Committee struck to prepare Manitoba NDP for leadership vote
A committee tasked with paving the way for a potential leadership election at the Manitoba NDP convention has been chosen.
“We are united in our resolve to move forward and develop a clear process for incorporating a leadership component into our annual general convention,” Ellen Olfert, president of the Manitoba NDP stated in a press release.
“This committee has a mandate from the provincial executive to provide recommendations and lay out the parameters of a potential leadership election as per our constitution.”
The special committee will be chaired by Olfert, and will include:
- George Alevizos, treasurer, Manitoba NDP provincial executive.
- Sonia Kowalewich, former provincial secretary, Manitoba NDP.
- Bob Mayer, member-at-large, Manitoba NDP provincial executive.
- Nanci Morrison, provincial secretary, Manitoba NDP.
- Kevin Rebeck, president Manitoba Federation of Labour
The committee will report to the next meeting of the provincial executive on Nov. 29. The terms of reference are to develop a clear process for any potential leadership election leading up to the annual convention on March 6-8, and how any potential leadership vote could be incorporated into that convention.
“As New Democrats, we are dedicated to working on behalf of Manitobans all across our province,” said Olfert.
“We are committed to developing a fair and democratic process that allows our party to move forward and build toward the next election.”
NDP leader and current Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger suggested the leadership vote as a way to settle the turmoil that has engulfed the party since October, when several high-profile cabinet ministers and some party executive members suggested the NDP's fortunes would be better without him at the helm.
At the beginning of November, five cabinet ministers resigned, forcing Selinger to hastily reconstruct his cabinet.