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Wab Kinew’s New Democratic Party is projected to have enough seats in the Manitoba Legislature to form a majority government, taking the helm after two consecutive terms of a majority Tory regime.
The CTV News Decision Desk is declaring the NDP have been elected in the Manitoba Legislature.
The win comes after weeks of opinion polling in the run-up to election day that put the New Democrats as the favourite to win, especially in the seat-rich Winnipeg.
The win also makes Kinew Manitoba’s first First Nations premier and second Indigenous premier, after John Norquay. The Metis politician served as the province’s fifth premier until 1887.
The party campaigned on a platform of rehabilitating health care, helping Manitobans cope with the affordability crisis, and a five-point plan to address crime.
Prior to the Progressive Conservatives taking power in 2016, the New Democrats presided over four consecutive majority governments captained by former premiers Gary Doer and Greg Selinger.
Kinew is a former CBC host first elected in the Winnipeg riding of Fort Rouge in 2016. The following year, he launched a successful bid for the NDP leader.
In a speech at party headquarters, PC Leader Heather Stefanson conceded the election, adding she has called Kinew to congratulate him.
“I accept the will of the voters, and the voters have spoken,” she said.
Stefanson said the historic nature of Kinew’s victory needs to be acknowledged.
“I hope that your win tonight inspires a future generation of Indigenous youth to get involved in our democratic process not just here in Manitoba, but right across the country,” she said.
– With files from the Canadian Press
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