Tories choose biz leader to succeed Wharton

A prominent voice in the business community will try to hang onto the Progressive Conservative seat in Red River North in next year’s provincial election.

Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservices Association CEO Shaun Jeffrey has been picked to run in the constituency, which includes the rural municipalities of East St. Paul and St. Clements, and the communities of East Selkirk, Libau, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation and Grand Beach. The incumbent, PC Jeff Wharton, is not seeking re-election.

The PCs also announced Friday that Mark Custance will carry their banner in Turtle Mountain, as incumbent PC MLA Doyle Piwniuk will not run again. Custance, a councillor for the Municipality of Two Borders, was acclaimed after the PC executive disqualified his only rival for the nomination, Wally Daudrich. Daudrich has since quit the party and announced he will run for the Keystone Party in The Pas-Kameesak byelection on July 21.

The Manitoba general election will be held no later than Oct. 5, 2027.