Flin Flon MLA who criticized premier loses NDP nomination

Clarence Pettersen who has represented Flin Flon in the legislature since 2011, lost a NDP nomination meeting Friday night to Tom Lindsey. (Photo courtesy of the Government of Manitoba)

FLIN FLON, Man. -- A Manitoba government backbencher who openly criticized Premier Greg Selinger has been ousted by party members in his own constituency.

Clarence Pettersen's rejection by party members is a sign, he says, that the fallout from the NDP's recent leadership crisis is not over.

"It's like House of Cards," Pettersen said Saturday, referring to the popular television drama about United States politics.

"You always have to sleep with your eyes open, you know?"

Pettersen, who has represented the northern constituency of Flin Flon in the legislature since 2011, lost a NDP nomination meeting Friday night to Tom Lindsey, a long-time union activist who will carry the party banner in next April's election.

Pettersen said it seems members of local unions were against him, partly because of his suggestion last year that Selinger, who was facing a caucus revolt over low polling numbers, should resign. At the time, Pettersen compared the NDP to the Titanic.

"My premier asked for my honesty and I gave it to him," Pettersen said Saturday.

"I think maybe that's why the union ... wanted to overthrow me. And it worked."

The internal revolt against Selinger prompted a leadership contest last March. Selinger won by a razor-thin 33-vote margin over second-place finisher Theresa Oswald, whom Pettersen supported. Most of the union leaders in northern Manitoba backed third-place finisher Steve Ashton.

Pettersen said he believes Ashton supporters are trying to shore up support for another leadership run if the NDP loses the upcoming election and Selinger resigns.

"We're at 22 per cent in the polls. You tell me if the people think the leadership is solved."

Ashton was not immediately available for comment Saturday.

Lindsey said some people were angry about Pettersen's criticism of Selinger, but Friday's vote came down to who could best represent local interests.

"Obviously, I think I could do a better job. Otherwise, I wouldn't have run," he said.

"I believe that any sitting (legislature member) is subject to a challenge prior to an election at the nomination time."

Since Selinger survived the leadership crisis, two people who openly challenged him -- Andrew Swan and Jennifer Howard -- decided to run for re-election and faced no opposition in their nominations. Three other rebels -- Oswald, Stan Struthers and Erin Selby -- have decided not to run again.