COLUMN: Think Again – There’s cause for optimism in Manitoba

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/11/2025 (207 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Last weekend, I attended the Progressive Conservative AGM in Winnipeg. I’m glad I did.

It’s no secret that the PC party needs to rebuild. The 2023 election campaign did not go well for the party, and the PCs lost government after only seven years in power. To make matters worse, the PC party is in significant debt, and it’s going to take some time to climb out of it.

However, the good news is that the PC party has taken some significant steps forward. The new leader, Obby Khan, has been working hard to raise money, recruit potential candidates, and hold the NDP to account in the Legislature.

I was particularly impressed by the fact that not only did Khan’s leadership opponent, Wally Daudrich, attend the AGM, Daudrich was given a prime speaking slot during Friday night’s gala dinner. Seeing these two former rivals standing side by side was a powerful reminder that the PC party is a big tent party with members working together on the common goal of defeating the NDP in the next election.

In addition, there was a contested election for party president. Peter Smith and Justin Schinkel, both highly qualified individuals with significant campaign experience, put their names forward. The fact that the PC party had not one, but two, men who let their names stand for this volunteer position bodes well for the future of the party. Smith won the vote, so he will be working closely with Obby Khan to get the PC party ready for the next election.

Wab Kinew’s NDP has now been in power for two years, and there isn’t much to show for it. Crime is up, emergency rooms are full, surgery wait times are increasing, and provincial debt is higher than ever before. This is the sad legacy of the NDP being in power for two years. Imagine how much worse things will become if Kinew gets another term in office.

The good news is that there is an alternative—the Manitoba PC party. After hearing Obby Khan speak at the AGM, it became clear that he has a positive vision for this province. It’s time to crack down on crime, eliminate wasteful spending, cut burdensome regulations, and turn Manitoba into a have province. We can achieve these things if we elect a new government.

While the next provincial election is not scheduled to happen until the fall of 2027, Premier Wab Kinew could easily call it long before then. The fact that the NDP is already nominating candidates tells us that the election could be called as early as next year—possibly even in the spring.

Since Kinew knows that his dismal record is likely to start bringing his party down in the polls, he might decide to call an election sooner rather than later. This is why the PC party needs to be ready. There is still more work that needs to be done, but last weekend’s AGM reassured me that things are back on track.

This is not the time to talk about forming a new party. All that would do is split the vote and make it even easier for the NDP to come up the middle and win the election. I strongly encourage anyone who doesn’t want the NDP to remain in power to support the PC party so that we can get a new government in place in Manitoba.

There’s cause for optimism in this province. Hopefully, within the next year or two, we will have a new government with a new premier. That is how we can get Manitoba back on track.

Michael Zwaagstra is a teacher and deputy mayor of Steinbach. He can be reached at mzwaagstra@shaw.ca.