Brian Pallister and the Progressive Conservatives won a second term as premier of Manitoba. That isn't significant news. The hastily called election was timed to give the PCs more power. Pallister said the election was called early this year so as to not interfere with the Manitoba 150th celebration in 2020.
The PCs won 36 seats, down from 40 in 2016 and 38 when the election was called. The opposition NDP now have 18 seats, up from 14 in 2016 and 12 before the election. The Liberals went from 4 seats to 3 seats, significant in that 4 marks official status in the Manitoba legislature. A Manitoba Party MLA and 2 independents won't be back.
Pallister claimed victory even with fewer seats in that they still have a strong majority. Opposition leader Wab Kinew claimed victory because the party picked up seats.
In a province with an Indigenous opposition leader, the 2019 election will be remembered for Manitoba electing black people to the legislature. In a province that has never elected a black person, Manitoba voters selected 3 black people.
- Uzoma Asagwara (NDP) became the first simply because her riding was called earlier. Asagwara will represent the Union Station riding.
- Jamie Moses (NDP) won in St. Vital, defeating a Metis woman incumbent.
- Audrey Gordon (PC) in the Southdale riding battled back and forth all night before winning the riding.
Gordon was the only PC candidate in that category. The NDP and Liberals each had 5 black candidates running in the 2019 election. The Green Party doesn't keep those numbers.
Green Party leader James Beddome ran and lost in Fort Rouge. David Nickarz, the Green Party candidate in Wolseley, had the best chance of winning a seat. Nickarz ended up giving the speech with Beddome at his side.
Liberal Party leader Dougald Lamont did win his seat in St. Boniface, the riding previously held by NDP premier Greg Selinger. The Liberals only seats are in Winnipeg.
2019 Manitoba election preview
Brian Pallister, Progressive Conservatives end NDP reign in Manitoba
CanadianCrossing.com Manitoba coverage
The election was full of attacks on Kinew from the PCs and a few jabs at Pallister over the extensive time spent in Costa Rica. Kinew mentioned in his speech that calling Pallister was a "local call."
Health care cuts were a significant issue in the campaign, especially in Winnipeg. The reaction did help the NDP cause for a few more seats.
Pallister's speech was as boring and uninformative as his fellow conservatives speeches in Alberta and Prince Edward Island were angry. This was more like the boss calling you win to tell you everything is fine and on the right path and before you know it, you are back at your desk wondering what happened.
The highlight was the mention of the Manitoba bison. Pallister said the PCs were like the bison in that they always face the challenges coming at them.
On a night where 3 black people were elected, Pallister gave a speech surrounded by old white men. There was a young woman standing behind Pallister (who is apparently rather tall). His party elected one of the 3 black people.
2019 Canadian politics preview
CanadianCrossing.com Canadian politics coverage
The CBC coverage features a "Manitoba Votes" cafe where average voters weigh in on subjects important to them. The concept was fine but everyone was packed into one large studio. The panel included Kelvin Goertzen, a MLA from Steinbach who won re-election for the PCs. Goertzen easily won his seat.
The voting percentage in 2016 was 57.4%. The lower turnout could be due to a late summer election that came a year early.
photos credit: CBC Winnipeg
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