Pallister has ‘no plans to call an immediate election’ for several weeks

Premier Brian Pallister says he has no plans to call an election for at least several weeks.

Addressing the media Tuesday, Pallister said an election call won’t happen for a while.

“I have no plans to call an immediate election,” he said, adding he has a couple of interprovincial leadership meetings he wants to attend before doing so.

“You need not be concerned for an election at least for a number of weeks.”

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Pallister would not narrow down the date for an election. He said during the blackout period for an election, he would make himself available to the media to avoid being perceived as hiding from issues during the election campaign.

Pallister’s political opponents said the lack of clarity on an election date is “not fair” to Manitobans.

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“If he wants to break the fixed election date, that’s his prerogative, I guess,” NDP leader Wab Kinew told 680 CJOB.

“But it seems to me that the fair thing to do for the people of Manitoba would be to just tell us when the election is going to be.

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“For all intents and purposes, we are in a campaign now, because he’s talking about an election so openly.”

Manitoba Liberal leader Dougald Lamont said the premier is trying to choose an election date based on what’s convenient for him, rather than what’s convenient for the voters.

“We have a fixed date election law in Manitoba, we’ve had two elections already with a fixed date election law, and it’s there so people can organize their lives… it’s to make our democracy better, because it means that more people can participate, more people can plan and be part of it.

“So it’s pretty frustrating that the premier seems to be cherry-picking the rules he wants to follow.”

The premier went through the past legislative session before calling the session to the end, and touched on dealing with debt, partnering with Manitoba’s indigenous communities, workplace harassment, the economy and focusing on economic issues.

He also talked about being proud reducing the PST to 7 per cent, starting July 1.

WATCH: Pallister to give opponents 90-day notice before Manitoba election call

1:46 Pallister to give opponents 90day notice before Manitoba election call