Former Manitoba premier Doer wants off 'bleachers,' will take on Canada-U.S. trade adviser role if NDP win
Gary Doer, 75, served as 20th premier of Manitoba from 1999 to 2009
The Manitoba NDP promises to bring back a party all-star as an adviser if it forms the next provincial government.
Leader Wab Kinew announced on Tuesday that former premier Gary Doer would work with a Manitoba NDP government as an adviser on Canada-U.S. trade, should the party win the Oct. 3 election.
"I thought I owe it to my community if I can be helpful, constructive, valuable with the contacts that I still have in Washington," Doer said during a Tuesday morning news conference at The Forks in Winnipeg.
"I just want to be part of the solution and not sit totally in the bleachers."
Doer, 75, served as the 20th premier of Manitoba from 1999 to 2009, winning three provincial elections, with a larger majority each time.
After retiring from politics, Doer served as Canada's ambassador to the U.S. from 2009-16. He later worked for the Alberta government as an advocate in resolving the softwood lumber dispute with the Trump administration.
He is currently the volunteer co-chair of the Woodrow Wilson Institute and is a member of the advisory board of the Canadian American Business Council. His gig with the NDP would also be on a volunteer basis.
Doer said the invitation from Kinew reminded him of one of his first moves after becoming premier in 1999, which was to approach former Progressive Conservative premier Duff Roblin for advice on expansion plans for the Red River Floodway.
"I think this is a tradition in Manitoba — we use the talent we have in the most effective way we can," Doer said.
"Elections are competitive, politics is very competitive, but I've always believed that we should try to work together after the election as much as possible … for the benefit of our kids and our grandchildren."
Doer has been "an inspiration to me since the beginning of my political career," Kinew said Tuesday.
"I'm grateful he has accepted the offer to lend his great expertise to the important issue of Manitoba-U.S. trade."
Doer would help increase trading opportunities with the U.S., said Kinew.
"If my team has the opportunity to serve as Manitoba's next government, we'll get back on track and we'll draw on Gary's experience and advice to do it."
Doer said he feels health care is the biggest issue in this election, and the status quo isn't cutting it. The NDP has also put health care at the centre of its election campaign.
Doer "has something to contribute to build up our economy to help with the health care issues we're talking about," said Kinew.
"I think his approach produced great dividends for Manitobans while he was the premier, and I think he has got a ton to offer to help us moving forward."
Doer said he has been impressed by the reaction to Kinew from health-care workers, business people and other Manitobans whom he has spoken with about the NDP leader.
"I've been around town — I live in this community, love this community — and I have been very impressed with the people I've met who have met Wab Kinew," he said.
"I've come to the conclusion that Wab Kinew is open to advice from all Manitobans, and I've been very impressed with that. And a person who is open to advice, I think, will run an open government."
WATCH | Kinew announces Doer will take adviser role if NDP elected Oct. 3:
