WINNIPEG

Ousted MLA Melnick won't attend NDP convention

Jeff Keele CTV Winnipeg
Published Thursday, February 6, 2014 12:27PM CST Last Updated Friday, February 7, 2014 12:41PM CST

Christine Melnick won't attend NDP convention

Now-independent Winnipeg MLA Christine Melnick says she does not want to be a distraction and says she has too much respect for the convention process.

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MLA Christine Melnick has changed her mind and says she won’t attend this weekend’s NDP convention.

Melnick was booted from the NDP Caucus by Premier Greg Selinger this week following a dispute over a controversial debate in 2012.

The now-independent Winnipeg MLA says she does not want to be a distraction and says she has too much respect for the convention process.

Melnick broke ranks with her old boss after she claimed Selinger’s senior staff directed her to invite government funded immigrant agencies to the debate.

Selinger says Melnick acted alone and has lost confidence within his caucus.