Stefanson takes shots at NDP during address to Tory party faithful

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This article was published 15/04/2023 (877 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Progressive Conservative Leader Heather Stefanson rallied supporters with a promise to lower taxes and put more money back in the pockets of Manitobans, while warning party faithful to brace for a PST hike if the Tories lose government in the upcoming election.

“We need to continue moving forward with our plan,” Stefanson said, addressing a crowd of over 250 delegates gathered at the RBC Convention Centre in downtown Winnipeg for the party’s annual general meeting Saturday afternoon.

“If we don’t, we know the consequences. We could face the dire prospects of a Wab Kinew NDP government. We don’t want that for Manitobans, do we,” she said to a round of boos from Tory supporters.

Stefanson, in her roughly 15-minute keynote address, took repeated shots at Opposition Leader Kinew and his party, which has been leading the Progressive Conservatives in consecutive polls over the past several months.

She dialed in on the federal Liberal government’s price on pollution and criminal justice policies, saying Manitobans and their pocketbooks have suffered as a result. She pledged to continue to fight Ottawa to pause the carbon tax and to move forward on bail reform, while repeatedly associating the provincial New Democrats with the federal Liberal government.

“Wab Kinew’s NDP is fully on board with this harmful agenda and that is just wrong,” Stefanson said.

Six months out from a scheduled Oct. 3 general election, the premier didn’t hesitate to attack the NDP, alleging the party would defund police and raise the provincial sales tax to 10 per cent.

The premier did not offer any proof to back up her assertion. Instead, she pointed to the former NDP government under Premier Greg Selinger, which increased the provincial sales tax by a percentage point in 2013.

The NDP has not revealed its taxation plans, but has denied it would raise taxes and has repeatedly expressed its support for police. The party has pledged to provide a fully costed election platform.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the NDP said the premier’s claims are not credible.

“Every time Heather Stefanson gets in front of a PC donor she lies. First it was that she has never cut health care, now this,” the spokesperson said. “Manitobans don’t believe her.”

Stefanson also tested a new tagline on the crowd — one she said could be a key message in the upcoming election campaign.

“Growing our economy and attracting investment are top priorities for our Progressive Conservative team,” Stefanson said, adding it is “the only responsible way to pay” for government services.

Stefanson told party members her challengers would sooner increase taxes.

“Let’s call that the ‘Wab way.’ We think that’s the wrong way,” she said.

Earlier in the day, delegates were also given a preview of a campaign radio advertisement, which was not shared with reporters. The premier said the spot could appear in markets in the “next very short while.”

In her speech, Stefanson highlighted her government’s budget, which slashed personal income taxes at a $311-million cost to the provincial treasury and increased school tax rebates to 50 per cent, as examples of steps taken to address affordability concerns.

“Manitobans deserve to keep more of their hard-earned money because we know that Manitobans know best how to spend their money, not government,” she said.

The party leader also leaned into the Tories’ new slogan “Fighting for Manitobans,” which was revealed Friday night at her nomination meeting.

“Manitobans need our Progressive Conservative team to fight for them,” the premier said.

On Saturday, delegates also reviewed recommendations from a leadership review committee, struck in the wake of the hotly contested 2021 leadership contest.

The race between Stefanson and former MP Shelly Glover ended with Stefanson securing 51 per cent of the vote and a court challenge of the results.

The party currently has a one-member, one-vote system, which can also lend itself to a scenario where candidates sign up new members to support their bid, but do not have a history with the party.

PC party president Brent Pooles said the committee co-chaired by Grant Stefanson and Lawrence Toet provided a 20-page report of recommended changes. Media was not permitted in the hall where the presentation was delivered.

Pooles said some of the changes would require amendments to the party’s constitution. Delegates unanimously passed a motion for the party executive to establish another committee, which will engage the 28,000 members on recommendations to be deliberated at the next AGM, Pooles said.

“I would expect there to be more unanimity going forward on the next leadership contest whenever that may be,” he said.

On Saturday, delegates passed 20 policy resolutions, reiterating their support for law enforcement, lower taxes and balanced budgets, and lodged their opposition to the carbon tax and expanded access to medical assistance in dying for minors and people with mental illness.

The party resolved to call on the province to establish a chief firearms officer; expand downtown safety patrols outside Winnipeg; fast track licensing for foreign health workers; allow for private retailers to sell liquor; and commit to a moratorium on permanent rural hospital closures.

The annual general meeting concluded with a sold-out gala dinner Saturday night. An estimated 1,300 people were to be in attendance.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca