Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has encouraged NDP delegates to gear up for an election almost two years down the line. Kinew disclosed that the NDP has already put forward its first candidate, Glen Simard, the incumbent in the Brandon East seat, for the upcoming October 2027 election and is aiming to expand its support in rural regions.
Recent opinion polls indicate a surge in NDP’s popularity compared to the period when they secured victory in the October 2023 election. Additionally, the New Democrats have been remarkably successful in fundraising, surpassing the Opposition Progressive Conservatives by raising over $1.8 million in contributions and fundraising in 2024, nearly triple the amount raised by the Tories.
Kinew highlighted the party’s fundraising achievements by mentioning the $625,000 raised during a three-month period surrounding a recent byelection in the Spruce Woods constituency. Emphasizing the importance of sustained efforts, Kinew expressed the need to remain focused on the scheduled October 2027 election date to avoid complacency.
Furthermore, Kinew announced that Manitoba will be welcoming a third child from Gaza for urgent medical treatment in the coming weeks, continuing the province’s support for children in need of life-saving care. Mark Rosner, currently serving as Kinew’s chief-of-staff, has been appointed as the party’s campaign director for the upcoming election, with Kinew underlining Rosner’s strategic role in initiatives such as the restoration of the rail line to Churchill.
Kinew reaffirmed plans to develop the Port of Churchill into a significant import and export center, facilitating trade of Manitoba products internationally and receiving iron ore from Baffin Island in Nunavut. Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor of political science at the University of Manitoba, noted the NDP’s stable position in the two years since taking office, citing minimal internal conflicts within the party.
During the convention, delegates deliberated on numerous resolutions focusing on affordability issues, with one resolution successfully passed calling for a substantial increase in the minimum wage from the current $16 per hour. The resolutions also addressed concerns such as enhanced financial aid for post-secondary students and measures to improve food security and affordability in northern communities.