Tory AGM chance for party to appear ‘as if they are one happy family’

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This article was published 14/04/2023 (923 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative party members have a chance to appear battle-ready and united as they gather this weekend, six months before an election.

Party faithful will attend an annual general meeting today and Saturday, where party brass hope to rally the troops, present leader Heather Stefanson in her best light and showcase new candidates who are replacing the departing old guard.

“The governing party wants to come out of this meeting looking as if they’re united — that they’re ready to do battle in an election, and that they’re all speaking with one voice, to look like they’re strong in unity,” said University of Manitoba political studies Prof. Christopher Adams.

“We just had a whole number of people over the past couple of months announcing they aren’t running again, so they’re coming into the (meeting) a little bit hobbled, and the polls haven’t been great.”

As of February, 13 of 36 PC MLAs had announced they will not seek re-election.

The latest Probe Research Inc. survey, conducted for the Free Press after the Tories’ big-spending March 7 budget, showed they got a slight bump in approval, but were behind the NDP in seat-rich Winnipeg.

“I think they want to make sure that this slight uptick will continue, and this AGM is part of their strategy to come out with a unified voice and a leader that’s looking good and a caucus that’s ready to do battle,” Adams said.

It will be the party’s first AGM in years after postponing the annual general meeting in September and having cancelled two previous AGMs because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It kicks off this afternoon with an opening address by president Brent Pooles, followed by the nominating committee’s report and a policy presentation review.

Saturday features the main attraction, debate and voting on policy resolutions, the premier’s keynote address followed by a ministerial “bear pit” session, where faithful can grill members of the PC cabinet.

Expect it to get testy, said one former party insider, who asked to remain anonymous.

“They want to make it appear as if they are one happy family.”

But that hasn’t been the case since the 2021 resignation of leader Brian Pallister at a PC caucus meeting in Brandon. The party was split over who should replace him, and consequently become premier. With the backing of her PC caucus, Stefanson narrowly won against rival Shelly Glover. The former police officer, MP and heritage minister went to court claiming there were election irregularities, disputed the outcome, and lost. Glover did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

“There might be some residual grievances that might appear at the AGM,” said Adams.

“There often is a tug and pull between the grassroots of a political party and the people leading the party who are more concerned about tactics and strategy for winning elections,” he said.

The incumbent PCs have time to improve their popularity ratings, two Probe polls are expected before the Oct. 3 election, Adams said.

The Tories also may benefit from having a formidable campaign co-chair — former MP Candice Bergen.

“She’s a well-respected member of the local community and the province,” he said of the former interim federal Conservative leader and longtime MP for Portage-Lisgar. She announced last fall that she would not seek re-election and resigned her seat Feb. 28.

Adams said her decision to be Stefanson’s campaign co-chair should inspire confidence in party members.

“I think there’s the sense that she’s willing to be the co-chair, and that means she’s got confidence in the party as well.”

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca