Blaikie won’t seek NDP leadership

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This article was published 01/09/2009 (5879 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — Bill Blaikie ended months of speculation this morning by saying categorically that he is not interested in succeeding Gary Doer as NDP party leader.

 

“I will not be a candidate for the leadership,” the Elmwood MLA and former longtime member of Parliament said following a caucus meeting at the Legislative Building.

“When I went into provincial politics … despite media speculation to the contrary, I said that I wasn’t going into provincial politics to succeed Gary Doer,” he told reporters.

“I was hoping to work with him (Doer) longer than it turned out. But I’m obviously very happy for him and for the country that he’s going to be our ambassador.”

Blaikie, who has three decades of elected experience, said he still hopes that he can be of service to the new leader. He would not indicate who he supports for the leadership, which will be decided at a convention in Winnipeg Oct. 17.

Meanwhile, Doer confirmed following the caucus meeting that a planned sitting of the legislature, set for Sept. 14 to Oct. 8, will go ahead.

“Everybody in caucus and cabinet agrees we should carry on with our duties in the legislature — the duties of governing,” he told reporters.

Earlier this morning, Doer met with his cabinet colleagues.

“We spent most of the time this morning on government issues as opposed to issues of internal party leadership politics,” the premier said.

He also said there is caucus consensus that any cabinet minister who runs for the leadership will step down from their ministerial duties after a few transitional days.

That will ensure a more level playing field between those leadership aspirants who are in cabinet and those or are, he said, and ensure cabinet ministers are free of conflicts of interest.

Potential leadership candidates largely avoided the media as they proceeded in and out of the caucus room.

“That’s not a decision for today,” said Finance Minister Greg Selinger as he walked into the conference room. Asked if he was considering a run for the party’s top job, however, he said: “I certainly am.”

Doer said that he intends to resign his Concordia seat on or about the same day as he officially steps down as premier. He has not specifically said what day that will be, but he noted that he expects to assume his new job as Canadian ambassador to the United States in mid-October.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca