Kinew thanks Singh for service

Premier Wab Kinew weighed in on the federal election outcome after refusing to endorse any party or leader during the campaign.

“I’m a New Democrat — I would have loved to see the NDP form government at the federal level,” Kinew told reporters Monday. He thanked former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh for his years of service to Canada. “His commitment to this country was exemplary,” Kinew said. “He put the best interests of Canadians first.”

Kinew said he’s not interested in replacing Singh, who stepped down as leader after losing his seat. The NDP was reduced to seven seats in Parliament and lost official party status.

“Manitobans have given me the best job in the world and you’ve given me it at a time where there’s a huge threat and uncertainty to our province, which is the threat of the Trump tariffs,” Kinew said.

“I fully intend to carry out this amazing job that I’ve been asked to perform as premier and, in a few years, I’m going to ask for your support to be re-elected.”

The premier said he congratulated Liberal Leader Mark Carney on his election win ahead of his “big sit-down in the Oval Office with President Trump” in Washington, D.C. Tuesday.

“Of course we support a united Team Canada approach to pushing back against tariffs and building up our economy here at home,” Kinew said Monday.

Khan shakes up shadow cabinet

The new Progressive Conservative party leader, Obby Khan, has made some changes to his inner circle.

Portage la Prairie MLA Jeff Bereza takes over as deputy leader, a role formerly split by Roblin MLA Kathleen Cook (urban) and Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen (rural).

Goertzen replaces Riding Mountain MLA Greg Nesbitt as caucus chairman, Cook replaces Turtle Mountain MLA Doyle Piwniuk as party whip, with Brandon West MLA Wayne Balcaen serving as deputy whip.

La Vérendrye MLA Konrad Narth is deputy house leader, while Interlake-Gimli MLA Derek Johnson remains as opposition house leader.

Lac du Bonnet MLA Wayne Ewasko, the former interim PC leader, is the new education critic, replacing Grant Jackson who vacated his Spruce Woods seat to successfully run for the federal Tories in Brandon-Souris.

NDP has surplus, PCs in the red

New figures show Manitoba’s governing New Democrats raised a lot more money than the opposition Progressive Conservatives last year and ended up in much better financial shape.

Party filings with Elections Manitoba show the NDP garnered more than $1.8 million in contributions and fundraising in 2024 — roughly triple the amount raised by the Tories.

The NDP managed to wipe out its accumulated deficit and end the year with a surplus of $835,000. The Tories remained in the red but reduced their overall deficit to $689,000 from more than $1 million in the previous year.

The Liberals, who have one seat in the legislative assembly, have yet to file their year-end results.

The PCs are working to rebuild after losing the 2023 election and elected Khan as their new leader last month.

Kinew chided Khan in question period Tuesday over his donations to the PC party. The documents state Khan donated $646 last year, while Wally Daudrich, who lost the leadership race, donated $5,902.

Khan’s donation amount was the lowest among Tory caucus members, Kinew said.

Khan told reporters he spent other money on his leadership bid, the last general election and the 2022 byelection in which he was first elected.

Financial information on the Tory leadership race is due to be filed to Elections Manitoba later in the spring.

— with files from The Canadian Press

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca