Breaking down the House: Overtime politics pass the hot potato

Hopefully you didn't blink and miss it. The 2014 fall legislative session is now over. The 10-day session was a fun ride. Lots of passion in the house and not one,but two, votes that could have brought down the governmentbut didn't.

Premier Greg Selinger'sgovernment delivered on a promise of an ambitious legislative session,with at least one bill a day.

The Opposition delivered on a promise to distract from that.It took every opportunity to harp on the NDP's internal fight and used direct quotes from rebellious ministers against the government.

Despite the fact that this session is over, this political drama is far from it. Saturday play resumes.The NDPProvincial Council meets to vote on the ground rules for the race that could replaceSelinger as leader.

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The most important rule: will Selinger be allowed to stay on as premier while he runs for the job?

Last weekend, relying on legal council, the NDP executive said it couldn't find anything to prevent it. Party bosses approved a set of rules without that critical one.

Sources on the executive say even after last week's decision,they still have serious concerns with Selinger staying on as leader during the race. Other party insiders tell me they feel the executive simply deferred the hot potato to the wider NDP governing body, the Provincial Council.

If it was ever under question,now we know for sure that hot potato will come up.

Curtis Nordman, aProvincial Council member from Charleswood, has drafted a motion. In it, he calls for Selinger or anyleadership contender to go on a leave of absence during the race.

So now the plot thickens. After weeks of saying he can do both, the NDPProvincial Council could trump the boss.