Dave Gaudreau won't be disciplined over caucus frustration, Selinger says

NDP LeaderGreg Selinger says MLADave Gaudreau won't be disciplined over a recent incidentin which he raised concerns about the premier's unpopularity.

Sources told CBC News Gaudreau, NDPMLA for St. Norbert, left a caucus meeting in anger last Wednesday after he told party members he was getting a lot of negative comments about Selinger while campaigning.

RAW: Greg Selinger comments on St. Norbert MLA Dave Gaudreau

9 years ago

Duration 1:07

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger says MLA Dave Gaudreau won't be disciplined over a recent incident in which he raised concerns about the premier's unpopularity.

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Speaking to reporters after the annual Breakfast with the Premier on Monday, Selinger saidcaucus is "a place where people express their views,"which was what Gaudreau was doing.

"We listen, we work together, we get back as a team and go out there and work for the people of Manitoba. That's just the way it is," he said.

Gaudreau said Monday he left early as a result of that conversation.

"It's a room where we're supposed to be free to vent our frustrations and what's going on. I mean you know me I'm passionate about my area," he said.

RoyceKoop, a political scientist at the University of Manitoba, said Gaudreau'sopendissent could be a sign the NDP is implodingand members have not accepted Selinger as leader.

"It shows that things haven't been solved ... feelings of dissatisfaction haven't totally been addressed by the premier," said Koop.

"What this suggests is that they could lose very badly."

On Saturday,Gaudreausaidhe did notleave the meeting out of anger, he left because he wasnot feeling well.

"Our caucus is a place where we talk to each other and sometimes express frustrations. That's what happened," he said in a statement to CBC.

Gaudreauconfirmed Monday he is concerned about theNDP leader's popularity.

"I was just hearingthat people were not happy with him overall on the doorstep,"he said.

New NDP campaign ad revealed

Selinger unveiled his party's newest campaign ad during Monday's breakfast event, which brought about 250 people to The Met in downtown Winnipeg.

"We've made tremendous progress in this province over the last 16 years: better schools, better hospitals, more doctors, more nurses, teachers with smaller class sizes," he says in the two-minute video, titled Greg Selinger in Conversation.

"It would be a tragedy to turn that backwards now and to lose all the things that we've gained for people."

Selinger's speech at the breakfast event, like the video, toutedthe governing NDP's accomplishments.

He told the audience the NDP is running many strong candidates across the province.

The Manitoba election is scheduled forApril 19.