Several Tory MLAs not seeking re-election. How will it impact Manitoba government?

The list of Progressive Conservative MLAs not seeking re-election in the fall grew once more Wednesday.

Another member of Premier Heather Stefanson’s cabinet has decided to step away from the provincial government.

Myran Driedger was the latest MLA to announce her departure from the Manitoba PCs, adding to the laundry list of names.

“I would say right now that the PCs are in trouble in the polls,” said Christopher Adams, political science professor at the University of Manitoba.

“It’s not great for Heather Stefanson and the PCs.”

Driedger, the House speaker and long-time Tory, made the announcement Wednesday. She is one of the longest-serving legislature members

It came one day after Indigenous Reconciliation And Northern Relations Minister Alan Lagimodiere announced he would not be seeking re-election due to personal reasons.

Driedger and Lagimodiere join Cliff Cullen, Eileen Clarke, Ralph Eichler, Ian Wishart, Blaine Pederson, and Dennis Smook, who announced an end to their elected roles.

Former MLA Scott Fielding retired from politics in June.

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Adams says these string of announcements by PC members is not fatal for the party because the majority of the departing MLAs represent rural ridings, which are PC strongholds. However some seats in Winnipeg are up in the air.

“Other seats in the city of certain MLAs that we haven’t heard from, like Sarah Guillemard and others, we don’t know if they are running again and they haven’t committed. Those are the seats the PCs have to hold onto to win the next election.”

Unlike Driedger, Cathy Cox and Shannon Martin have yet to announce their intentions for the election.

“Depending on how you look at it, this could be seen in a negative light, but it also could be looked at in a positive light,” said Malcolm Bird, a political science professor with the University of Winnipeg.

Bird doesn’t believe the PCs are in trouble at this time, but says if Stefanson’s government wants to remain in power, they will have to come up with ways to fix an enormous list of issues in this province.

“Health care, crime, fiscal challenges, economic development,” said Bird. “Whoever forms government will need to have a very strong party, lots of ideas, be flexible and dynamic because the challenges facing this province are very significant.”

Adams says the unknown future of the PC government may have some MLAs thinking twice about running again.

“I think there are some who are thinking they do not want to be going into the next election, be re-elected and sit on the Opposition benches,” said Adams. “That’s not a fun game to play if you have been in government already. So there is probably a calculation by some of the MLAs.”

The provincial election will be held Oct. 3, 2023.