Manitoba

Selinger not required to step down leading up to a leadership race

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger will not have to step down leading up to an election for a new premier at the NDP's annual convention in March, according to party president Ellen Olfert.

Details about guidelines of a race will not be revealed until after NDP provincial council review

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger, pictured on Nov. 3, left an NDP meeting after 30 minutes on Saturday morning, saying he wanted to give the party the best possible chance to discuss the potential upcoming leadership race. (John Woods/Canadian Press)

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger will not have to step down in the time leading up to a potential election for a new premier at the NDP's annual convention in March, according to party president Ellen Olfert.

Similar to the party's constitution, the Elections Act or the Election Financing Act also have no provisions that would require the premier to step down if there is to be a leadership challenge at the convention.

On Saturday, the Manitoba NDP provincial executive approved a set of guidelines for that possibility.

The guidelines were proposed by a special committee, which received an assignment from the provincial executive to establish instructions for the potential leadership race.

According to NDP president Ellen Olfert, the party won't reveal details about the guidelines until they are reviewed by the NDP provincial council on Dec. 6.

"The broad framework of our recommendations focus on timelines and specific rules around memberships, nominations, and governance," Olfert said in a statement on Saturday.

"They do provide a clear path forward for incorporating a potential leadership election into our annual general convention as per our constitution."

On Saturday morning, Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger was at one of a number of NDP closed-door meetings that have taken place in the weeks following the resignation of five cabinet ministers.

Selinger left after 30 minutes, saying he wanted to give the executive the best possible chance to discuss the guidelines surrounding the upcoming potential race.