J’accuse!: Kinew uses French to fry interim Tory leader over alleged caucus subterfuge

NDP Premier Wab Kinew took a dig at the Progressive Conservatives’ leadership change while facing off with Obby Khan’s short-term replacement for the first time in question period Thursday.

It came after interim Tory leader Konrad Narth accused the New Democrats of failing to implement “stronger” bail reform and enforcement measures as promised.

“Now we see there is less crime in Manitoba than there was when the Progressive Conservatives were in government. What are they doing now? Well, they found knives and chased their old leader out,” Kinew said, speaking in French.

“We don’t even know who’s going to be the PC leader next month… next year? We don’t know. What we know is that we’re working on making communities safer.”

The majority New Democrats — who have a sizable lead over the Tories in public opinion polls — have largely held back comment since Khan stepped down as PC leader and quit the party’s caucus, becoming an independent MLA, effective Tuesday.

Khan told the Free Press Tuesday he decided to resign after he was stabbed in the back by a small group of PC caucus members who planned to meet in secret the previous day to subvert a confidence vote that he won last Friday. He said 13 caucus members voted for him to remain leader, six voted against him and one was absent.

“There were no knives that were used in any way, shape or form, and right now is a new day here for us,” Narth said after question period in response to Kinew’s comments. “Our focus is representing the Manitobans that have elected us to be here.”

Kinew typically responds to the Opposition leader’s questions in English. During question period May 28, Kinew accused Narth of telling NDP MLA Robert Loiselle, “I didn’t ask the question in French,” after the premier replied to a query about personal income tax in French, according to a Hansard transcription. The Tories at the time said the accusation was false.

Narth, who is unable to fluently speak or understand French, said Kinew is welcome to respond in any language as long as he “gives the answers that Manitobans deserve.” Narth said his southeast riding of La Vérendrye has the highest number of bilingual communities in Manitoba.

Regarding Khan’s departure, Narth declined to discuss specific details of discussions involving PC caucus members, describing them as “confidential.”

“What I can say is I have yet to hear of a planned meeting that initiated or put forward the action to remove the past leader of the PC Party of Manitoba,” he said.

“There was no direction from any special meeting to have the past leader step down. MLA Khan decided Monday evening, without the rest of caucus or, to my understanding, anyone knowing that he was going to do that, and there is nothing else to discuss.”

Narth said the situation shouldn’t distract from the Tories’ efforts to bring forward concerns about the NDP’s record on public safety and affordability three years into a four-year term.

The PCs largely focused on crime, the cost of living and the child-welfare system in the first two editions of question period since the fall sitting began Tuesday following a four-month break.

The party has not yet announced a timeline for its selection of a permanent leader. Narth has said he will not seek the position. The next general election must be held on or before Oct. 5, 2027.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

maggie.mcintosh@freepress.mb.ca