Tory majority in Manitoba
Brian Pallister and his Progressive Conservatives have won a renewed majority from Manitoba voters to continue a program of cost-cutting and tax reductions. The Tories were projected to capture 30-plus seats in the 57-seat legislature in the election Tuesday.
But it appeared to be unlikely that they would match the 40 seats they won in 2016, which was the largest majority in a century in Manitoba and ended 17 years of NDP government.
Pallister himself was declared the winner in his Winnipeg constituency of Fort Whyte.
The New Democrats were on track to add a handful of seats to the 14 won in 2016 and remain as the Official Opposition. They also improved their share of the vote. Leader Wab Kinew won his seat in Fort Rouge.
“I’m feeling pretty good tonight,” Kinew told supporters after telephoning Pallister to concede the election.
Kinew said the extra seats are a message of support and a shot across Pallister’s bow.
“The seats that we took back made it very clear that Manitobans want us, the New Democrats, to not only be the conscience of Manitoba, not only to be the opposition of Manitoba, but to be the progressive voice for Manitoba,” he said to cheers.
Kinew ran on a promise of more money for health, education, infrastructure and social programs and accused the PCs of implementing health changes that made the system more chaotic.
Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont won in his Winnipeg constituency of St. Boniface but his party was struggling to retain the four seats it had at dissolution.
Four is the minimum number needed for official party status, which carries with it extra funding for caucus staff, some allotted committee spaces and time in question period.
The Liberals ran on boosting public spending by $1.4 billion or more annually, mainly to aid health care and education.
Lamont, speaking to supporters, said he was proud of his team running a positive campaign that pushed critical issues to the forefront. But he said politics is ultimately an unforgiving “blood sport.”
“You can put everything you have into something. You can deliver the best work of your life, and sometimes it’s still not enough. And that’s life. And that’s politics,” he said. “We will continue to build.” Both Lamont and Kinew will face mandatory party leadership reviews.