Brave faces as Manitoba NDP gathers for 1st caucus meeting since reconciliation
It was smiles and brave faces as NDP MLAs gathered at the Manitoba Legislature for their first caucus meeting after attending a retreat last week.
Christine Melnick, once an ousted former immigration minister, summed up her feelings being back in caucus in one word.
"Great."
During the revolt, Dave Gaudreau was critical of Theresa Oswald's role challenging Selinger for the leadership.
Wednesday, he said he was glad the five rebels and Melnick were all back in the fold.
"Absolutely," he said. "We're stronger together and we're going to be strong through this now."
He said he and Oswald, the former jobs and the economy minister, will work together to rebuild bridges.
Selinger said he's confident everyone is on the same page now.
"Everybody's working through the issues together," he said. "What I'm pleased about is people want to cooperate."
The whereabouts of Erin Selby, former health minister, were in question in a photo the party showed off in advance of the Winnipeg Jets' playoff game Thursday.
Of the 36 NDP caucus members, 24 were in the picture.
Selby is absent, and CBC's attempts to find out why were not successful.
The four others though, including former Finance Minister Jennifer Howard, were there.
She said the NDP is looking forward to facing the coming election as a united front.
"I think we've got work to do but I think a year is a long time in politics and I know that we will be ready to fight the next election," she said.