WINNIPEG – NDP MLA Theresa Oswald spoke about her party’s chances in the next election as she launched her bid for Premier Greg Selinger’s job.
“We have so much at stake in the next election,” Oswald told Global News Friday morning shortly before she filed her nomination papers. “We need to be as competitive as possible.”
READ MORE: Theresa Oswald to enter race for Manitoba NDP leadership
The former Manitoba health minister was one of five NDP cabinet ministers to resign in late October after they challenged Selinger’s leadership. While the five resigned from cabinet and were expelled from the NDP caucus, they remain MLAs and have continued to vote with the government. The other four are Jennifer Howard (former fincance minister), Stan Struthers (municipal government), Andrew Swan (justice) and Erin Selby (health).
Selinger has refused to step down as premier as he fights to keep his job against members of his own government. The leadership contest will be held March 6-8 at the NDP’s annual convention.
READ MORE: Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger determined to fight for job
“It will be interesting … but game on,” Oswald said after she filed her papers about running for the leadership against a sitting premier.
Selinger has faced a steady decline in polls since he announced a one percentage point increase in the PST that took effect in July 2013. His approval rating showed a precipitous decline in an online poll following the ministers’ resignations and associated turmoil in the NDP ranks.
READ MORE: Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger’s poll numbers drop to all-time low
“Months and months of work was done behind the scenes to try to change our path and change our course and go through the renewal process, and that didn’t seem possible,” Oswald said about the decision to challenge Selinger publicly.
“We have been through some tumultuous times in the recent weeks,” she said. “Nobody that I know wanted it to come to that, and I take responsibility for my role in that.”
Suzanne Hrynyk, who will be supporting Selinger at the leadership convention, says those private issues, should have been kept private. “The good news is there isn’t an election tomorrow so we have time to heal those wounds.”
Pollsters aren’t writing Selinger off just yet.
“I think he has some popularity within the party and I also think there are going to be some people in the party who aren’t going to be prepared to vote for Theresda Oswald or any of the members of the ‘gang of five’,” said Curtis Brown of Probe Research. “That could open the door for a third candidate.”
On Friday Global News contacted all 33 MLA’s to ask who they would be supporting. Only five responded.
In an email Wolsely MLA Rob Altemeyer said he hadn’t made up his mind, as candidates have until January 6th to enter the race, but he did say he wouldn’t be supporting anyone from the Gang of Five.
“To use a sports analogy, they just spent the last two months helping our opponents put the puck into our own net. Why should any of them get to be team captain?” wrote Altemeyer.
In an email Minister of Multiculturalism, Flor Marcelino, indicated she was supporting Selinger. “Low poll ratings is no excuse to change a leader.”
While the PST increase has plagued the party for months, Oswald wouldn’t commit to any immediate change if chosen as leader.
“I don’t think there is a Manitoban that I’ve met or knot hat wouldn’t say the implementation for the PST was done poorly,”said Oswald. “Will I repeal the PST immediately upon winning the leadership race? The answer to that is no one is suggesting that will happen.”
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