Shannon Martin officially launches PC Leadership bid citing reconciliation as priority
A PC MLA who has been critical of his own government has officially thrown his hat in the ring for the Tory leadership.
Shannon Martin has mused for weeks on social media about running.
On Monday, he made an official announcement at a McGillivray Boulevard construction company.
He joins Shelly Glover and Heather Stefanson who have also declared bids.
The MLA who represents McPhillips says the government has not always listened nor been there for people and businesses struggling during the pandemic.
“We’re going to do better, and that’s why I am running to be the PC Party of Manitoba leader, and the next Premier of Manitoba,” he said.
Martin says he is just shy of the 1,000 memberships needed by the Sept. 15 cut-off.
The PC backbencher has been critical of his own government on a number of files including Indigenous relations.
If elected, Martin says he would make reconciliation a priority, stop fighting Ottawa over a carbon tax, eliminate education taxes on farmland, and explore a supervised consumption site to tackle addictions.
“This is part of the challenge we have as a government when you put ideology ahead of policies. I don’t intend to do that,” Martin said.
Where he does side with the province - the mandatory vaccine policy.
“These kind of incentives have proven to work, and I’m confident they will continue to work,” he said.
While heavy on policy, Martin doesn’t have the caucus support like his colleague and challenger Heather Stefanson. The other hopeful in the race, Shelly Glover, is a former MP and police officer, and is also seen as a strong candidate.
Mary Agnes Welch from Probe Research said Martin’s campaign may be a long shot.
“I think sometimes you run for leader perhaps with future ambitions in mind…to become a bit of a spoiler, to be a kingmaker,” Welch said.
Martin says his only focus is what happens between now and the Oct. 30 convention.
“It’s one member one vote, so that’s as simple as that,” he said.
Martin also pledged to create a mental health committee of cabinet chaired by the Premier, and to improve air quality in schools.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.