WINNIPEG – Theresa Oswald wanted to be Manitoba’s premier, but after losing in a leadership race by just 33 votes, the MLA for Seine River is no longer sure what her political future holds.
The Manitoba NDP leadership contest came down to a choice between Oswald and Greg Selinger on Sunday. In the end, she garnered 726 votes to Selinger’s 759.
Afterwards she said she respected the decision but is still not sure whether she will run in 2016.
“I am committed to honouring the decision that our members made. Sure, it wasn’t what I was hoping would be the outcome, but the party made its choice, it chose Greg, and I will stand in support of same,” Oswald said in an email to Global News Monday. “I will work to be the best MLA Seine River has ever had. As for running in 2016 … those discussions will still need to happen with my family, and I’m not going to rush into them in the aftermath of the convention. It’s never wise to make such decisions when one is feeling disappointed …”
Oswald, Jennifer Howard, Stan Struthers, Erin Selby and Andrew Swan resigned from their cabinet positions in November, saying they could no longer work with Selinger.
The NDP leader had faced public backlash for raising the PST one percentage point, and his popularity took a beating in the polls.
Howard said Monday she will run again in the 2016, Selby declined to comment and Struthers and Swan did not respond to email requests.
Selinger said Sunday he would work to unite the party but did not say what role, if any, the group known as the “rebel five” would have in government, or if he would extend an olive branch to those who campaigned against him.
Several of Selinger’s political staffers took time off to work on Oswald’s leadership campaign. Many were back at work Monday.
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