Thread by @bkives

The Conservative Club of MB is hosting a PC leadership forum at the Norwood Hotel.

It's sold out. Everyone here is fully vaxed. At least a dozen PC MLAs in the room. A few police officers. Former mayor Susan Thompson.

Also Coun. Nason, whose party membership has lapsed #mbpoli

I canvassed the crowd, looking for undecided PC members. Didn't find many. Found more observers than undecided.

Most members here already support Shelly Glover or Heather Stefanson.

Susan Thompson, the first woman to be Winnipeg's mayor, notes she celebrated her 1992 mayoral election victory in this very room at the Norwood.

She congratulates Glover and Stefanson. One will be the first woman to serve as Manitoba's premier.

This forum will last about an hour.

Opening statements. No new policy. Promises of renewal from both.

Q1: How would you ensure collaboration and co-operation as leader?

Glover stresses, twice in her answer, her real-life experience.

[She has used this device before; it's a reference to Stefanson's two decades at the legislature.]

Glover says most party members feel left out of decision making.

Stefanson says she and her PC caucus colleagues are listening.

Cites the impending death of Bill 64 as evidence.

Stefanson says many party members don't feel heard.

Glover takes the first shot.

Says Stefanson stuck in the backroom "by your own admission" during the pandemic while she volunteered on the front line.

Says leadership doesn't happen in an echo chamber where everyone agrees.

[That was a reference to Stefanson insisting she worked behind the scenes in the Pallister government.]

Q2: What will candidates do for people with disabilities.

Stefanson said MB's Bill 72 will ensure dignified income for people with disabilities.

Glover begins in French, briefly.

She too cites the pending legislation.

Stefanson gets a chance to take her first shot. Does not.

Thanks Glover for committing to stick with Bill 72 if she becomes premier.

Says Wab Kinew and the NDP are their enemy.

Q3 is about collaborating with municipalities.

Glover brings up Dauphin's jail, which she says is not a closed file.

Says MB must stop cutting services. [Doesn't specify.]

Says as a former MP, she knows how to access federal funds.

Stefanson: While you are focused on building jails, we will be focused on building the economy.

[That counts as a shot.]

Stefanson slams NDP for not listening to municipal infrastructure priorities.

[PCs have been in power since 2016.]

Glover says MB Heavy Construction Association is upset PCs left infrastructure dollars on the table.

Q4: How would you ensure health care & education are sustainable?

Stefanson, the former health minister, ventures into dangerous territory by stating she met staff on ICU capacity.

[She was health minister during the 3rd wave, when MB sent 57 ICU patients to other provinces].

Glover doesn't slam the softball on ICU capacity. Doesn't even swing.

Sticks with a prepared statement, mostly on education.

Says MB education priorities won't be determined by 12 people. [That's a Bill 64 reference.]

I spoke to soon.

"I should add we can't send our people away to other provinces ever again."

Stefanson responds. Says that ICU decision was made to protect Manitobans' safety. MLAs in audience applaud.

Stefanson also notes only she signed the Manitoba Nurses' Union pledge.

Q5 on climate change. How would they deal with water shortages during future droughts?

Glover promises more wetlands stewardship on farms to retain water.

Glover says MB Hydro should not be "a backup generator for Saskatchewan and Minnesota."

Glover pledges "tangible results" on a Lake Winnipeg cleanup within her first term of government.

[We'll find out later what that means.]

Stefanson says MB can ensure better results on water management with a less combative relationship with feds and municipalities.

Glover said if that's the case, why are hydro and ag offices outside Winnipeg closing?

Glover asks Stefanson if she will commit to reopening those offices ... but the format of this forum doesn't allow her to respond.

Q6: How would you ensure meaningful action on reconciliation?

Stefanson lists off everyone she and govt colleagues have been communicating with, including the AMC.

Glover: "I too have spoken to many chiefs and have visited many reserves" and says what they want is an apology for Pallister's comments.

[Glover has said this ~half a dozen times now; Stefanson has not condemned Pallister's comments and hasn't described them as racist.]

That's it for questions. Closing statements.

Glover says MB PC members can choose between the backroom, or "take your party back again."

[Suggesting, of course, she would do the latter.]

Stefanson says she hopes tonight's debate will encourage more people to get involved.

[Deadline for signing up and voting in this leadership race is Thursday.]

She says MB needs leader ready to start work immediately on Oct. 30.