KLEIN: Will NDP’s internal rifts be a distraction from governing Manitoba?

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Manitobans now find themselves at a pivotal juncture in the heart of the Canadian prairies, teetering on the precipice of a new political era.

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KLEIN: Will NDP’s internal rifts be a distraction from governing Manitoba? Back to video

The recent electoral winds have swept in a cohort of fervent activists, headed by Premier Wab Kinew, promising a fresh dawn for the province. Yet, beneath the veneer of enthusiasm lies a landscape riddled with uncertainties, questioning the newfound leadership’s efficacy in steering the province.

The saga begins with Premier Kinew’s comments that being an MLA is a full-time job, which is in contrast with his previous inaction on the topic and only made an issue when Kinew was questioned by media about one of his MLAs changing their mind on holding a second job. Fort Garry MLA Mark Wasyliw adamantly clung to his legal practice despite pre-election assurances of its discontinuation.

This display of wavering resolve within the highest echelons of power casts doubts on the consistency of Kinew’s leadership. Only a few months back, the PC Party lambasted Wasyliw for contentious ads on his legal website, his second job. Curiously, Kinew’s party had then overlooked such concerns, allowing other NDP MLAs to have another job while taxpayers footed hefty salaries for these elected officials exceeding $100,000 annually.

Moreover, internal rifts have marred the camaraderie within Kinew’s own party. Wasyliw, despite his role as a minister critic, found himself sidelined from Kinew’s cabinet, underscoring the fractures within the party’s unity. A similar lack of deference for Kinew’s authority was exhibited by Nahanni Fontaine, a housing minister, who conspicuously abstained from acknowledging her leader during an official ceremony.

The discord within the NDP government transcends internal party dynamics. Rookie MLA Jenifer Chen, a former Winnipeg School Division trustee, received a six-week suspension for comments she made about teachers. Chen herself confirmed this suspension in a social media post, citing her tweets as the reason for her censure.

A Global News report from May 21, 2021, noted that the Winnipeg School Division suspended Chen for breaching their Code of Conduct on two separate occasions in less than a week. These actions defy the Board of Trustees and disregard established due process. Chen subsequently deleted her tweets on the matter.

These instances raise concerns about discipline within the NDP government. MLA Chen recently deleted a tweet she posted regarding the conflict in Gaza. Chen condemned the hospital bombing and called for a ceasefire and an end to the war. Thus suggesting a lack of commitment to transparency and accountability within the government.

These red flags are not mere aberrations but harbingers of potential discord. Manitobans are right to question whether the NDP government’s focus on individual causes and activism might overshadow the pressing demands of governance. In a province where billions of taxpayer dollars are at stake, internal discord and power struggles are luxuries Manitobans can ill afford.

The need of the hour is a government adept in the art of governance, capable of seamless operations and resolute leadership. Manitobans yearn for leaders who prioritize stability and efficiency, transcending partisan divisions. The province deserves more than a government ensnared in personal interests or embroiled in party politics.

In these embryonic days of the NDP government, Premier Wab Kinew and his cadre must recalibrate their focus. Their solemn duty, above all personal aspirations, is to safeguard the welfare of every Manitoban. Any deviation from this noble responsibility is not just a dereliction of duty but a betrayal of the trust reposed by the very citizens they were elected to serve.

Manitobans deserve more than fleeting activism, they deserve steadfast and accountable governance. Only time will tell whether the current administration can rise to this pivotal challenge or be consigned to the annals of political unfulfillment.

— Kevin Klein is a former Tory cabinet minister, a former city councillor and a former Winnipeg Sun publisher.