Wab Kinew to run for NDP in Manitoba election

Wab Kinew will run for the NDP in theFort Rouge riding in the April provincial election.

Kinew will step in for Fort Rouge MLA and former finance minister Jennifer Howard, who pulled out of the race last week. He is seeking the nomination uncontested, NDP campaign director Jeremy Read said.

"Whenever you contemplate leaving something, one of your big worries is who is going to be there, in whose hands do you leave all of the work," Howard said. "I know those things are going to be in good hands."

Kinew will runagainstLiberal LeaderRana Bokhari and Progressive Conservative candidateAudrey Gordon.

Kinew, who is fromOnigaming First Nation in northwestern Ontario, announced his candidacyat a news conference Monday afternoonat the Gas Station Theatre.

He credited the NDP government with helping to make post-secondary education more accessible to First Nations, but noted systemic issues of racismstill need to be resolved for indigenous populations in the province.

"I know the work of a progressive agenda in this province is unfinished there still are things left to do," Kinew said at the announcement, where he was flanked by Selinger, Howardand other party brass.

Kinew takes a jab at PCs, Libs

Kinew also snuck in a jab at the competition, remarking on what he believesthe province should be doing in light of the low loonie and an uncertaineconomic environment in Canada.

"I think that the best course of action for our economy is for our government to continue investing in creating good jobs good jobs that pay good wages," he said. "The worst thing you could do right now is to begin cutting jobs,andI think that the second worstthing you could do right now is to begincutting wages.

"As I was onthe sidelines thinking about how this election is shaping up, I noticed that the worst and second worst option that I just described toyou are the platforms of the PC and provincial Liberal Party."

Kinew is theassociate vice-president of indigenous affairs at the University of Winnipeg and a former broadcaster for CBC. He also served as an honorary witness for Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Kinewsteps down as host

The bestsellingauthor of The Reason You Walkwill no longer host CBC's Canada Readsliterary competition. Kinew helped propel indigenous author Joseph Boyden's book The Orenda to a win two years ago.

"We thank WabKinewfor his contribution to Canada Reads, both as our winner in 2014 and our host in 2015," Tara Mora, Canada Readsexecutive producer, said in a statement Tuesday.

"We wish him all the best, and we'll announce a new host for Canada Reads 2016 soon."

Kinew has covered issues facing First Nations, Mtis and Inuit people in Canada through his spoken word rap music andjournalism.Healsohosted the CBC national documentary series8th Firein 2012 and has beennominatedfor aGemini, among other awards.

'A vote for Wab is a vote for Greg'

Bokhari sent out a statement Tuesday morningsaying she wouldn't be available for additional comment.

"I like Wab Kinew, but residents of Fort Rouge know a vote for Wab is a vote for Greg Selinger," Bokhari said.

Progressive Conservative candidateAudrey Gordon welcomed Kinew to the race in Fort Rouge.

"He has a big job ahead of him defending the broken NDP government, which has broken the trust of Manitobans," said Gordon in an email.

"Wab will have to explain to voters why he is supporting the Selinger NDP and its policies of higher taxes and declining services," she said.

RAW: Wab Kinew announces his run for the NDP in Fort Rouge

9 years ago

Duration 1:33

Wab Kinew announces his run for the NDP in Fort Rouge riding in the April provincial election.

Kinewa boost for NDP, says professor

Karine Levasseur, associate professor of political studies at the University of Manitoba, said Kinew's popularity could help the ailing New Democrats and create a challenge forBokhari and forthe Liberals.

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"Typically when a leader of a political party runs in a riding, it's usually a safer bet, but Wab Kinew is a very talented individual and could certainly bring a challenge to that,"Levasseur said.

The Selinger governmenthasslid in opinion polls since hiking the PST to eightper cent in 2013. The movefractured the party and ultimately led to a leadership race last spring, which saw Selingerkeep his job with a narrowwin against former health minister Theresa Oswald.

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While Levasseur calledKinewa strong candidate, the fate of the election still rests on Manitobans'perceptions of Selinger, she said.

"We know that, from previous elections and academic research, it is still the leader that has a considerable role to play in how well a political party does,"Levasseur said.

"For as good of a candidate that you might have, elections are still won and lost largely by the role of the leader and how he or she sets up the party."

Manitobanshead to the polls on April 19.