Back to square one for the NDP

Selinger stays on as premier, but party still divided

RECORD PHOTO BY AUSTIN GRABISH

Greg Selinger rises after successfully winning his fight to keep his job as Manitoba’s premier while his son Pascal roars in elation about the news. 

By Austin Grabish, The Selkirk Record

Premier Greg Selinger likely slept a little easier Sunday night. The embattled premier won his fight to keep his job and will continue to lead Manitoba, at least for now.

Selinger defeated Theresa Oswald with a slim 33-vote win after a second vote at the NDP’s leadership convention in Winnipeg.

“You might recall, it’s been a bit arduous, said Selinger moments after the results were announced.

“It’s been difficult. It’s been a long journey.”

Selinger received 759 votes from delegates and Oswald wasn’t that far behind – coming in with a total of 726 votes.

Oswald and Steve Ashton, who was also fighting for the premier’s seat, moved a motion to make Selinger’s win unanimous.

“We all came together,” Selinger said.

The premier took the stage and boisterously thanked delegates after the results of the vote were announced.

“I want to congratulate all of you for your dedication, for your involvement, your support for those sleepless nights you’ve gone through, the campaigning, the voting,” Selinger said.

“My god the voting.”

“Let us go home cherishing the friendships we’ve made. Let us go home and have a good night sleep.”

Selinger told reporters he was prepared for any outcome and is ready to move past the controversies that have plagued him and his party in the last several months.

“It’ll be up to all of us. I’m certainly ready to move past it,” Selinger said.

Despite the split in votes Selinger said the NDP has come out of the convention united.

“The party will come together. We all know that we’re one big New Democrat family, one big New Democratic movement,” Selinger said.

Selinger gave a familiar response when fielding questions from reporters about damage that’s been done to the NDP since last year’s caucus revolt, which saw five of his former most senior cabinet ministers, including Oswald, call on him to resign.

The premier said he is focused on the priorities of Manitobans and ensuring they have a better quality of life.

“I know we can make a better (Manitoba) starting tomorrow again,” Selinger said.

Minister of Finance Greg Dewar said he was confident Selinger would win the race.

“I’m obviously very excited that my leader, my friend and my premier won today,” Dewar said.

“That means that we can continue onto our path of providing good governance.”

Oswald said Selinger now has her full support.

“I’ve honoured the decision of our members and I’m going to get behind the premier because he was selected by the delegates, and I’m going to do my best to help in any way I can,” Oswald said.

The former jobs and economy minister wouldn’t say if she would run again with the NDP in the next provincial election.

“It’s a really big decision that has a profound and meaningful impact on one’s family,” Oswald said.

“We need to have a big talk about that.”

By all accounts Sunday’s leadership race was a historic one.

Opposition leader Brian Pallister said he’s happy the leadership race is over.

“I’m glad the circus is packing up and leaving town now,” Pallister said.

The PC leader said the NDP remains right where it was before the convention.

“Nothing’s changed here,” Pallister said.

“What’s stopping the knives from coming out in a few months after another poll shows that the premier’s not popular? That’s what caused this in the first place.”

Pallister said a dangerous precedent was set by the highly publicized leadership race.

“This is without precedent in Canadian political history,” Pallister said.

Selinger and Pallister will face off in the next provincial election, which has yet to be called.

-- First published in the Selkirk Record print edition March 12, 2015 p.13