Manitoba Liberal Party elects new leader

Willard Reaves announces his leadership bid alongside former Manitoba Liberal leader Jon Gerrard outside the Manitoba legislature on Sept. 7, 2025. (Gary Robson/CTV News Winnipeg)

A former Winnipeg Blue Bomber will now lead the Manitoba Liberals.

The party announced Monday that Willard Reaves was declared the winner of its leadership contest.

“The party membership looks forward to working with Mr. Reaves to rebuild and grow our numbers in the Legislature at the next provincial election,’’ Manitoba Liberal Party President Terry Hayward said in a news release.

Reaves will work alongside Cindy Lamoureux, the party’s only sitting member, to champion issues and concerns across the province, Hayward added.

Reaves was named deputy leader of the party in November 2023 but stepped down in June 2024.

He also ran for Fort Whyte MLA in a 2022 byelection but lost to Tory Obby Khan. He ran again in the 2023 general election and was defeated a second time.

- With files from CTV’s Kayla Rosen