View From the Legislature

Members of the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party will be selecting their new leader on April 26th. This will conclude a very long leadership process that was designed to ensure that members had time to make an informed decision on choosing a new leader and also to ensure the voting process goes well.

This is a very important decision for Manitobans. Manitoba’s NDP are already driving up the provincial debt and increasing taxes. Despite NDP promises, healthcare has worsened in Manitoba and violent crime continues to increase. The election of a new leader for Manitoba’s official opposition is critical for not only holding the NDP to account but also offering a strong alternative in the next election.

As a member of the PC Party of Manitoba, I have one vote. No more than any other member. But many members have asked who I am supporting. As I have publicly stated in the past, I will be supporting Fort Whyte MLA, Obby Khan. As has been my practice in political life, this is not a vote against another candidate. I appreciate every person who steps forward to run for a challenging job. My support for Obby Khan is simply about the attributes he brings to leadership.

Importantly, Mr. Khan is ready to go on day one. He already has a seat in the Manitoba Legislature which means he can directly challenge the NDP right away. And he has proven to be capable of taking on Premier Wab Kinew in public debates. Being ready to go on day one is very important. Make no mistake, it will be very difficult to win the next election. It is difficult historically in Manitoba to defeat a government after just one term. If a leader is elected who does not have a seat in the Legislature, they are not the Official Opposition Leader, cannot enter the Legislature and cannot sit in Legislative committees. And it may very well take until the next election for a new leader who does not have a seat to gain one. We need to be ready on April 27th to hold the NDP accountable, we cannot wait until the next election.

Importantly, Obby Khan has shown he can win seats in Winnipeg. To form government in Manitoba, you need to be able to win substantial number of seats in both Winnipeg and outside of Winnipeg. Currently, Mr. Khan holds one of the only two seats we have in Manitoba’s largest city. The NDP have a habit of ignoring rural Manitoba because they focus almost exclusively on finding electoral success in Winnipeg. We need to be able to win seats in both Winnipeg and outside of Winnipeg to ensure that all parts of Manitoba are treated fairly.

Mr. Khan has also demonstrated, during this campaign and other aspects of his life that he is able to connect and bring people together. Successful in professional sports, business and now politics, he understands how to build a team. The ability to connect with Manitobans from all backgrounds and walks of life is very important if we are to be able to win government in the next election.

Importantly for me, I have had many conversations with Obby Khan about the importance of respecting faith. I have appreciated his strong support for freedom of religion and the important role that freedom plays in Manitoba and Canada.

Like all members of the PC Party, I only have one vote. In making the decision how to cast mine, there are several factors I have considered. I believe to give us the best chance of winning the next election we need a leader who is ready to go on day one after the leadership, who can bring together a team, who connects with people, who can find electoral success in Winnipeg and outside of Winnipeg and who supports the values that are important to Manitobans, like religious freedom. Obby Khan has each of these qualities.