Kinew wins big with Doer endorsement

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This article was published 14/09/2023 (995 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Political endorsements don’t usually matter much during election campaigns — unless they come from one of the most popular former premiers in Manitoba history.

That’s what NDP Leader Wab Kinew was fortunate enough to score Tuesday from former NDP premier Gary Doer, who broke 14 years of relative silence on the local political scene and took questions from reporters on everything from health care to international relations during a free-wheeling news conference.

“I’m happy to put on my skates again,” said Doer, 75, who delivered one of his many “Doerisms” with the same toothy grin that adorned the pages of newspapers and television screens during nearly a quarter-century of active politics in Manitoba.

Doer’s endorsement was a big catch for Kinew and the NDP, considering he has kept a low profile in Manitoba since stepping down in 2009. (Doer served as premier from 1999 to 2009, as Opposition leader from 1988 to 1999, and as junior cabinet minister from 1986 to 1988 under NDP premier Howard Pawley.)

Even after completing seven years as Canadian ambassador to the United States in 2016, Doer has remained on the political sidelines, at least publicly. No more.

“I’m so happy to see you,” Doer joked with reporters. “I really missed it: the cross examination from the media — I’ve gone through so much withdrawal.”

Doer was in fine form. He gave a master class in public relations for more than a half-hour in a small conference room at the Inn at The Forks, answering (and sometimes evading) questions from reporters about government policy and why he thinks it’s time for a change in provincial government.

It was reminiscent of his days as premier, when he would rarely walk away from a scrum and almost always exhaust questions from reporters. “Anything else?” was his favourite line.

“I’m taking notes already from how he’s running this scrum,” Kinew said with a smile.

Doer’s endorsement is more than just a partisan rubber stamp for the NDP.

The former premier is not only beloved within his own party, he was — and likely still is — immensely popular with a broad section of the population.

Doer also left office on a high note — a contributing factor to his long-lasting popularity.

Since leaving the Manitoba legislature, Doer has broadened his connections nationally and internationally, in business and government. He serves on several corporate boards, including the advisory board of the Canadian American Business Council, and has invaluable contacts in Washington, D.C.

For a province as dependent on trade as Manitoba, having someone like Doer on your team is a big deal. As a political adviser, Doer is as good as it gets for any party at any level of government in Canada, regardless of political affiliation. Which is why Kinew has promised if the NDP forms government Oct. 3, he will appoint the former premier as an adviser on Canada-U.S. trade.

Doer wouldn’t comment on the past seven years of Tory government, including the party’s botched handling of health care and funding cuts that have harmed front-line services. He took the high road instead.

“It’s easy to curl from behind the glass,” Doer said, adding he’s more interested in looking to the future.

The former premier wouldn’t comment directly on the Tories’ proposed tax cuts, either, including how a PC government would pay for nearly $1 billion in lost taxation revenue. He did say he believes health care is the No. 1 priority of Manitobans and most people he meets want infrastructure and front-line services restored.

“You can’t look at one thing, as you know, in abstract of the other.”

So what does this endorsement mean for Kinew and the NDP? A lot.

Having the backing and active participation of a political figure as influential and well-respected as Doer is a boon to the NDP campaign. Doer is a political winner and success breeds success in politics.

The former premier didn’t mince words in his support for Kinew, whom he described as the right kind of leader for Manitoba right now. According to Doer, who has been meeting with Kinew for several years, the NDP leader is thoughtful, intelligent and has the ability to consult with a broad range of people, from doctors and lawyers to the “hard hats” on work sites.

“I’ve run into so many people that have met and have been impressed with him and I believe that he will include those people in government,” said the former premier.

Doer may be on the “back nine of life” (as he used to say and put it again Tuesday), but he hasn’t lost a beat on the political stage.

» Tom Brodbeck has been covering Manitoba politics since the early 1990s and joined the Winnipeg Free Press news team in 2019. This column previously appeared in the Free Press.