Local

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

NDP picks insider for Doer's old seat

Wiebe beats two rivals for nomination

By: Mary Agnes Welch

Posted: 11/23/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Matt Wiebe. (BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE)

He's worked for most of the big politicians in the neighbourhood, including NDP elder statesman Bill Blaikie and former premier Gary Doer.

Now, Matt Wiebe will carry the NDP banner in the Concordia byelection to fill Doer's old seat.

At a nomination meeting Sunday afternoon, Wiebe got his party's nod, winning on the first ballot. He defeated Jagdev Buttar and Winnipeg businessman Leonard Kimacovich.

When the byelection is called, likely early in the new year, Wiebe said he will focus on crime and neighbourhood safety as well as infrastructure like bike paths and rapid transit.

The riding is one of the NDP's Winnipeg strongholds, and not just because it was represented by the former premier, who enjoyed deep personal popularity. Concordia has voted New Democrat since 1981, when the riding was created.

Residents are accustomed to seeing their MLA on television and in the newspaper every day, but the new representative won't have the automatic name recognition Doer enjoyed, said Wiebe.

"It's just not going to be the same for the next MLA," he said. "I'm going to have to knock on every door and really hustle for it."

Wiebe also told about 200 party members who packed Kildonan East Collegiate's cafeteria that, after a decade sharing their MLA with the rest of the province, it's time to focus on the riding's grassroots and rebuild the constituency association.

Doer stepped down as premier and Concordia's MLA after former finance minister Greg Selinger was elected party leader last month.

Wiebe worked as Doer's constituency assistant and did a similar job for MLA Bill Blaikie when he was the federal MP for the area. Wiebe also worked for Elmwood city Coun. Lillian Thomas.

He was widely seen as the choice of the party establishment and was nominated by Manitoba Federation of Labour president Kevin Rebeck.Many legislature staffers volunteered on his campaign.

There was low-grade grumbling about the speed with which the NDP called the nomination meeting, which left limited time for candidates to sell memberships and boost their vote count. But others said it's been nearly three months since Doer announced he was leaving the premier's post to serve as Canada's ambassador to the United States. Membership sales closed at the end of October, but anyone interested in running for the nomination had two months to drum up new support and another month to woo the riding's 300 existing members.

maryagnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca

CONCORDIA

Created in 1981

Includes parts of Valley Gardens, Morse Place, Munroe and East Elmwood

The boundaries change for the next general election to squish the riding to the north. It will include none of the Munroe neighbourhood. The northern boundary will be Tu-Pelo Avenue instead of Antrim Road.

Held by the NDP since its creation, first by longtime NDP MLA and former Speaker of the house Peter Fox, then by Gary Doer, the former premier. Doer won nearly 70 per cent of the vote in the 2007 election.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 23, 2009 A4

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

WFP Hockey

Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
Editor's Bulletin

Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
Winnipeg Jets

All things NHL on our Jets landing page
Twitter

Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
News Cafe

Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
Facebook Fanpage

Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events