Squires considering bid for PC leadership

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This article was published 12/08/2021 (1661 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Families Minister Rochelle Squires is considering a run for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party, sources told the Free Press.

Squires is expected to address the provincial leadership race at a press conference Friday.

Premier Brian Pallister announced Tuesday he will step aside as Tory party leader (a job he has held since 2012), halfway into a four-year mandate. Finance Minister Scott Fielding was the first to indicate Wednesday he’s considering a leadership run.

However, it appears Squires will be the first to commit. The Winnipeg MLA was first elected in Riel in 2016, when she defeated NDP incumbent Christine Melnick.

Squires has held the municipal relations and families portfolios, as well as francophone affairs and status of women. The former print journalist has worked as a political staffer at both federal and provincial levels, is married and has a blended family with five children and two grandchildren.

A Winnipeg woman leading the PC party — and the province as premier — for roughly two years before the October 2023 election is expected to pose the biggest threat to the NDP forming government. The NDP in Manitoba typically win elections if it has the support of the majority of women voters.

Two cabinet colleagues Thursday publicly endorsed a woman to lead the party, but neither tabbed Squires.

“I’m strongly encouraging Heather Stefanson to run,” Central Services Minister Reg Helwer said, referring to the longtime Tuxedo MLA appointed health minister in a Jan. 5 cabinet shuffle.

“Many people are encouraging her to run,” Helwer said at news conference in Waverley West. “I think she would make a great premier.”

Waverley MLA Jon Reyes, one of the newest members of cabinet, appointed economic development and jobs minister July 15, is also a Stefanson supporter.

“If she does choose to run for leadership, I, too, will be endorsing Heather Stefanson,” Reyes said at the event attended by politicians from all three levels of government.

Stefanson’s constituency office later issued a statement, saying: “Heather is extremely humbled by the calls she’s receiving and honoured that her two colleagues are encouraging her to run by publicly announcing their support. Once any decision is made to run for leader, she will be publicly announcing it.”

Conservation and Climate Minister Sarah Guillemard, also at Thursday’s news conference, didn’t openly support Stefanson for PC leader, instead coyly endorsing Winnipeg-born Olympic gold-medal soccer champion Desiree Scott.

At the municipal level, Winnipeg city Coun. Scott Gillingham said he’s seriously considering running for the PC leadership.

“I believe it should be someone from outside of caucus,” said Gillingham (St. James), chairman of council’s finance committee. “It would give the party an opportunity for some fresh voices. It’s an opportunity to shift from the way things are being done.”

Gillingham was first elected to council in 2014, and is also considering a run for the Winnipeg mayor’s chair. Mayor Brian Bowman will not seek a third term in 2022.

“There’s a lot to consider right now,” said Gillingham. “I really believe that so much can be done through collaboration. A lot of work can go on behind the scenes through collaborative efforts with individuals and other levels of government.

“I think that is my style. That will continue to be my style no matter where I have the privilege to be elected.”

Bowman said he plans to stick with being mayor until the end of 2022.

“You never say never about things in life, but I’ve got no plans,” Bowman said of the PC leadership vacancy.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca