Selinger's supporters speak out in advance of NDP meeting

Manitoba's New Democrats are embroiled in a new round of public infighting, this time over whether Premier Greg Selinger should step down as he runs in the party's leadership race slated for next spring.

The NDP's provincial council is meeting on Saturday to discuss a motion calling on cabinet ministers running in the upcoming leadership contest to take a leave of absence.

• Selinger should step down for leadership race, says NDP council member
• Call for Premier Selinger to resign is 'political treason' CUPE says

Curtis Nordman, the council member tabling the motion, said earlier this week that he's disappointed Selinger plans to stay on as premier during the leadership race.

But some prominent voices are slamming that proposal.

Justice Minister James Allum approached CBC News on Friday to say it's unfair and unconstitutional to ask Selinger to step down.

"He was duly elected by delegates of our party in 2009 and he won an overwhelming majority. And then he was elected with 37 seats by the people of Manitoba," Allum said.

"For him to be asked to step down is unconstitutional. It's impractical."

'It's very, very unfair'

Allum said he's upset with the five former cabinet ministers who publicly called on Selinger to resign as leader last month.

Andrew Swan, Jennifer Howard, Erin Selby, Stan Struthers and Theresa Oswald left cabinet when Selinger refused to step down. They are still NDP MLAs, but their roles in caucus are restricted.

• Selingerreplaces 5 cabinet ministers in government revolt
• 5 former ministers to stay inSelinger'scaucus after revolt - for now

Allum, who replaced Swan as justice minister, accused the so-called "Gang of Five" of pushing dissent.

"Frankly, it's very, very unfair," he said.

"The truth of the matter is that we have a group of people who have decided that they don't like the job that the premier is doing and they have asked him to step aside to allow them to take over. Well, why would he? The constitution doesn't provide for it."

CUPEdefendsSelinger

Paul Moist, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), is throwing his union's support behind Selinger.

In an open letter to the NDP provincial council, Moist urged the council to reject any motion requiring Selinger to step down during the leadership race.

• Read CUPE's letter to the NDP here

He wrote that Selinger "has a duty" to continue in the role as NDP leader and provincial premier a role many people want him to continue in.

Those calling for his resignation are doing so "out of a brutal and inexcusable act of internal political treason," Moist's letter states in part.

CUPE represents about 26,000 working Manitobans, making it one of the largest unions in the province.