Selinger makes leadership bid official

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This article was published 08/09/2009 (6123 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG – After leaving many in his party in suspense for more than a week, Finance Minister Greg Selinger made it official this afternoon — he’s seeking the leadership of the provincial NDP.

His announcement turns the competition to succeed Gary Doer as premier into a three-man race. Andrew Swan, 41, the province’s Competitiveness, Training and Trade minister, kicked off his campaign last Wednesday, while Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Steve Ashton declared his candidacy on Friday.

“I know you can make a difference for individuals, cultures and societies and at the same time be financially responsible. I know you can invest in assets like hospitals, schools, roads, day cares and water and do it in a way that is sensible financially. I know that you can grow the economy and reduce poverty and have social inclusion while at the same time protecting the environment. None of those things are incompatible,” Selinger told a boisterous crowd at the Norwood Community Centre.

“I know that we can with a thousand steps create a better world with a greener economy and social inclusion. Ten years as finance minister have taught me these lessons.”

Selinger, a former city councillor and a one-time mayoralty candidate — he lost to Susan Thompson in 1992 — has a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics and was a university professor before winning a provincial seat in St. Boniface in 1999.

He has been Doer’s finance minister for the past 10 years.

Surrounded by 11 caucus members, including cabinet ministers Rosann Wowchuk, Kerri Irvin-Ross, Eric Robinson and Diane McGifford, Selinger made his announcement at the Norwood Community Centre, the same place he held his first rally in the 1999 provincial election race.

Selinger is said to have broad appeal within the NDP, supported by party activists and Doerite centrists alike.

Paul Thomas, a University of Manitoba political scientist, said Selinger has already earned a reputation as a policy expert with budgets that have been successful in both political and economic terms.

The challenge, he said, is whether Selinger can be as successful as Doer in wooing voters, if he wins the leadership.

“He’s kind of a ponderous character,” Thomas said recently. “He ponders policy and he ponders budgets. And he thinks deeply about them and that’s actually served the government well because he’s been careful and prudent…”

Doer announced on Aug. 27 that he was stepping down as premier. The next day, Prime Minister Stephen Harper named him as Canada’s next ambassador to the United States.

The new NDP leader will be chosen at a convention in Winnipeg Oct. 17.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca