Manitoba’s Progressive Conservatives to pick new leader this weekend

CTV’s Jeff Keele has more on the race between Obby Khan and Wally Daudrich to become the new leader of Manitoba’s Tories.

An election is taking place in Manitoba before the federal one on Monday.

The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is set to choose a new leader on Saturday to replace former Premier Heather Stefanson.

Adjunct professor of political studies Chris Adams said it’s been a long campaign, so the race might not be top of mind.

“It’s taken so long for us to get to this April 26th date, I think people have just forgotten,” said Adams.

Two candidates are in the race – former Winnipeg Blue Bomber and PC MLA Obby Khan, and Wally Daudrich, the owner of Lazy Bear Expeditions in Churchill.

Khan said he’s running because he believes in a better more representative Manitoba.

“I really believe that the PC Party can do better,” said Khan. “I believe that we can come together and take down the NDP.”

Daudrich said he wants the job because he feels the NDP government is squandering opportunities.

“How they’re handling our social issues, how they’re handling our business issues, how they’re handling our taxation, is a negative,” he said.

Unlike a general election, this contest will be decided by party members. It could come down to how many memberships were sold by each candidate.

On top of that, there are new party rules that cap the number of votes in any one constituency, so candidates may need broad support to win.

Khan is a former cabinet minister and has support from within the PC caucus.

“So members will have a choice with me who has a seat, who has experience,” said Khan.

Adams said Khan is the establishment candidate, Daudrich is the outsider, but is no fringe candidate and has a chance.

“Daudrich is a wild card here,” Adams said. “People have written him off, but I think he’s been getting quite a lot of attention.”

Some of that attention has come from controversial comments. Daudrich made a joke at a meet-and-greet event suggesting he’d release polar bears in Winnipeg to deal with the homelessness issue.

He said the remark was pulled out of context, as his premise was on getting people off the streets and into homes.

“It actually got the conversation going and for that I want to take credit,” said Daudrich.