Call for Premier Selinger to resign is 'political treason' CUPE says
The head of one of Manitoba's largest unions has written an open letter to provincial New Democrats, urging them to reject any motion for Premier Greg Selinger to step down.
In the letter, Canadian Union of Public Employees president Paul Moist says Selinger "has a duty" to continue in the role as NDP leader and provincial premier — a role many people want him to continue in.
Those calling for his resignation are doing so "out of a brutal and inexcusable act of internal political treason," he states in the letter, which comes before this weekend's NDP provincial council meeting.
"He should not and cannot step down. And the principles many New Democrats hold dear will be preserved and strengthened if we collectively oppose the internal mutiny and reaffirm our premier's leadership," Moist's letter states.
"Our leader and premier has been attacked by five members that he appointed to cabinet. There was no integrity, high moral standards or spirit of our party's heritage at play in their public abandonment of cabinet and caucus solidarity.
"Theirs was a crass and calculated political act, unprecedented in the modern history of our party."
CUPE represents some 26,000 Manitobans.