New Democratic Party of Manitoba Leader Wab Kinew has shuffled his shadow cabinet, promoting a handful of Winnipeg-area MLAs to high-profile positions ahead of the spring legislative session.

Lawmakers will return to the chamber March 1, after rising for a break in early December. It will be the final sitting before the general election, scheduled on or before Oct. 3, is held.

“It’s a really important year for Manitobans and, in addition to fighting for you and putting our vision forward, I think that this is an important time for us to remind Manitobans of the strong team we’ve been building as the Manitoba NDP,” Kinew, the MLA for Fort Rouge, said Thursday.

In the upcoming sitting of the legislature, Adrien Sala will be matched against Finance Minister Cliff Cullen, who will be leading the introduction and promotion of the Progressive Conservatives’ final budget before voters head to the polls.

The MLA for St. James previously served as critic for Manitoba Hydro and went head-to-head with former finance minister Cameron Friesen in question period.

Fort Garry MLA Mark Wasyliw (formerly finance critic) was shuffled to economic development, investment and trade, and environment and climate.

Concordia MLA Matt Wiebe will be taking over the role of justice critic from Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns), who was made families critic.

Fontaine said she will be focused on issues of housing, Child and Family Services, and poverty, and will continue as Opposition house leader.

Meanwhile, Wiebe said he’s ready to challenge the Tories on their record of public safety, which was a major focus of the previous speech from the throne.

Lisa Naylor (Wolseley) takes on municipal relations and Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corp. The Tories currently have two bills before the legislature proposing significant changes to liquor retailing and licensing.

Union Station MLA Uzoma Asagwara remains in their role as health critic. Transcona MLA Nello Altomare also continues as education critic.

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Other key appointments in the NDP shadow cabinet include: Mintu Sandhu (The Maples) to consumer protection and government services; Malaya Marcelino (Notre Dame) to labour and immigration; Bernadette Smith (Point Douglas) to mental health and community wellness; and Ian Bushie (Keewatinook) to transportation and infrastructure.

Kinew said the official Opposition is prepared to hold the government to account, and is focused on building a team that can earn control of the legislature in the fall election.

“While we’re going to talk a ton about health care and making life more affordable for you, we’re also going to be bringing forward a whole roster of issues on which the PCs have fallen down on the job and on which Manitobans are looking for a better alternative,” Kinew said.

As of Thursday, the NDP had nominated 31 candidates in 57 constituencies, with five incumbents still to be nominated.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca

Danielle Da Silva
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Danielle Da Silva is a general assignment reporter.

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