Selinger wins on second ballot at NDP leadership convention

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This article was published 08/03/2015 (3940 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Greg Selinger has defied his challengers and kept his job as premier — for now.

The embattled 64-year-old premier defeated Theresa Oswald on the second ballot at the NDP’s leadership convention Sunday, triumphing over his Gang of Five opponents after many had written his political epitaph.

The final count saw Selinger take 759 delegate votes to Oswald’s 726.

Selinger said the race highlighted the party’s vitality and its commitment to serving Manitobans. He joked party members will now have a chance to catch up on sleep and do their laundry after a divisive, five-month campaign.

“You might recall, it’s been a bit difficult, a bit arduous,” said Selinger. “It’s been a long journey.”

As is party tradition, Ashton and Oswald moved a motion making Selinger’s election unanimous.

“We’ve always said let the members decide,” said Selinger, adding the battle has made the party tougher going into next year’s general election. “It steels you. It makes you stronger.”

‘Disappointed’: Oswald

Oswald, who came less than three dozen votes from the premier’s office, said she did not regret publicly challenging Selinger’s leadership last fall, and she respects the party’s decision.

She said she will discuss her future with her family before committing to running in the next election.

After the vote, she and Ashton stood on stage and declared the outcome unanimous.

She then hugged her tearful son Jack, 9, and kissed her husband before taking reporters’ questions.

“Of course I’m disappointed. I would have loved to have been on the other side of that decision, without question. But as I’ve gone through this process it became so clear to me that whatever was going to happen today, the members will have decided,” she said. “I respect that absolutely.”

She also praised her campaign team for its efforts. “I know that we ran the best darn campaign that we could.”

Hard work ahead for Selinger

Continuing on as premier, Selinger will face an even stiffer test in 13 months as he leads a divided party to the polls against the Progressive Conservatives. The NDP trails the PCs badly in the polls, and many of its key political operatives were backing Oswald.

But for now, Selinger can take comfort he has prevailed over an unprecedented cabinet revolt against a sitting Manitoba premier with a huge majority of seats in the legislature.

All weekend, the premier didn’t look like a man whose leadership was under siege. He appeared calm and relaxed, with a ready smile.

In elections on Saturday, his loyalists won key positions on the party executive, including the position of president, which went to First Nations leader Ovide Mercredi.

Selinger faces a daunting task in the year ahead in uniting a divided party. One of the many questions ahead will be what role, if any, the Gang of Five cabinet ministers will play in his government. Along with Oswald, the group included former health minister Erin Selby, former attorney general Andrew Swan, former finance minister Jennifer Howard and former municipal government minister Stan Struthers.

Tory Leader Pallister responds

Opposition Leader Brian Pallister said the NDP’s weekend convention settled nothing for the NDP, and the slim majority won by Selinger only proves the New Democrats are still focused on infighting rather than serving.

“Manitobans want real change, I’m convinced of that,” Pallister said. “Today proves they aren’t going to get it from the NDP. A government divided against itself isn’t representing Manitoban’s key priority issues. They are not fighting for Manitoban’s best interests, they’re fighting internally.

“They went divided into this process and they came out, if possible, they came out more divided.”

Ashton tells supporters to vote on their own judgment

Longtime Thompson MLA Steve Ashton — once considered the front-runner — was eliminated from the race after finishing third in first-ballot voting on Sunday.

He received 502 votes on the first ballot, compared with 575 for Oswald and 612 for Selinger.

At one time during the campaign, Ashton appeared to be a sure-fire first-round survivor, building up a considerable delegate lead. But his support proved to be soft.

He also ran for the party leadership in 2009, losing to Selinger, after Gary Doer resigned to become Canadian ambassador in Washington.

His leadership hopes thwarted on the first ballot, Ashton said he wouldn’t throw his support to either rival and instead was letting his 500 delegates use their judgment.

With second-ballot voting about to begin, Ashton would not hint at his own intentions, or offer any criticism of Oswald or Premier Selinger. Ashton said he hasn’t badmouthed either rival during what’s been a divisive race.

“My campaign ended 20 minutes ago, and I won’t start now,” said Ashton.

Ashton, speaking moments after his first-ballot loss, wouldn’t speculate why he fell short but his support was seen as soft on the convention floor.

Shortly after the announcement, the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, strong Ashton supporters, walked a few feet over to Selinger’s area on the convention floor, indicating they were throwing their weight behind the premier in the second ballot.

