COLUMN: Think Again – Grand opening marred by petty partisanship

It was an exciting day for the Town of Swan River. People from across the region gathered to celebrate the grand opening of their new cultural arts centre.

This $16.6 million addition to the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School included a 4,200 square foot cultural arts centre, a 2,100 square foot multi-purpose room, and an outdoor teaching area. Originally approved by the previous Progressive Conservative government and brought to completion by the current NDP government, both parties can rightfully take some credit for this magnificent project.

As typically happens with projects of this nature, a grand opening celebration was held. Along with local dignitaries such as Swan River’s mayor and the school board chair, Premier Wab Kinew attended to bring greetings on behalf of the province. The premier’s attendance was more than appropriate, and Kinew had every right to take credit for his government’s role in this project.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough for Kinew. Not satisfied with already getting featured billing at the grand opening, Kinew arranged for Swan River PC MLA Rick Wowchuk to be disinvited from the podium. While Wowchuk attended the event, he wasn’t allowed to speak.

Interestingly, Wowchuk had been on the roster of speakers right up until the day before the grand opening. It was only after the premier’s chief of staff called the school board chair and pressured him to remove Wowchuk from the stage that Wowchuk was consigned to being a spectator at his own event.

What made this act of partisanship so egregious is that Wowchuk played a key role in making this project happen. As the MLA for Swan River, Wowchuk argued forcefully for this cultural arts centre and managed to persuade the previous government to add it to the list of provincial projects. Given the long list of competing priorities, this was no easy feat.

In addition, Wowchuk has a longstanding personal connection to this project. Not only has Wowchuk been the Swan River MLA for nearly a decade, but he also taught at Swan Valley Regional Secondary School for 25 years and was even an alumnus of that school’s very first graduating class. Clearly, Wowchuk had every right to sit on the stage during the grand opening.

Because Wowchuk wasn’t allowed to speak at the ceremony, he chose to record his speech and release it on Facebook instead. Ironically, Wowchuk’s prepared remarks contained almost no partisanship and focused on what an amazing facility this was for Swan River. He spoke about his personal connection with the school and commented that this cultural arts centre would benefit everyone in the community.

This was the speech that Premier Wab Kinew refused to allow to be heard alongside his. It truly was a selfish act by someone who talks a big game about inclusion, but also tries to silence those who don’t agree with him.

When asked about this incident at an unrelated news conference, Kinew doubled down and mocked Wowchuk. “Does anyone care about some backbench PC MLA right now? No. His feelings are hurt? Who cares.” Kinew said. In that moment, Kinew sounded more like a schoolyard bully than the premier of a province.

While there is a place for partisanship in politics, there are also times when it needs to be set aside. Rather than hog the limelight for himself, it would have been gracious of the premier to share it with others who also deserved some recognition.

Sadly, Premier Kinew wasn’t interested in being gracious. Instead of thinking about the community of Swan River that day, all he could think about was himself.

Manitobans deserve better.

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