Selinger fans, foes react after Manitoba NDP leadership win

After a caucus revolt, the turmoil that ensued last fall and a leadership election, Premier Greg Selinger still didn't end up having to relinquish his position at the helm of Manitoba's NDP — something that is prompting mixed reactions from people within and outside the party.

"Our party is stronger now, our finances are in decent shape, we've focused ourselves on what the priorities of Manitobans are." 

The province's Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross, Wolseley MLA Rob Altemeyer, and Fort Garry MLA James Allum were among the first supporters to congratulate Selinger on his win.

But Raymond Hébert, professor emeritus of political science at the Université de Saint-Boniface, said Selinger has a long road ahead of him if he hopes to restore order in the party.

"I think it is a party divided. I think those divisions are quite profound," said Hébert. "I think Greg Selinger will have to find or develop new qualities in terms of gathering everyone in the party behind him."

History in the making

The leadership race was by all accounts impossible to call until the final votes were tallied at this weekend's annual provincial NDP convention in Winnipeg. 

It's going to take time to heal the wounds, and to restore trust within the party, let alone with Manitobans.- Paul Thomas, University of Manitoba professor emeritus of political science

Manitobans witnessed one of the closest party leadership races in recent memory.

The first round of delegate voting Sunday weeded out former minister of infrastructure and transportation Steve Ashton, who received 502 votes. Former health minister Theresa Oswald netted 575 while Selinger came away with 612 votes.

And as Oswald and Selinger headed into the second ballot, rumours were in the air that some of Ashton's supporters were planning on siding with the premier. 

Selinger ended up nabbing 759 of the total 1,490 votes cast in the second round, edging out Oswald by just 33 votes to hold on to his job.

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Never before in Canadian history has a sitting premier had to fight for the leadership of his party, but that's exactly what happened in Manitoba.

Selinger called for an election late last fall after five rebel ex-ministers in Theresa Oswald, Jennifer Howard, Stan Struthers, Erin Selby and Andrew Swan went public with concerns about the premier's ability to lead and suggested he resign.

The revolt partly grew out of a PST hike of one percentage point that Selinger pushed through in 2013. It caught many New Democrats and taxpayers off guard and Selinger's public approval ratings started tanking in the polls.

When all was said and done, Oswald still maintained that she didn't regret speaking out against Selinger, but she did wish him and the party good luck moving forward.

"I think that when you stand up for what you believe in, and you try your best, even if you don't win in the end, then it's not for nothing ... it's for everything," said Oswald.

'Nothing's changed here,' says Pallister

Manitoba Progressive Conservative leader Brian Pallister said the fact that New Democrats voted Selinger back into power reflects poorly on the party.

"There's a saying, I think something like: 'the more things change, the more they stay the same,'" said Pallister. "Nothing's changed here. I think Manitobans want change. I think the NDP proved today that they aren't going to get change from the NDP."

Ashton said that while he was disappointed with the loss, the party needs to regain its strength and come together if it hopes to beat Pallister and the PCs during the 2016 provincial election.

"A new leaf, a new chapter, a new season," said Ashton. "The Manitoba NDP has been like a house of cards for the past few months, so I look forward to March 9."

Time to heal

Paul Thomas, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Manitoba, said that if the NDP has any chance of winning the next election, members will need to hit the ground running and get working on uniting the party as soon as possible. 

"It's going to take time to heal the wounds, and to restore trust within the party, let alone with Manitobans," said Thomas.

Selinger has a year before the next election to convince voters he's capable of uniting the party the way he said he can. When pressed Sunday, he wouldn't rule out inviting the infamous five rebel ex-ministers into the fold, which could be a measure of how far Selinger may have to go to heal the party.

It's been a difficult few months, but Selinger said he's ready to take the party forward.