New Premier Same Direction?

Last weekend the NDP in Manitoba selected their new leader and a new Premier for Manitoba. NDP members and union delegates choose Greg Selinger, the province’s Minister of Finance over the past decade, as the successor to Gary Doer.

The selection of Mr. Selinger was hardly a surprise. When the leadership race began, the NDP said it would be a time for renewal and a new direction. That quickly ended when Andrew Swan, the youngest of the three people seeking the job, was forced out of the race. That left Mr. Selinger and Steve Ashton. Each has spent more than a decade in Mr. Doer’s cabinet and hardly represent renewal.

Mr. Selinger’s victory was secured when union leaders in Manitoba and from across Canada announced their support for him. Under the NDP leadership process, 20% of the votes are reserved for unions. Once the union leaders lined up behind Mr. Selinger, they had essentially handed him the keys to the Premier’s office.

As Mr. Selinger begins to settle into his new job as Premier, Manitobans may have a number of questions about the province’s new boss. They are likely to wonder whether Mr. Selinger represents any change in direction or whether it’s just going to be more of the same. Many will also be wondering about some past decisions and comments made by Mr. Selinger and whether they will reflect on how he will govern as Premier.

For example, long before the Crocus Investment Fund collapsed, Mr. Selinger warned the NDP cabinet that the fund was in trouble. Despite being aware of the problems at Crocus, Mr. Selinger allowed the fund to be promoted as a safe investment and as a result thousands of Manitobans lost money after it failed.

Mr. Selinger was also silent in 1999 when his election campaign was part of a scheme by the NDP to claim campaign expenses that never occurred, resulting in a taxpayer funded rebate of $76,000 to the NDP that they were not entitled to.

There are also troubling comments and decisions by Mr. Selinger related to the money that you earn and that he would like to tax.

Mr. Selinger has indicated in the past that he supports increases to taxes on business and on property owners. Recently he suggested he would adopt a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), even though it would mean new taxes on things such as children’s clothing and gasoline.

Mr. Selinger’s election as NDP leader and Premier hardly came as a surprise given the fact he had the support of union leaders in the province. While union leaders have put their trust in Mr. Selinger, questions remain as to whether Manitobans will have that same trust in their new Premier.