Selinger bursts election bubble

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/04/2010 (5891 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Greg Selinger put to rest rumours Saturday that he’s on the edge of calling a snap provincial election this spring.

The rumours have been circulating in political circles for about a month, likely spurred by a spate of recent candidate nomination meetings held by the opposition Progressive Conservatives and Liberals.

At this weekend’s annual NDP convention, Selinger said after his speech to party faithful that he’s sticking to what he’s said since the minute he became premier last fall — he will not waver from the fixed election date of Oct. 4, 2011.

“I said very early on when I got the job that we would govern for the full mandate and that’s our plan,” he said. “We’re moving forward to provide leadership during a time of recession. We want to implement all the things that we’re putting out there. We’ve got lots of work to do bringing all these things on home, and that’s our plan, to get ‘er done.”

In his speech, Selinger made no grandiose announcements. Instead, he kept to the government script of how it will manage the province’s economy and multi-year budget deficits without cutting vital services to health care, schools and roads.

“Moderation is the key, but moderation with a clear focus on people, with a clear focus on the things that make a difference for all of us today and tomorrow,” Selinger told about 500 delegates in a 25-minute speech.

“If we stay in touch with our citizens and what they are talking about, learning from them, respecting them and taking their ideas and generating them into good policies and good programs, we can be a government for a long time to come because we will be a government for all the people of Manitoba,” he said.

While Selinger was warmly received, the weekend-long meeting is not without its barbs thrown by the New Democrat grassroots at their government, which has been in power since 1999.

The Manitoba Federation of Labour is sponsoring a motion criticizing the Selinger government for publicly demanding a two-year wage freeze from public-sector unions. The MFL said the province should bargain with the unions in good faith and not bully workers by threatening possible layoffs.

Some union officials say the government’s tactic could mean lost votes for the NDP in the next election.

After spirited debate, the motion passed, but not unanimously.

Selinger said he needs the co-operation of unions to help manage Manitoba’s finances, which are forecast to be in deficit until 2014.

“We understand it’s never easy to negotiate, even in the best of times,” Selinger told reporters, adding he does not expect the union motion will curb volunteer recruitment in the 2011 election. “It’s sending out a message that we all have to pull together through the recession,” he said.

The process used to elect Selinger as party leader last fall is being debated today. It’s been criticized by some as being undemocratic, with too much influence given to unions and party brass.

During the leadership campaign, unions were assigned 20 per cent of the eligible delegates. Some of them couldn’t use all their assigned spots, which were then redistributed to party stalwarts or members who weren’t elected at the constituency level.

One resolution says that every member of the Manitoba NDP should be able to vote directly for the candidate of their choice.

Whatever is decided will be referred to a party committee, which is studying the best way to elect a leader.

The committee will report back to NDP members next year.

bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca

SELBY and her uterus

THE surprise guests at the NDP’s weekend convention?

Southdale NDP Erin Selby and her uterus.

The NDP backbencher was speaking at the party’s annual convention about the Selinger government’s new fertility tax credit, which was announced in the new budget.

Selby, a former TV anchor, was introduced by Health Minister Theresa Oswald, who told delegates Selby is no stranger to fertility — Selby and her husband Trevor are parents to female triplets.

“Way to go, Trevor,” Oswald quipped.

When it was her turn at the microphone, Selby said she had no idea her uterus would be the topic of discussion on the convention floor.

She then gave an impassioned speech about the importance of the province’s new tax credit to offset fertility treatment costs.

Selby said even though she represents one of the province’s more well-to-do constituencies in south Winnipeg, behind many well-manicured lawns and Martha Stewart-equipped households, couples struggle with having children and the high cost of fertility treatment.

“It’s about making dreams come true,” Selby said of the tax credit.