Five Manitoba ministers who are resigning from cabinet say had no choice but to step down because Premier Greg Selinger had stopped listening to them “on some very serious issues.”

Selinger unveiled a new cabinet Monday, after five of his top ministers-- whose calls for his resignation went unheeded-- gave notice that they would be stepping down instead.

“This for me is a cumulative effect of my inability to be heard on some very serious issues,” Minister for Jobs and the Economy Theresa Oswald told reporters Monday morning, adding that she has deep respect for the Office of the Premier and the job of cabinet minister.

“I know that I am unable to effectively continuing doing that job when the only way that my voice will be heard is if it’s in total agreement with what the leader says.”

The five ministers who have resigned are:

  • Jennifer Howard, Minister of Finance (replaced by backbencher Greg Dewar)
  • Andrew Swan, Minister of Justice (replaced by Education Minister James Allum)
  • Theresa Oswald, Minister for Jobs and the Economy (replaced by Youth and Children Minister Kevin Chief)
  • Stan Struthers, Minister of Municipal Government (replaced by backbencher Drew Caldwell)
  • Erin Selby, Minister of Health (replaced by Minister of Healty Living Sharon Blady)

Early last week, the so-called “Rebel Five” had urged Selinger to quit in order to halt their party’s slide in the polls. Recent polling data indicates NDP support has fallen to the low 30s, well back of the Progressive Conservatives.

The NDP received 46 per cent of the popular vote in the 2011 election.

At the time, Selinger responded to the crisis by announcing that he will remain on the job and run for re-election in 2016.

In a statement issued Monday, Selinger said he met with each of the five ministers last week.

“In those conversations I made it clear: either focus on the priorities of Manitoba families as a part of our team, or resign,” Selinger said.“I am saddened by the decisions they've made. I wish to thank each for their contributions toward building a better province.”

Last week, media reports suggested that the rebel ministers were displeased with Selinger for failing to get voters on-side with his move to raise the provincial sales tax last year. While the five called on Selinger to step down, other ministers publicly declared their support.

But at their joint news conference Monday, the five now-former ministers said their problems with Selinger had been growing over time and began when Selinger polled his ministers about his leadership.

After answering him honestly, they said, Selinger froze them out.

"We expressed our views very clearly, and that is when, as my colleagues have said, we noticed a definite change in the way that things were being done," Swan said. "Our concern is the premier has become more concerned about remaining leader than necessarily doing things in the best interest of Manitobans."

They also accused Selinger of prioritizing the goals of ministers who support his agenda.

“What I can say is that, certainly in recent months, it has become clear that if you are in a position where you support the point of view of the premier, that your priorities and your projects move up the queue ahead of what was once a government plan and what would be indeed the priorities of Manitobans and what Manitobans need,” Oswald said.

“This is of grave concern to me.”

The five will continue to serve as MLAs, and all intend to run in the next election. They would not answer questions about whether any of them plan to run for the party leadership.

Former finance minister Howard denied that the MLAs would join the opposition in voting against Selinger’s agenda in the legislature.

“We are all New Democrats, those are our values,” Howard said. “That’s how we are going to vote in the House.”

The NDP holds a strong majority in the legislature, with 35 of 57 seats.

It remains unclear when a fall session of the legislature may open.

With files from The Canadian Press