5 former ministers to stay in Selinger's caucus after revolt - for now

The five former cabinet ministers who openly rebelled against Premier Greg Selinger will remain members of the NDP caucus, at least for now. 

• Manitoba revolt: 5 ministers resign from Premier Greg Selinger's cabinet

Backbencher MLA Clarence Pettersen, who also called on Selinger to resign, will stay, too. 

• Premier Selinger has got to go, says NDP MLA

Selinger and his caucus met Thursday afternoon to determine the fate of five rebel former cabinet ministers and the backbencher who openly called for his resignation. 

MLA  Christine Melnick who was booted out of caucus earlier this year and has been sitting as an independent, is back in. 

• Christine Melnick removed from NDP caucus

But their role as caucus members is severely limited. They cannot attend caucus meetings or have any say in decision-making. 

Selinger said it's a way for his caucus to move forward, after weeks of turmoil. 

"We all came together in my office this morning quite frankly and drafted a resolution that has been unanimously accepted by caucus," he said. "We have a responsibility committee that has now been put in place that will deal with the specifics of the breaches and recommend actions going forward that will allow them a path back." 

Selinger said the committee is a new creation that is empowered to deal with the issues that have arisen since internal turmoil erupted publicly. 

He said even though the MLAs have no voice in caucus, they will have a voice in the chamber. But it too is circumscribed.

"As caucus members, they vote with the government," he said. 

Renegades may still be thrown out

Selinger said the MLAs who criticized him publicly may still face sanctions, including being kicked out of caucus, but he declined to elaborate.

"The fundamental principles of solidarity and confidentiality are important ingredients to caucus being able to function effectively," he said. "And those principles need to be respected. How those are applied will be the responsibility of the responsibility committee in each individual case."

Selinger said there is no deadline for those decisions. 

He said Christine Melnick's role in caucus is also back on the table, despite her having nothing to do with the public outcry over his leadership. 

"We wanted to treat everyone equitably," Selinger said. 

Selinger declined to reveal to whether caucus members were angry with those who publicly called for his removal, citing caucus confidentiality.

"It was a good discussion and people expressed themselves but people were most committed to getting back to work as MLAs for the citizens they represent," he said.

Selinger said the focus now turns to the throne speech and the legislative session ahead. 

"Today's decision ensures that we're back at work for the citizens of Manitoba," he said. 

Details of leadership race still to be determined

Selinger, meanwhile, refuses to step aside as premier while he prepares to defend his leadership of the party at the NDP annual convention in March. 

He said he's trying to balance governing the province with allowing party members their democratic right to challenge his leadership.

In 2009 when he and two other cabinet ministers, Andrew Swan and Steve Ashton, were vying for the top job after Gary Doer resigned all the contenders stepped away from their cabinet positions to ensure a level playing field. 

Selinger insists it's not the same situation now, with a leader already in place as premier.  

"I've proposed a solution that's not a full-on leadership convention," he said. "But a chance to stand for election and to give the other people the opportunity to do that. We'll discuss that at the executive this week."

The meeting is Saturday.