Liberals have a chance – PC, less so – Winnipeg Free Press

Opinion

Election night 2023 was unlike any other, with big winners, namely the NDP, and even bigger losers. Both the Liberals and the PCs were hit hard and both their leaders announced their resignations. Now, here we are, four months later, with interim leaders leading the two parties, at the height of the leadership race.

So who are these interim leaders?

Cindy Lamoureux, the lone MP for the Liberals, is a former leadership contender and loser to my surprise, Dugald Lamont. He is a large constituency politician and has deep roots in the Liberal Party and community as his father, Kevin Lamoureux, is the MP for the area.

Unfortunately, under Lamont's leadership, Lamoureau received very little speaking time in the legislature and little attention in the media. All that has changed now. Here he is the only success story in the liberal group. He easily won his seat last autumn, even as the stalwart John Gerrard and leader Lamont lost their seats due to the Orange Wave.

The future of the Manitoba Liberals is both exciting and challenging. If they attract the right leader – which Lamoureux himself has not ruled out, and I'm sure there are others in his wing – and a few media wins before the next election, they have a good chance of forming an official party. status, that is, having at least four seats in the legislative body. Even better, they can put together a well-thought-out and well-executed campaign campaign, build a solid campaign platform, attract a slate of good candidates, and maybe even become the official opposition.

The more the public grows tired of the NDP government — and they will sooner or later — and the more promises the NDP platform makes, the more opportunities there will be for the Liberals.

Less so for PC. Voters are unlikely to forget last fall's disastrous campaign any time soon, and even if they do, the NDP is quick to make any progress it makes in rebuilding the PC's tarnished reputation. With the PCs in the NDP's crosshairs and vice versa, the Liberals can quietly rebuild from within and gain public attention.

Of course, it could be argued that this has always been the case for the Liberals, but with Sharon Carstairs' 20-seat victory, they have achieved more. But I will say that the timing has never been better. Even more so if the PC rushes to another leadership convention or ends up with a leader who is unwilling or unable to challenge the “base”.

As someone who was once elected to that caucus, I and my former colleagues were amazed at the strength of the base as I watched the campaign turn at the expense of moderate conservatives like John Reyes, Andrew Smith, and Sarah Guillemard. little We are unmatched, and the base will undoubtedly continue to expand. Meanwhile, as we see the popularity of some Conservative leaders, notably federal Conservative Leader Pierre Pouillevre, rise, Manitoba PCs will be clamoring even more to further block any rebuilding efforts in his urban constituencies. Moderation will be important.

Which brings me to Wayne Evasco, the newly released interim PC leader. The MLA for Lac du Bonnet has been part of the caucus since 2011 and may be one of the friendliest, friendliest politicians in the room. Always a good listener, he takes party issues to heart, seeks calmness in the water and will be the steady leader the party needs right now.

His task is to leave the leadership congress for at least 18 months, if not two years, to recognize the biggest victory he can deliver. Anything less risks tainting the race and its eventual winner with the air of a lingering past. As time goes on, the impetuous Evasco will have to manage, but even more so, he must negotiate the final exit of former premier Heather Stefansson.

No doubt a by-election will be called when he steps down as Tuxedo MLA. If he doesn't wait until the leadership race is over – an unfair request if you ask me – there may be no room for a future leader. But none of that may sway his decision. Regardless of what happened before, he earned the right to be settled on his own terms. Taking the reins, Evasco should set his course and ensure that the party is in good hands.

Rochelle Squires is a recovering politician after 7 1/2 years in the Manitoba legislature. He is a political and social columnist whose column appears on Tuesdays.[email protected]

Rochelle Squires
Appraiser

Rochelle Squires is a recovering politician after 7½ years in the Manitoba legislature. He is a political and social columnist whose column appears on Tuesdays.

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