WINNIPEG – While Manitoba’s NDP government remains in turmoil, the leader of the province’s third-place party enjoyed some high-profile support.
Manitoba Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari played host Thursday to Kathleen Wynne, Ontario’s Liberal premier.
The two staged a getting-to-know-you photo op in a Main Street coffee shop in Winnipeg Thursday, and Wynne will speak at the Manitoba Liberal leader’s annual dinner in the evening.
“It’s important in terms of momentum and getting everybody mobilized,” Bokhari said. Manitoba’s Liberals, who have been in the electoral wilderness for years and currently have only one seat in the legislature, have enjoyed a rise in the polls since Bokhari took over the party leadership earlier this year. The party has also benefited from the plunge in NDP support.
Wynne said it’s important for Liberals across the country to talk about their “vision.” She was also due to meet with Premier Greg Selinger Thursday, though she declined to offer him any advice on dealing with the challenges to his leadership from within the NDP.
“I’ve had a good working relationship with Greg and he’s a seasoned politician so I wouldn’t step in to give him advice and this point he will have to deal with his internal issues in his own party,” Wynne said.
Former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Obby Khan was also present, chatting with the two Liberal leaders.
The Liberal photo op wasn’t without controversy. The coffee shop where it was staged sent out a tweet later in the day, complaining that it hadn’t agreed to host a political event.
“Happy to host Premier of Ontario this AM. Not so happy to host surprise media-advised provincial party photo op. Parlour is nonpartisan,” Parlour Coffee said on its Twitter feed.
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