Manitoba political sphere reacts to Brian Pallister not seeking re-election

WINNIPEG (CityNews) ─ Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister’s upcoming exit from political life comes at a pivotal time for the Progressive Conservatives, according to a political scientist.

Malcolm Bird, an associate professor of political science at the University of Winnipeg, says it could increase polling numbers for PCs over the next two years.

Bird believes Pallister leaving midway through his second term benefits no party but the PCs. He says it’s an opportunity for a new face to lead the party, a chance to raise their polling numbers and to change the narrative between now and the 2023 election.

“Brian Pallister has quite a good sense of timing and political acumen,” said Bird. “I think he recognizes that in order for the Conservative party to be successful at the next election, it needs to choose a new leader. And both it and the leader need to prepare for the upcoming election, and the electorate needs to get to know who this leader is and potentially who might become the next premier.

“They learned about Mr. Pallister and his characteristics and style, etc., and now they will have to get used to a new leader, and potentially a different party, and different platform.”

Meanwhile Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont sees Pallister’s eventual stepping down as an opportunity for opposition parties.

“It has been an incredibly tough year,” said Lamont. “I do think this is a turning point for Manitoba and we’ll see whether the PC party is able at all to shake loose of Mr. Pallister’s legacy.”

Lamont added that Pallister’s announcement lacked a timeline of when he would step down, but that the Liberals would be closely looking at his riding seat.

NEW: Full statement from Premier Brian Pallister on his departure from #Manitoba PC Party leadership. #mbpoli pic.twitter.com/Ls3W1S2IcW

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Pallister’s announcement comes on the heels of weeks of controversy and political friction within the Progressive Conservatives, triggered by the premier’s remarks about Canadian history that were denounced by Indigenous leaders, publicly criticized by members of his party and led to the departure of one of his cabinet ministers.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew says Pallister is stepping down because of those statements, even though they were not addressed directly on Tuesday.

“Let’s be honest, the premier’s statement today was spin,” said Kinew. “We all know that it was his offensive statements that are the reason that he’s announcing the fact that he’s leaving now. The premier leaving, his legacy will be a failure on COVID and racism toward Indigenous people.

“The premier taps out during the pandemic. That’s very telling. But again, to have a PC party that was willing to support of all these terrible mistakes and all of these offensive things for these so many years, I think is a condemnation of that approach as well.”