WINNIPEG – Supporters of Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger and of the two people trying to oust him are working to sell as many NDP memberships as possible by the end of the day Tuesday.
It’s the last chance for new party members to sign up so they are eligible to influence the March 8 leadership contest that pits Selinger against two of his former cabinet ministers — Theresa Oswald and Steve Ashton.
The more members each team has, the easier it will be to elect delegates to the NDP convention that will decide who will lead the party.
Selinger was backed into the leadership race after a caucus revolt that saw some of his top ministers resign from their portfolios.
Labour groups also get delegates to the convention.
Alex Forrest, head of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg union, says his group wants to meet with all the candidates before deciding who to support.
Forrest said in a recent interview that all three candidates have been supportive of firefighters, and the decision is likely to come down to who can best unite the divided party.
“It will be who is going to be able to unify the party, to be able to go forward, and going to be able to heal the rifts that have occurred.”
As of Monday, the party had 9,335 members.
The party is accepting memberships online until midnight.
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