NDP wins historic 3rd majority in Manitoba

Manitoba NDP Leader Gary Doer has led his party to a historic third majority government in the province's 39th general election.

The NDPelected36 members, equallinga record set bytheConservatives under premier Duff Roblin in the1960s.

The NDP picked up two Winnipeg seats from the Tories: Kirkfield Park,which was a former Conservative leader's riding,and Southdale. Bothridings had elected Conservatives since 1990.

"Thank you, Manitoba, for this privilege, to serve you as your premier again," Doer said in a victory speech Tuesday night.

"I believe the people of Manitoba have voted to move forward, and that's what we're going to do."

The New Democrats'seat total only rose by one, as the Conservatives unseated NDP cabinet minister Scott Smith in Brandon West. Smith lost to former mayor and MP Rick Borotsik by 58 votes.

Doer said the next NDP government would make health care its number one priority, bringing in more nurses, doctors and support staff, resulting in less waiting for Manitobans.

"We get it, and we're going to do it," he said.

Third majority rare

No previous New Democratic government in Manitoba has secured the 29 seats requiredfora majority in Manitoba's 57-seat legislature three times in a row.

Only once before has a Manitoba political party achieved the elusive third majority: Duff Roblin's Conservatives pulled it off in 1966. Two other political giants New Democrat Ed Schreyer and Progressive Conservative Gary Filmon were defeated trying to do the same.

Doer's campaign was low-key, focusing on the successes of his previous mandates, making many small promises without unveiling a sweeping vision for the future of the province. The 59-year-old leader also avoided political missteps that might have given his opponents a chance to strike.

The NDP's previous mandates have been widely considered moderate and pragmatic, and Doer is one of the country's most popular premiers. Manitoba's economy has grown, and the government has brought down a series of politically successful budgets.

Tory leader faced tough competition

During the campaign, Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen suggested Doer would leave office before finishing his third term, but Doer has said he intends to finish his term. He has not discussed retirement or his legacy, and there has been no suggestion the party thinks his time at the helm is nearing its end.

McFadyen, a rookie Conservative MLA who has been leader of the party for just over a year, faced a tough, veteran campaigner in Doer.

McFadyen's campaign offered voters several bold promises including a cut to the provincial sales tax and a vow to return an NHL team to Winnipeg and drew attention to what the party characterized as the NDP's failures in dealing with crime.

When the election was called, the NDP had 35 seats in the legislature, the Liberals two, and the Tories 18, twofewer than they held after the 2003 election. One Tory seat, Winnipeg's Kirkfield Park, was vacated by former Conservative leader Stuart Murray's resignation; the other became independent the week the election was called, after Tory MLA Denis Rocan was kicked out of the caucus after he voted in favour of the NDP's budget.