Much work left to do: Oswald

Earlier in the day, each of the three NDP leadership candidates gave a speech to the delegates. Theresa Oswald spoke first, followed by Steve Ashton and Greg Selinger. The order of speeches was picked through draw.

“There is so much work left to do, New Democrats,” Oswald said, adding she’s the best person to lead the party into the future and keep Opposition Leader Brian Pallister from forming the next government.

She also pledged whatever delegates decided, she would abide by their decision to bring the fractured party back together.

Oswald was introduced by former NDP MLA Eugene Kostyra and Clair Cerilli, who works in the NDP’s caucus.

“Today feels a lot like 1988,” Kostyra told delegates, referring to the fall of the NDP government of Howard Pawley. “We have a problem, friends, and we have to admit it.”

Kostyra said Oswald is the only choice among the three candidates who can unite the NDP heading into the next election in April 2016.

“It is about winning, fellow sister and brother New Democrats, it’s about winning,” Kostyra said.

Key is working together: Ashton

Steve Ashton painted himself as someone who can unite the party and win the next election.

In an attempt to distance himself from Oswald and the caucus rebels whose actions prompted the leadership contest, Ashton stressed the need for party solidarity.

“The key is working together,” he said. “We may be wearing different T-shirts, but when this is all over there is only going to be one team, the New Democratic Party.”

Ashton said as leader he would welcome back caucus dissidents as well as key party staffers who have worked on rival campaigns.

“Theresa, Greg and I have far more in common than what divides us,” he said. “We’re a lot stronger together and we will be together again as New Democrats.”

Ashton was introduced to the crowd by his daughter, Churchill MP Niki Ashton and Alex Forrest, president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg.

“He can bring this party together,” Forrest said.

Party’s not vulnerable: Selinger

Selinger was introduced to delegates after the room’s sound system failed and a video showing his and his government’s contribution to the province played without sound.

After a slight delay, Selinger took the stage to tell delegates each day he goes to work to fight for the values of Manitobans.

“That’s a great honour to do that,” he said.

Selinger also said the province is on the right track under his leadership, including a recent report that said the province’s economy will perform above average as compared to other provinces in the coming year.

Selinger said with him still at the wheel the province can grow even more with increased immigration and greater inclusion of aboriginal people.

“Some people think that we are vulnerable right now,” he said. “They could not be more wrong.”

Deputy Premier Eric Robinson was first to speak about Selinger’s accomplishments, saying they extend throughout each corner of the province.

Robinson also said Selinger recently travelled north to apologize to First Nations about the damage caused by past hydroelectric development.

“It takes a person with a lot of determination to do that,” Robinson said.

Robinson also said two qualities define a person, their word and honour.

“With Greg Selinger, his word is his honour,” Robinson said.

Malaya Marcelino, daughter of NDP MLA Flor Marcelino, seconded Selinger’s nomination for leader to delegates.

“As a leader, Greg is not reactive to public opinion polls and negative media coverage,” she said.

— with files from The Canadian Press

The endorsements

Backing Selinger:

• The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) executive, but some locals said they will not support him
• United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 832
• Ovide Mercredi, former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations
• Jim Silver, inner-city activist
• Muriel Smith, former MLA and cabinet minister
• Jerry Storie, former MLA for Flin Flon
• Darlene Swiderski, Selkirk city councillor
• Rosann Wowchuk, former MLA and finance minister
• Don Yannick, reeve of the RM of Yellowhead

MLAs also backing Selinger:

• James Allum
• Peter Bjornson
• Sharon Blady
• Drew Caldwell
• Kevin Chief
• Deanne Crothers
• Greg Dewar
• Kerri Irvin-Ross
• Ron Kostyshyn
• Flor Marcelino
• Ted Marcelino
• Eric Robinson
• Mohinder Saran
• Matt Wiebe
• Melanie Wight

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Backing Oswald:

• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
• Manitoba Young NDP
• Michael Balagus (former Doer/Selinger chief of staff)
• Becky Barrett, former MLA and cabinet minister
• Brandon city Couns. Jan Chaboyer and Lonnie Patterson
• Riva Harrison (former Doer press secretary)
• Anna Rothney (former adviser to Selinger)

MLAs also backing Oswald:

• Nancy Allan
• Jennifer Howard
• Ron Lemieux
• Erin Selby
• Stan Struthers
• Andrew Swan
• Erna Braun

Backing Ashton:

• United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg
• United Steel Workers

MLAs also backing Ashton: