Lone Manitoba Liberal MLA Cindy Lamoureux named party's interim leader

Manitoba Liberals have named Cindy Lamoureux as their interim leader.

Lamoureux was the only Liberal to retain her seat in the Oct. 3 provincial election, as former party leader Dougald Lamont and longtime politician Jon Gerrard were defeated by the New Democrats.

Lamont announced his resignation as leader on election night, and the party has not yet set a date for a leadership convention.

Lamoureux, who was first elected in the Burrows riding in 2016 before running in Tyndall Park in 2019, says her top priorities are to bolster the party's finances and membership numbers.

She made a bid to become the party's leader in 2017, losing that race to Lamont.

The Liberals have not been a major force in provincial politics for three decades, but Lamoureux is hopeful the party can rebound and grow.

She also says she will have former candidates help her with her duties in the legislature and at public events.

"I'm alone here in the Manitoba legislature but I need to be a critic for a lot of different portfolios," Lamoureux said Tuesday.

"I'm going to have people around me to help me with legislation ... and I'm going to have those for all the departments."

The election saw the NDP return to power for the first time since 2016, with the party winning 34 of the legislature's 57 seats. The Progressive Conservatives won 22.

Incoming premier Wab Kinew is set to be sworn in Wednesday and name his first cabinet.