.

"The reality is, every time there's a crime there's a victim," Chief said. "How do we go about preventing more victims? And that's opportunities for young people."

Winnipeg North has been an NDP stronghold for years – former MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis served in the House of Commons for 13 years.

However, the Liberal Kevin Lamoureux is giving him a run for his money.

The former MLA for the Inkster riding, Lamoureux has been in politics for 18 years and he is known for being accessible to constituents.

I want people to know that if they need me, that I'll be there," Lamoureux said. "I might not necessarily like what they have to say, but I will be there listen, to hear what they have to say."

Lamoureux said crime has always been a top concern, adding he was the only politician in the riding who was opposed to closing down community policing in the area.

"I believe that was a mistake – that those two community police offices should not have closed," Lamoureux said. "Had they not been closed, I believe it would have made a difference."

CTV requested an interview with Conservative candidate Julie Javier, but our calls were not returned.

The voting hours in Winnipeg North are 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. For information about where and how you can vote, visit the Election Canada Winnipeg North webpage.

-CTV political reporter Laura Lowe will have election results on the CTV News at 11:30

-with a report from CTV's Caroline Barghout