Former cabinet minister Goertzen won’t seek re-election

Longtime PC MLA Kelvin Goertzen, who was briefly Manitoba’s premier, won’t seek re-election, following a six-term streak representing Steinbach.

Goertzen, 56, announced his plan to retire from the legislative assembly on social media late Tuesday.

He expanded on his decision, calling it “our decision,” referring to his wife and their teenage son, outside the chamber the following day.

First elected in 2003, Goertzen has been a PC MLA for 22 years. He’s built a reputation as a level-headed and eloquent speaker in the house who is willing to work across party lines.

Goertzen framed his early retirement notice as a way to allow the Progressive Conservatives to properly prepare for a smooth transition.

He plans to carry out his current term and leave politics as he’s always wanted to — with a sense of gratitude and strong family ties, he said.

While noting both conditions have been met, he told reporters Wednesday that he’d be remiss not to acknowledge some of the joy of his job has been “lost” in recent years.

“I’ve never felt the other side is my enemy,” he said, referring to his concerns about hyper-partisanship and the deteriorating state of decorum at 450 Broadway.

“I assume that everybody runs for office for the same reason that I ran for office — to make Manitoba a better place and to try to better their communities, but it’s become too toxic.”

Goertzen’s extensive political resumé includes several key cabinet portfolios when his party was in government between 2016 and 2023, including health, education, justice and deputy premier.

He also served briefly as Manitoba’s 23rd premier in 2021, stepping in after Brian Pallister’s resignation and serving just over two months before Heather Stefanson became Tory leader and premier.

Asked about his career highlights, Goertzen listed the calm tone he brought to the premier’s office during that tense period for both his party and the province.

He urged his successor, no matter who he or she is, to be genuine, respectful and unafraid to have fun in the role. One of his most memorable moments as premier was shining the bat signal on the legislature on Halloween — a pitch that first came from his son.

Former NDP MLA Jennifer Howard said she may not have always agreed with Goertzen, but she admired his honest, skilled and memorable negotiating skills.

The duo debated often when they were house leaders in 2013 — a particularly tense time in the legislature, owing to the Selinger government’s controversial proposal to raise the provincial sales tax.

It was evident to her that Goertzen not only loved politics, but had “a deep respect and affection” for the institution that is the legislature and the people who worked inside it, said Howard, who represented Fort Rouge between 2007 and 2016.

She noted there have long been murmurs about whether he’d ever make the leap into federal politics, but he’s a dedicated father and member of his faith community.

Goertzen told the Free Press Wednesday that he has no desire to run for federal office.

“I’d be more interested in municipal politics, to be honest — to get away from the partisanship,” he said.

Goertzen studied business and law at the University of Manitoba, but he’s spent all but the entirety of his career at the legislature. He was an intern for the Filmon government in 1995.

Once his term is up, the MLA for Steinbach said he plans to keep busy by serving on one or more organizational boards and writing a memoir.

Goertzen is the second Tory MLA to announce he will not seek re-election in recent weeks. Turtle Mountain MLA Doyle Piwniuk will be stepping away from politics.

PC leader Obby Khan expressed gratitude for Goertzen’s longtime career serving “the people of Steinbach and all of Manitoba” in a news release.

“I revere Kelvin’s counsel. His insight and understanding of the political landscape are unparalleled,” the Opposition leader said.

Goertzen, a practising Christian, said they’ve become “very, very good friends” despite their different upbringings and belief systems. Their inter-faith friendship is symbolic of what their party “should be,” he said, adding that Khan hasn’t gotten enough credit for his historic leadership as a Muslim Manitoban.

Goertzen said he’s hopeful Khan will invite him to the legislature when he takes the oath of office as premier someday.

The veteran MLA indicated he has purposefully taken a step back from the spotlight since his party’s 2023 election loss to focus on mentoring rookie members of his caucus.

Manitoba’s next election is scheduled for Oct. 5, 2027, but Premier Wab Kinew has suggested he might call it sooner.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca