Selinger parts ways with senior staffers who backed Oswald
Three of Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger's senior staffers are gone from the government.
CBC News has confirmed that one of the members is Anna Rothney, who was head of the NDP cabinet's priorities and planning committee.
Rothney had been appointed to that position by Selinger in 2012 but took a leave of absence from that position in December to become manager for Theresa Oswald's campaign to unseat Selinger as party leader.
Sources told CBC News the other two staffers are Jen Anthony, who was director of issues management, and Alissa Brandt, who was the director of the premier's secretariat. Both were also in lead positions on the Oswald campaign.
A government source said they are currently negotiating "mutual separation agreements triggered by their personal employment contracts."
The government source told CBC News others may be moved around but those three are the only ones who will be leaving.
Staff leaving despite encouragement to get involved in leadership race
The departures come in spite of an internal memo the premier's acting chief of staff sent to political staffers back in December encouraging them to get involved with the leadership race because it was good experience.
At a meeting the day prior, staffers were publicly told it didn't matter whose leadership bid they joined.
The departure of the three also comes after senior staffer Meaghan Dewar signed an agreement two months ago to leave. She also worked on the Oswald campaign.
A government source told CBC he wasn't surprised by the departures. "The premier needs to be able to trust his most senior advisers," he said. "It's unfortunate, but given that his senior staff campaigned for another candidate, there is simply no way he could trust them again."
The source also says senior staff can get better severance packages, because their jobs carry more risk. So this will be an expensive exodus for the government.
Selinger called the leadership contest after Oswald and four other cabinet members went public with concerns about his command of the party.
Theresa Oswald would not comment about the staff departures,
"I have a farewell and thank-you event with my volunteers today, whole bunch of young people who are in it for the right reason. I need those kids to see that we are OK, and that the movement and the party is worth fighting for," Oswald said in a statement.