Kinew’s future hinges on a single question

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This article was published 17/08/2023 (843 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With Manitoba’s general election just weeks away, New Democratic Party Leader Wab Kinew delivered a speech yesterday that addressed to two issues that are critical to the success of his campaign to become our next premier — his past and his willingness to confront our province’s growing crime problem.

As most Manitobans know, Kinew was convicted of criminal offences two decades ago for assaulting a taxi driver, refusing a breathalyzer sample and two counts of breaching court orders. He received a pardon (now known as a “record suspension”) for those offences in 2016.

He was also charged with domestic assault in 2003 and one count of theft under $5,000 in 2006, but was not convicted of those charges as they were stayed by the Manitoba Crown.

Standing before an audience at the Canadian Mennonite University yesterday, the NDP leader spoke about the problems he encountered when he was younger.

“I had a major problem with alcoholism,” he said. “I did some things that I’m not proud of.”

He expanded on that point, saying that “When I was ‘in the problem’ 20 years ago, I was held accountable by the justice system — and let me be perfectly clear here — being held accountable by the justice system was a necessary step. It forced me to confront the fact I needed to change my life, apologize and tackle my addictions.”

To make his point, he argued that “My political opponents think I’m running from my past, but actually, my past is the reason I’m running. … If we as individuals can find a way to walk a better road, then our province can do it, too.”

On the question of his willingness to confront rising crime rates in the province, he promised that an NDP government under his leadership would be tougher on crime than the current Progressive Conservative government, and would be smarter in addressing the causes of criminal activity.

He told the audience that “Where Heather Stefanson has been hard on people with addictions and soft on drug traffickers, I will bring the hammer down on drug dealers and provide people living with addictions a real chance to stay alive and find a path to recovery.”

In order to accomplish those goals, he promised that an NDP government would invest in education, meal programs, and recreation and cultural programs to help children and youth who are at risk of “going down a bad path.”

Beyond those preventative measures, he argued that “We need to ensure that we get someone off the street when they do something bad, but that’s only the first step.” He committed to “target those who are bringing toxic drugs into our communities and reduce the violent crimes they cause” by seizing their expensive homes and vehicles.

That already occurs under the province’s existing criminal property forfeiture law, but it appears that Kinew would expand the law’s reach and give it more teeth.

“We need to address the addictions and trauma that are driving people to do bad things, and then we need to teach them how to live better,” he added. “Most importantly, we need to teach them the value of hard work and the benefits of a good job.”

In order to have any hope of becoming premier, yesterday’s speech was the kind Kinew had to give — arguably the kind of speech he should have given months, or even years, ago.

That said, Manitobans are well aware that there is often a vast gulf between a politician’s words and his actions. Kinew claims that his days of addiction and violent behaviour are far behind him, but the outcome of the upcoming election hinges on this one question: Is he really a changed man who would truly “bring the hammer down” on crime in our province?

That is a question for each voter to decide. If he can make that case, through more speeches like he delivered yesterday and direct contact with Manitobans over the coming weeks, Wab Kinew will be our next premier.