Selinger resigns as NDP leader

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This article was published 19/04/2016 (3460 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After seven years at the helm of the NDP, Greg Selinger is stepping down following the party’s crushing defeat in Tuesday’s provincial election.

During his term as leader, Selinger survived a cabinet mutiny and a leadership challenge, but couldn’t overcome the Tory surge that hit Manitoba.

With his party losing key seats in Winnipeg, including Riel, Assiniboia, Kildonan and Kirkfield Park, Selinger took to the stage at NDP campaign headquarters to address the party faithful.

“I do take responsibility for the election outcome,” Selinger told supporters.

Selinger added in a democracy, “the people are always right.”

Selinger ended the speech by telling the audience he had spoken to NDP president Ovide Mercredi and offered his resignation. An interim leader will soon be put in place.

The crowd showed a brave, unified front, cheering loudly as Selinger said they will hold the new PC government to account.

“Our NDP will continue as the official Opposition in Manitoba,” he said.

The party faithful’s eyes were glued to the screen at the RBC Convention Centre as seat after seat was called for Progressive Conservatives. The declaration of a PC majority saw a sombre silence befall the crowd.

At press time, the party was expected to take 13 seats. It won 37 seats in the 2011 election.

Party insiders had hoped for about 22 to 25 seats and felt confident going in they would surpass the 12 seats they won in 1988 after the government was defeated in a confidence motion, triggering a snap election and the resignation of then-premier Howard Pawley.

The party was able to hold on to inner city seats such as St. Johns, with indigenous activist Nahanni Fontaine. Kevin Chief and Andrew Swan also won handily in Point Douglas and Minto, respectively.

By the time Selinger took the stage, it was projected the NDP would be wiped out in southern Manitoba, losing seats in Gimli, Dawson Trail, and Swan River. Finance Minister Greg Dewar lost his seat in Selkirk to PC candidate Alan Lagimodiere.

Other cabinet ministers knocked out included Health Minister Sharon Blady who fell to PC candidate Scott Fielding in Kirkfield Park. PC Len Isleifson took Brandon East from NDP cabinet minister Drew Caldwell and PC Derek Johnson knocked off NDP cabinet minister Tom Nevakshonoff in Interlake.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

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As a member of the so-called elected “Dirty Dozen” of the 1988 election, former St. Johns NDP MLA Judy Wasylycia-Leis had some advice for the candidates who were able to break through the Tory surge.

“For those who will be part of the new caucus, this is a new beginning, this is an opportunity to take the energy with this new team and policies we ran on and challenge the government of the day,” she said.

Wasylycia-Leis said the loss is going to be hard for the NDP to concede to the PCs after nearly 17 years in power.

“A lot of people don’t know (that) world… so they may not appreciate what is at stake this election. I guess that is where I come from at my age, being through many wars and fights,” she said.

kristin.annable@freepress.mb.ca