Brief update, and interesting article

Well, it hasn't been too busy here, primarily because I've been busy with other things (the Concordia by-election, watching the Olympics, etc). I did come across an interesting story in the Carman Valley Leader though on the Youth for Christ controversy:

One question not being asked is if there's federal money going to YFC, what's left for much needed projects in rural Manitoba?

Anyhow, Martin has a reputation of being something of a hothead and is quick with the verbal jabs. While some of his comments regarding Christianity in general were off the mark, there's an important point being ignored.

That is many other community centres in Winnipeg, are starved for funding and are often turned away by Katz's city hall cohorts.

That $3.1 million would go a long way to rejuvenating a number of inner city facilities in need of help.

If you don't care for that point, then the $3.1 million would be about two year's worth police helicopter fuel and maintenance.

And let's face it, Martin hit the nail on the head when he pointed there would be widespread outrage if it was "Youth for Allah" slurping at the public trough.

Source. Yes, you read that right -- a Sun Media-owned paper, in the heart of Manitoba's Bible Belt, is defending Pat Martin. Obviously I agree with them, but it's interesting.

The field narrows

Well, nobody's officially entered the race for Premier yet, though now that a convention date has been set that's about to change. Theresa Oswald, in a radio interview a few minutes ago, said that she'd be announcing her decision tomorrow, and others are likely to make their decision then as well (assuming they haven't already decided). Several have announced that they're not running, though. Judy Wasylycia-Leis, Nancy Allan, and Christine Melnick are all out, and today Bill Blaikie also announced that he won't be running. So who's left? Well, besides Oswald, Ashton, and Selinger, some have mentioned Family Services and Housing minister Gord Mackintosh, Conservation minister Stan Struthers, and Justice minister Dave Chomiak. Less likely, but mentioned in some articles, are Healthy Living minister Kerri Irvin-Ross and Rossmere MLA Bidhu Jha. And apparently Pat Martin hasn't ruled out a run either, though I personally wouldn't bet on it.

So who will win? Beats me. There are a lot of good candidates in that list; hopefully the best person will win. Maybe after tomorrow we'll have a better idea.

PS: Devin Johnston is keeping score here.

Gary Doer is moving on

The longest serving Premier in the country has decided to call it quits. He'll be missed, but I don't think it's the end of the road for his government. Certainly his personal popularity has been an important part of the NDP's success in Manitoba, but they're hardly a one man show; within his own caucus there are a number of worthy successors. Bill Blaikie, Theresa Oswald, and Greg Selinger would all be fine leaders, for instance; Blaikie is almost universally respected even by his opponents, Oswald has shown that she has the fortitude to stand up to a withering attack (as health minister she's had to fight off the Tory and Liberal attack dogs at every turn), and Selinger has done a fine job as finance minister. In this babble thread Scott Piatkowski suggests that Jennifer Howard ought to run, and he has a point; although she's a relative newcomer, she's highly intelligent and likeable. Steve Ashton is another possibility; someone calling themself Brodie, in a comment to this post at PolicyFrog's blog, claims that he's already sent out an email to his potential supporters, in fact (though this has to be treated as unconfirmed for now). Outside of caucus, some have suggested that Judy Wasylycia-Leis and/or Pat Martin might run as well, though that seems a bit less likely to me (and they'd be sorely missed at the federal level if they did).

We'll have to see how see how it goes. In any case, I think there's still plenty of life left in the provincial NDP; this should be more of a changing of the guard than the end of an era. Let's hope so, anyhow.