Ewasko named interim PC leader, says party needs to ‘rebuild, reset’

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Manitoba Progressive Conservatives have picked former cabinet minister Wayne Ewasko to steer the Opposition until the party selects a new leader following the resignation of Heather Stefanson.

Ewasko was named party leader by caucus members on Thursday and takes on the role of official Opposition leader until the PCs hold a leadership convention, expected this fall.

Stefanson, who announced she would be stepping down after her party’s defeat in the Oct. 3 election, officially resigned on Monday. She remains the MLA for Tuxedo.

“I’m extremely honoured to have been chosen by our PC caucus team to lead them going into the leadership race for our Progressive Conservative Party,” Ewasko told reporters in his new office at the Manitoba legislature.

The Lac du Bonnet MLA was first elected in 2011 and held cabinet posts under both Stefanson and former premier Brian Pallister, most recently serving as education and early childhood learning minister.

Ewasko said he let his name stand for interim leader following discussions with his family about taking on the high-profile job. He has not ruled out joining the PC leadership race later this year.

A date for a leadership convention will be announced in the coming weeks, Ewasko said, but it is expected to be held in October or early November.

In the meantime, the priority is to reset the relationship and rebuild trust with Manitobans after being reduced to 22 seats in the Oct. 3 general election while also holding the NDP government accountable when the legislative session resumes in March, Ewasko said.

The interim leader characterized the party’s dismal election result and the NDP’s 34 seat majority as self-inflicted. The party will be taking a “deep dive” into the campaign and its decision-making process to hopefully avoid a repeat of its mistakes in the future, he said.

“I strongly feel that the NDP didn’t actually win it — I think we lost it,” Ewasko said.

The PC campaign was roundly criticized for its far-right undertones, fixation on Premier Wab Kinew’s criminal past, and its opposition to searching the Prairie Green Landfill for the bodies of two slain Indigenous women.

“There are a few things that we need to rebuild at the party, reset and again with Manitobans in general, we need to rebuild that trust with them,” Ewasko said. “That’s really important moving forward — making sure that we start to make sure that that groundwork is done so that when the new leader comes in, they’re not having to start right from scratch.”

The former teacher and guidance counsellor said he’d like to bring the party back to some of the “progressive conservative” values that first drew him to the PCs and get back to the grassroots during his time as interim leader.

Elevating Ewasko to interim leader bodes well for the party ahead of the fall leadership contest, University of Winnipeg political science Prof. Félix Mathieu said. Ewasko brings experience with the legislative process but not too high of a profile to distract from the upcoming race, he said.

“In doing so, the focus over the next months will be on the leadership course and not on Ewasko, which is crucial for the race to be meaningful,” Mathieu said.

Ewasko must also demonstrate he can hold the government to account in the upcoming spring sitting while being careful not to cause any major controversies, the political observer said.

Last spring, Ewasko was reprimanded by former speaker Myrna Driedger for comparing Kinew (who was the opposition leader at the time) to Manitoba-born actor Adam Beach in the chamber, which the NDP claimed singled out Kinew based on race. Driedger called Ewasko’s comments misguided and hurtful but ruled they did not rise to a matter of privilege.

Ewasko will go head-to-head with Kinew in question period when legislators return to the chamber March 6.

“He must find a balance between these two objectives so that the opposition can fulfil its function on the one hand, and on the other, the party can dedicate all the necessary energy to organizing debates between the candidates for the leadership,” Mathieu said.

PC deputy caucus chair Kathleen Cook highlighted Ewasko’s experience, credibility and collaborative nature as some of the reasons he was selected to take on the interim leadership.

“He’ll be a steady hand at what is a critical juncture for our party heading into a leadership race, but also an important time for our caucus as we do the work of holding the NDP government to account,” said Cook, the MLA for Roblin.

Considering nearly half of the PC caucus are rookies, Ewasko’s willingness to listen and collaborate is appreciated, Cook said. His message of rebuilding trust is also resonating with colleagues.

“That is the important work ahead and it’s encouraging to me that that’s one of Wayne’s priorities,” she said.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca