Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Doer considers separate dates for byelections
Progressive Conservative party CEO Doug Schweitzer said his party will announce this week that it's opening up the nomination process in the two ridings -- Elmwood and The Pas. That kicks off the party's three-week countdown to nomination meetings where candidates are selected.
Schweitzer said the party has at least one potential candidate in The Pas. There is more than one in Elmwood, even though NDP elder statesman Bill Blaikie is widely considered a shoe-in there.
"We've got a few people kicking the tires," said Schweitzer.
Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard spent time in The Pas before Christmas scouting out potential candidates. The Liberals were first out of the gate in Elmwood, nominating community activist Regan Wolfrom to carry the Grit banner.
Green Leader James Beddome said his party is also planning to field candidates in both ridings, in part to build up the party's base.
"We fully intend to have two candidates," said Beddome, who became party leader in November. "We're just tossing around some ideas right now."
All three opposition parties are longshots to win either seat. Elmwood and The Pas have held by the NDP for generations.
The Elmwood seat opened up when NDP MLA Jim Maloway jumped into federal politics last fall, winning the Elmwood-Transcona riding. That riding was held for years by NDP MP Bill Blaikie, who retired. In a bit of political musical chairs, though, Doer pressed Blaikie back into service, asking him to run provincially in Elmwood. If he wins, Blaikie is expected to get a seat in Doer's cabinet.
The seat in The Pas opened up when Oscar Lathlin, who was aboriginal and northern affairs minister, died Nov. 2.
In a year-end interview, Doer bucked expectations and said the two byelections might not happen at the same time.
Doer said he wants Blaikie in the legislature before the spring session starts, so a byelection call is expected in February.
But voters in The Pas may have to go without an MLA for a little longer.
"There's still a lot of mourning going on in The Pas constituency," said Doer. "They're different seats so it won't necessarily happen at the same time."
Mary Skanderbeg, manager of election operations and communications, said the races are located so far apart that they are run separately anyway.
The last byelection in the Fort Whyte riding in Winnipeg cost about $200,000.
maryagnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca
Where Manitobans will vote
ELMWOOD
Location: Between the Red River and Watt Street, including the Munroe and Chalmers neighbourhoods.
History: It's been NDP or CCF for 50 years.
2007 election results: Longtime MLA Jim Maloway won 61 per cent of the vote. The Progressive Conservatives took 21 per cent and the Liberals 18 per cent.
Why it's in play: A little over a year after he was re-elected, Maloway resigned his provincial seat to run successfully for the federal NDP in Elmwood-Transcona.
THE PAS
Location: In the province's northwest, it includes more than just the town of The Pas. The communities of Norway House, Cross Lake and Opaskwayak Cree Nation are also in the riding.
History: It's been NDP for the last 40 years.
2007 election results: The NDP won 69 per cent of the vote with the Tories at 21% and the Liberals 10%.
Why it's in play: Oscar Lathlin, who was the aboriginal and northern affairs minister, died in early November, leaving the seat vacant.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 3, 2009 A7
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