2 new Manitoba NDP hires reportedly making 6 figures

In the wake of recent inner turmoil plaguing the provincial NDP, two new high-paid staff members have been hired by the Manitoba government who are reportedly making six figure salaries.

Last month in the height of the mutiny against Premier Greg Selinger, it was announced his Chief of Staff Liam Martin was on leave. Later, CBC News learned he was gone from the office all together. The premier now has three new additions to his inner circle. 

Ihor Michalchyshyn is once again Selinger's acting Chief of Staff. His starting wage is set at $125,678.

But the premier also filled two other seemingly similar roles.

Selinger hired a new communications spokesperson, Paul McKie, a former Winnipeg Free Press reporter and a national rep for union Unifor CEP Canada. McKie will earn more than $100,000 a year. 

UFCW union activist Heather Grant-Jury has been hired as Selinger's new principal secretary and will earn $134,000 a year.

The opposition and some political scientists, including Allen Mills, have said the move to hire Grant-Jury and McKie could appear questionable in a time when Selinger is running for leadership of the party.

"Staff changes come and go as you go through your mandate, and there's always changes going on," Premier Greg Selinger said Tuesday.

"It's an attempt to make sure that we can provide the very best possible service to the people of Manitoba."

It isn't yet clear what the new employees' roles in the premier's office will be, but Selinger said there was nothing unusual about hiring extra staff.

"It's strictly to do the work of the people of Manitoba and fulfill our obligations," said Selinger.

"We put forward a good vision in our throne speech, we've got commitments that we made coming out of 2011, so it's always about ensuring that we do the work of the people of Manitoba."

Selinger added that there are also current vacancies in his office that haven't been filled.

Throne speech approved

Meanwhile, the NDP government had its throne speech approved by the legislature on Tuesday, with the support of rebel caucus members.

The Opposition Progressive Conservatives tried, but failed, to convince some New Democrats who have challenged Selinger to vote against the throne speech.

The speech is a confidence motion and can cause the government to fall if it is defeated.

But the rebels stuck with the government side, and the government will not face another confidence vote until the spring.

Theresa Oswald, a former cabinet minister who is considering running against Selinger for the party helm, says the throne speech contains many good ideas for health care and education.

The NDP has scheduled a leadership contest for its annual convention in March, following the caucus revolt that threatens to end Selinger's term as premier.