Former Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson resigning as MLA

Former Manitoba premier Heather Stefansonis resigning as the MLA for Tuxedo.

Stefansontold the legislature Thursday she was addressing the chamber for the last timebefore her resignation, which takes effectMay 6.

"Thank you Manitoba for the opportunity, the responsibilityand the honour," Stefanson said, reading a speech before question period.

"I want to thank the constituents of Tuxedo," she said. "Tuxedo is where my grandparents raised my father and where [my husband] Jason and I have raised our children. For us, it's home."

Speaking with reporters, Stefanson said announcing her resignation after more than 23 years was tough.

"It's emotional, especially having my family in the gallery," she said."It was an amazing experience, and I'm so thankfulto have them all here today."

WATCH | Stefanson announces her retirement in the legislature:

Former Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson announces resignation as MLA

5 months ago

Duration 3:02

After more than 23 years representing the Winnipeg riding of Tuxedo in the legislature, Heather Stefanson announced her resignation Thursday. Stefanson became Manitoba's first female premier in 2021, but was ousted from government last October when her Progressive Conservatives were defeated by the NDP.

Stefanson was the first woman to serve as Manitoba's premier. Her Progressive Conservative government was defeated last October following a divisiveelection campaign.

The PCs gave Stefanson a standing ovation after the announcement. No one from the NDP side of the bench stood up until Premier Wab Kinew did a few seconds into the applause.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank the member for Tuxedo for her life of service to the great province of Manitoba," Kinew told the legislature.

"The legacy that she leaves will be defined by her and others, but on a personal level, later today I will reread the letter that she left for me on the desk in the premier's office and reflect on our shared commitment to the people of Manitoba."

Stefanson stepped down as party leader earlier this year, but had continued to serve as a member of Manitoba's legislative assembly.

She was a key player throughout the PCs' most recent tenure in office.

Stefanson, who has held the Tuxedo riding in Winnipeg for the Tories since 2000, took on several roles in cabinet, including the justice and health portfolios, after the Tories came to power in 2016 and were re-elected in 2019.

She was chosen as the party's leader and became premier in 2021, after then-premier Brian Pallisterstepped down as his party's popularitybegan to sag.

The PCs moved away from an austerity-minded approach under Stefanson, but were unable to earn a third consecutive election victory last Oct. 3, when the NDP won a majority.

The Tories' election campaign was denounced by several high-ranking party members for campaign ads touting the government's opposition to a landfill search for the remains of First Nations women believed to have been victims of a serial killer.

Stefanson later apologized for those ads, saying they "hurt Manitobans."

She announced after losing the Oct. 3 election that she would step downas party leader, but stayed on in that roleuntil January. At the time, she wouldn't commit to serving her entire term as MLA.

Legislature used to be'much more respectful': Stefanson

The reaction to Stefanson's announcement was generally respectful a stark contrast to the treatment she was subjected to a week earlier.

Speaker Tom Lindsey on Thursday alluded to that incident,admonishingJustice Minister Matt Wiebefor heckling Stefanson at a legislature sitting last week, after reading a ruling on a complaint raised by PC MLA Lauren Stone.

Wiebe could be heard talkingthroughout Stefanson's address during an April 17 debate on the Unexplained Wealth Act.

"It is not proper decorum within the chamber to be shouting down members across the chamber," Stefanson said then. "When I started here 23 years ago, it was certainly a much more respectful place back then than it is now."

Lindsey said Thursday that kind of behaviour has becomea "growing concern" for him.

"Not only did [Minister Wiebe] do himself and other members a disservice, but the level of disrespect he showed the [Deputy Speaker Tyler Blashko] who repeatedly tried to call him to order, was appalling," Lindsey said.

WATCH | What's next? 'Stay tuned,' says Stefanson:

What's next for Heather Stefanson? 'Stay tuned,' says former premier

5 months ago

Duration 1:42

Heather Stefanson talks about her resignation as an MLA, which takes effect on May 6, and discusses her future plans, which she says do not include running again for an elected political position.

Wiebe was "one of many who have takenthings too far recently on both sides of the House," the Speaker added.

The minister said during the exchange on April 17 he was responding to a previous interruption, and that there was no breach of the rules.

"I do want to hear her," he said then."I'm hoping that she's going to take this opportunity to apologize to the people of Manitoba for her deplorable campaign of division, and so now, she has an opportunity to do that."

'Irons in the fire'

Stefanson said Thursday while her resignation isthe end of her career in electedpolitics, she will always support the Progressive Conservative Party.

"It goes back to wanting to end one chapter in my lifebefore starting another chapter," she said. "I do have some irons in the fire and some exciting things coming in the near future."

However, shewould not elaborate on what she plans to do next.

"Stay tuned," she said."Isn't that what I've always said before?"