As many of you have already heard, I have decided not to seek the leadership of the P.C. Party of Manitoba. This decision came after months of consideration and speaking with supporters locally and across the province. And of course, it came after many discussions with my family.
I want to say very sincerely how much I have appreciated the words of support and encouragement to seek the leadership that I have received. There isn’t a proper way to express just how very gratifying it is to hear that support from people. It also made the decision that much more difficult because I would have liked to honour that support with a bid for leadership and I know that there will be some who will be disappointed.
But ultimately, the biggest obstacle was in relation to the job of leader of a political party and the toll it would take on my wife, my five year old son, and other members of my family. Having been elected for 8 years and Deputy Leader of the P.C. Party for the past number of years, I have witnessed some of the challenges that come with the position and the impact it can have on families. The leader of a Party is not simply responsible to their own constituents but to the province as a whole and that means at least six days a week, morning to night, in terms of time commitment. While my job as MLA requires many nights away from home already, the additional duties of leadership would add to it significantly.
This is especially true in modern day politics where the Party leader is so closely identified as the brand of the Party itself. Leaders often become synonymous with the definition of their Party which increases their responsibility to handle media, Party events and public events. To prepare us to challenge for government in the next election, which requires us to win 10 additional seats, the new leader will have to be prepared and be able to dedicate those hours away from their home and their home constituency.
The decision for me came down to the fact that to do the job that is required of our next leader, I would either have to short-change my family or short-change the job. Neither of those options is acceptable to me.
However, while I will not be seeking to be the leader of the P.C. Party, I do intend to remain a leader in the Party, influencing policy direction and working hard for the residents of the Steinbach Constituency. I am fortunate to love the job I have and appreciate the support of many residents.
Since making my decision public, many constituents have told me that you can never go wrong putting family first, and I appreciate those comments. It has also given me a new appreciation for those who work in occupations that require extended time away from home. Having grown up with a father who was a long-distance truck driver I experienced it as a child, and have a new understanding, now from the perspective of a father, of the time commitment challenges many people face in their work.
Thank you again to each of you who offered me advice directly or who offered your prayers silently. I really do appreciate it.
