The Manitoba Progressive Conservative party has approved new rules for a leadership race, amid defeated premier Heather Stefanson stepping down as leader Monday.
The party will move away from a “one-member, one-vote” system and towards a points system – one that is somewhat similar to the one used by the federal Conservative party in its leadership races.
While Stefanson had announced her intentions to step down in Oct. 2023 after losing to the NDP, her departure is now official.
“I’m very proud of our time in government and some of the things that we were able to achieve,” Stefanson told the media Saturday.
“I wish we had four more years to keep that momentum going, but that’s OK, we respect the people of Manitoba — they have spoken and we will continue to be a very strong opposition to this NDP government.”
Stefanson says she will continue to represent the riding of Tuxedo in the Manitoba legislature. She, however, would not commit to finishing her term, noting that the next leader of the party may not be an MLA and would hence need a seat.
This weekend, PC party members approved new leadership rules at a delegate meeting in Winnipeg.
As reported by CBC, ridings with 100 voting members will get 100 points, while those with 400 voting members will get 200 points. No riding will get more than 500 points.
The aim is to limit the influence of ridings with large membership numbers.
These new rules also come after controversy arose in the last leadership race, which took place in 2021.
The runner-up, Shelly Glover, had claimed that the election was stolen from her, and that she, rather than Stafanson, should be the premier.
Glover had asked the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench to overturn the election’s results – but her request was rejected.
“I’m satisfied the existence of an irregularity alone isn’t enough for a court to interfere,” said Court of Queen’s Bench Justice James Edmond
The PC Party has not yet set a date for the leadership convention.
