COLUMN: Report from the Legislature – New leader brings new direction

This month’s report from the legislature comes only days after session at the legislature has resumed with the PC Party having a new leader and new direction. Just over a week ago our party held the leadership vote and announced MLA Obby Khan as our new leader. After a lengthy leadership race, I am excited to finally have certainty in our leadership and direction. This not only means direction for the party but also provides hope for the future of our province.

Since the 2023 election the PC Party of Manitoba has been without certainty in our structure. At the night of the election, Heather Stefanson who was Manitoba’s PC leader and previous premier announced that she would be stepping down as leader after the party decides on the process used. The party decided a few months later a process that would allow for a long but fair leadership race, making it available to anyone capable and interested to lead the party forward. Through the process two candidates stepped forward to attract support across the entire province and that’s exactly what they did. It was a clean and respectable race that showed significant support for both candidates but in the end resulted in Mr. Khan’s victory.

Only a couple days into seeing Mr. Khan at the helm of our party and I am very happy with the results. Obby’s background has been in business but also professional sports which I feel has set the strong groundwork for understanding how to identify strengths and weaknesses to move forward successfully. We have a great team of well connected and dedicated rural MLAs representing the entire province but do have a significant lack of Winnipeg representation. I believe a new and unified PC Party will be able to achieve Winnipeg support in the next election with some hard work and dedication by both the elected MLAs and also the supporters across our province.

We now need to come together to show Manitobans that we are the only option capable to lead our province to prosperity. The Kinew government has spent nearly two years protecting their public image and very little time on growing our economy, protecting our rights and building our healthcare. We have seen a lot of talk and very little action. Under this government we have seen Manitoba slip to the lowest GDP growth out of any province in the country and one of the largest recipients of transfer payments per capita at more than double that of Quebec. I think it is crucial for the future of our province to come together as a party and hold our government to account while working to regain government in another two years.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank and express my appreciation for Wayne Ewasko the MLA for Lac du Bonnet for stepping up as the interim leader and help us stay unified and strong. Under his leadership we were able to continue to grow as a party and build on relationships with organizations and people across our great province. Wayne has tirelessly fulfilled a role that would have many times felt thankless, but I hope he realizes that it was anything but that. I know that our caucus and Manitobans have appreciated the hard work that he contributed to our province.

Early May is a busy time for most people in La Verendrye but for those taking the time to read this I’d like to wish everyone a safe and successful planting season and look forward to seeing everyone at the many spring and summer events throughout our region. As always if you have any concerns or comments, I welcome hearing from you directly. Please contact info@konradnarth.ca