Wab Kinew's advice for the next NDP leader: 'Win'

OTTAWA — Manitoba NDP premier and hometown boy Wab Kinew had a pithy message for the next leader of the federal NDP when delivering opening remarks at the party’s national convention in Winnipeg.

“(To) the leadership candidates, my best piece of advice: win,” said Kinew. “It’s way better than the alternative.”

Kinew said that winning a majority government in the fall 2023 provincial election empowered his Manitoba NDP to pursue a bold, progressive governing agenda, implementing such initiatives as sweeping anti-scab legislation, a ban on algorithmic pricing and free public transportation for children and youth.

“This is the kind of thing you can do when you have an NDP government in power,” said Kinew.

“And you know how we’re going to pay for it?” He added. “By asking the top one per cent of wealthy Manitoba to contribute their share to make sure that other folks will have an opportunity to get ahead too.”

Kinew gave the campaign-style address, rattling off a list of his government’s accomplishment, amid chatter that he’s gearing up to call an early provincial election this year.

The kick-off speech, which included a good amount of French, is also likely to fuel speculation that Kinew is eyeing an eventual jump to federal politics.

Kinew directly raised the issue of French proficiency — a sore spot with the current leadership race sporting an all-anglophone crop of contenders — toward the end of the speech.

“The next leader of the NDP needs to be able to speak French,” Kinew said in French.

He noted that Canada’s Francophonie extended well beyond Quebec, including thousands of French speakers in his own province of Manitoba.

Kinew consistently leads Canada’s premiers in popularity and is arguably the biggest star under the NDP tent.

Former federal NDP Tom Mulcair recently told National Post he expected the party’s next leader to be a “seat warmer” until Kinew decides he’s ready to jump to the national stage.

“Everyone sees, in Wab Kinew, an absolutely extraordinary leader,” said Mulcair, who added that Kinew’s solid grasp of French will be an asset in helping him rebuild the party in Quebec.

Kinew’s speech on Friday afternoon was the three-day convention’s first major event. The party’s new leader will be announced on Sunday.

National Post

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