Andrew Swan endorses Wab Kinew for leader of NDP

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This article was published 07/06/2017 (3044 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wab Kinew continues to rack up endorsements from NDP stalwarts as the deadline for membership sales for the upcoming leadership contest draws near.

On Wednesday, former NDP justice minister Andrew Swan announced he would support the 35-year-old Fort Rouge MLA, who remains the sole person in the running to lead the party.

At a news conference in a small West End coffee shop, Swan called Kinew a “tremendous communicator” who connects with people and has a passion for social justice.

“Over the past year, I’ve had a chance to watch Wab. I’ve seen how hard he works. He’s been travelling, not just all around the city, but all around the province. And I know, over the next couple of years as people get to know Wab more and more, they’re going to see that he is going to chart a positive direction for the NDP,” Swan said.

Swan initially contested the party’s leadership in 2009 after Gary Doer stepped down, but withdrew his candidacy during the race that Greg Selinger eventually won. The Minto MLA was a key participant in a caucus revolt against Selinger in 2014. Selinger stepped down as leader after the NDP lost the April 2016 election to the Progressive Conservatives.

Asked why he wasn’t contesting the leadership this time around, Swan said the rebellion he helped spark still rankles some party members.

“There are some New Democrats who are still unhappy about the role I played a couple of years ago,” he said.

“I don’t think we need any more divisions; I think we need someone who can bring New Democrats together and get other people on board. And that’s why I’m supporting Wab in the leadership.”

Kinew said he is grateful for Swan’s support, calling him a devoted constituency man and a hard worker in caucus.

He said he remains busy selling party memberships despite the fact no New Democrat has yet emerged to challenge him.

Only New Democrats who are in good standing 90 days before the Sept. 17 convention can participate in the leadership selection process. The deadline for membership sales is June 18.

“I’m trying to sign up as many members as I can in advance of that deadline,” Kinew said, adding he will announce his support total at that time.

Last month, several high-profile NDP women, including former cabinet minister Nancy Allan, activist Michelle McHale, former MP and Winnipeg mayoralty candidate Judy Wasylicia-Leis and former deputy premier Muriel Smith, endorsed Kinew.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca