Obby Khan has stepped down as leader of the Manitoba Progressive Conservatives. Khan announced his decision on Monday evening at a news conference, adding he will also resign from the PC caucus on Tuesday and continue to serve as an Independent MLA. “I cannot be part of a caucus with a small minority membership that lacks moral integrity that will not abide by our rules, our principles, our code,” he said. “Can’t do it. I won’t do it. Won’t compromise myself.” The announcement comes days after Khan survived a caucus confidence vote on Friday. Khan said the vote was 13 for him to remain and six against, with one person absent. “I did not have to resign today. I chose to,” Khan said. “I’m not giving up. I am putting the needs of Manitobans ahead of my own. I want nothing more than to keep fighting for the people of this province and for a better Manitoba, but I will not fight my own party caucus.” A former Winnipeg Blue Bombers player and local businessman, Khan won the Fort Whyte seat in a 2022 by-election, called after former premier Brian Pallister resigned. Khan became party leader in April 2025, narrowly winning with 50.4 per cent of the points under the party’s point-based system. He lost the popular vote to rival Wally Daudrich, the owner of an ecotourism company who previously announced he quit the party. During his speech, Khan acknowledged making mistakes during his time as leader and said there were moments he would handle differently today. “If I hurt you, if I offended you, I apologize. It was not my intent whatsoever,” he said. “Whatever title comes after my name, my gratitude for this province will not change. Neither will my love for it.” Khan succeeded interim leader Wayne Ewasko, who took over after Heather Stefanson stepped down as leader in early 2024, months after the PCs lost the fall 2023 election to Wab Kinew’s NDP. Once Khan leaves, the Progressive Conservatives will hold 19 of the 57 seats in the Manitoba Legislature, compared with 34 for the governing NDP. Under the PC Party’s constitution, a leadership race is triggered if the leader’s position becomes vacant, the leader is incapacitated, the leader requests one, or a majority of delegates vote for one at a general meeting. Josh Guenter, deputy chair of the PC caucus and MLA for Borderland, said in a statement that the caucus will meet Tuesday morning and will have more to share afterward. A statement from the PC Party said its board will meet to begin the process of selecting a new leader. The next provincial election is not slated until October 2027. The legislature’s fall sitting opens Tuesday. With files from The Canadian Press
