Manitoba voters made history on Tuesday night as Global News predicts a majority government for the Manitoba NDP, ending seven years of Progressive Conservative rule under premiers Brian Pallister and Heather Stefanson. Wab Kinew, who is projected to be re-elected in his riding of Fort Rouge, will become the first premier of First Nations descent in a Canadian province. Kinew, a musician, broadcast journalist, and former university administrator, moved to Winnipeg as a child from Onigaming First Nation in Ontario. He was elected as an MLA in 2016 and became NDP leader in 2017. The NDP’s result is a significant improvement over their previous election, where they only held 25 percent of seats in the legislature. Kinew celebrated the victory, highlighting Manitoba’s progressive choice and the party’s commitment to fixing healthcare and affordability.
With this historic result, Wab Kinew’s predecessor, Heather Stefanson, also made history as the first woman to serve as premier in Manitoba. Stefanson took over as premier after Brian Pallister’s resignation in 2021 and has held the Tuxedo riding for over two decades. While the race in her constituency is still ongoing, Stefanson announced that she will step down as PC leader. In her speech to supporters, she congratulated Kinew on his victory and expressed her respect for the will of the voters. Stefanson pledged to ensure a smooth transition in the premiership and wished Kinew the best.
In an emotional speech, Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont announced his resignation as party leader after being defeated by the NDP’s Robert Loiselle in the St. Boniface riding. Lamont acknowledged the people’s decision and reflected on the challenges and strengths of his campaign. The Green Party of Manitoba, which has yet to win a seat in a provincial election, continued their track record of losses, with leader Janine Gibson falling short in the Wolseley riding.
Winnipeg mayor Scott Gillingham congratulated Wab Kinew and the NDP on their victory, expressing his willingness to collaborate with the new provincial government. Gillingham also recognized Heather Stefanson for her partnership on various projects in the past year. The first Indigenous person to become a provincial premier in Canada was John Norquay, a Métis leader who led Manitoba from 1878 to 1887.
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