Former chief to run for NDP in federal riding

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/09/2015 (3925 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FORMER Brokenhead Ojibway Nation chief Deborah Chief brings the NDP one step closer to a full slate of candidates in Manitoba, but there are no clear signs the party is anywhere close to filling the final three spots.

Chief will represent the NDP in Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman against Conservative incumbent James Bezan, Liberal Joanne Levy and Wayne James for the Green party. Darrell Noakes is on the ballot as a Libertarian.

Chief beat out retired civil servant Marc Gourdeau after a relatively small nomination meeting Sunday with about 100 people in attendance.

The NDP has just nine candidates left to nominate nationwide and three of them are in Manitoba — Saint Boniface-Saint Vital, Winnipeg South and Portage-Lisgar. There are no nominations scheduled in any of those ridings, and only one has had a known candidate considering it.

Erin Selby, MLA for Southdale and former health minister, told the Free Press recently she was approached to run and is considering it but hasn’t made a decision. A poll has been in the field testing Selby’s name in a likely bid to determine whether she wants to jump into the contest. The NDP finished a distant third in Saint Boniface in 2011.

The Conservatives are still lacking a candidate in Churchill and also have no plans on the agenda to nominate or acclaim someone right now. Nationally, the Conservatives have 18 ridings to fill with candidates.

The Green party completed its full slate in Manitoba in early August, but has more than 100 left to go nationwide.

The Liberals are 10 away from a complete slate but filled their Manitoba slate in May.