Former cabinet minister writes about revolt that almost toppled a premier

The acrimony, distrust and eventual open warfare that crippled the Manitoba New Democrats and almost toppled former premier Greg Selinger is being laid out for the first time by an insider.

Gord Mackintosh, who was a cabinet minister the entire time the NDP was in power between 1999 and 2016, details the behind-the-scenes arguments that led to a revolt by other cabinet ministers in 2014 and to a convention at which Selinger hung on to his position as party leader by 33 votes.

• Manitoba revolt: 5 ministers resign from Premier Greg Selinger's cabinet
• How Manitoba's governing NDP split open and where it goes from here

Mackintosh's new book "Stories Best Left Untold" comes out May 23 and covers his youth in Fort Frances, Ont., his time as a lawyer advising Elijah Harper on opposing the Meech Lake accord and his service in a variety of cabinet portfolios such as justice, conservation and family services.

The book reveals cabinet discussions about Selinger's controversial move to raise the provincial sales tax and the ensuing effort to dump him to revive the party's sagging poll numbers.

Selinger had promised in the 2011 election campaign not to raise the sales tax, but the government was in a cash crunch and needed money, Mackintosh writes. Weeks before the 2013 budget, cabinet ministers had options they thought would be more palatable to the public: income tax increases on high-earners or a series of smaller tax and levy increases that would, combined, raise as much money.

Selinger didn't listen to warnings the public would be angry at the broken promise and a major public relations campaign would be needed to sell the increase, Mackintosh writes.

"Greg was blind to what several of us learned in our first month in office communications planning and a fine-tuned press release and remarks are good ideas. This wasn't leadership as I'd come to know it."

The public anger was immediate and lasting. NDP poll numbers plummeted. By the summer of 2014, some in the NDP caucus were telling Selinger to resign so that a new leader would have a shot in the next election.

'For the good of the party'

Mackintosh says Selinger should have resigned "for the good of the party," especially once the revolt broke out in the open toward the end of 2014.

"'For the good of the party' is an age-old exit ramp."

But five rebel cabinet ministers who tried publicly to force Selinger out did not work to get enough support from fellow caucus members before making their move, Mackintosh writes. A news conference in which they criticized Selinger just gave the Opposition Progressive Conservatives fodder for campaign ads, he suggests.

The Tories would win the 2016 election with a modern-day record majority. The NDP were reduced to 14 seats as the official Opposition. Selinger announced on election night he would step down.

• Manitoba election: Greg Selinger resigns as NDP leader after big loss to PCs

Selinger, who continues to sit in the legislature, declined an interview request Tuesday. Theresa Oswald, who challenged Selinger for the leadership but did not seek re-election last year, was not immediately available.

Mackintosh effusively praises former premier Gary Doer, who led the New Democrats until 2009 and enjoyed continuous high poll numbers. Doer was able to keep a team together, listen to those around him and "bring people in," Mackintosh writes a sharp contrast to Selinger.

Gord Mackintosh speaks about the revolt that almost toppled a premier

7 years ago

Duration 2:13

Gord Mackintosh, former NDP minister, details the behind-the-scenes arguments that led to a 2014 revolt by other cabinet ministers in a new book.

"Like everyone, Greg has shortcomings but one was an apparent belief he bested other members. That's a problem when it comes to political smarts where advice can help avoid calamity."

Mackintosh, 61, didn't run for re-election. He teaches political science part-time and spends more time with his family.

Talking over a cup of tea in his north-end Winnipeg neighbourhood, he doesn't seem to miss anything.

"People keep saying, 'Gord, you have to get back into politics,' but it's not in my in-basket right now."

Here's an excerpt from Gord Mackintosh's new book,Stories Best Left Untold (Great Plains Publications).It launches on May 23 at 7 p.m. in the McNally Robinson Atrium in Winnipeg.

Party pollster and strategist Leslie Turnbull understood the dramatic shift in voter preference and met with Stan. Rumours abounded into 2014 that staff were politely raising resignation as an option with Greg to help reverse the slide.

The resignation in November 2010 of BC's Gordon Campbell was held out as an example of when it's time to go. Stan took from the buzz that no MLA had approached Greg with this option so in June 2014, Stan did. The resignation of Dalton McGuinty of October 2012 was held out as an example.

The Premier conducted one-on-one canvassing of Ministers' concerns in summer and fall of 2014. He knew he might hear more of what Stan told him. With me, he kept postponing. Meanwhile, Turnbull called me at home to seek my support in asking the Premier to step down, "to, well, save our Party." She reported other Ministers were asking him to consider resigning.

After a great deal of agonizing, I already decided what I'd say to him. This meeting and its outcome were a big deal. I'd say what I thought, damn the consequences, even if he sent me to the back row or, yikes, Family Services.

In late September 2014, I nervously walked into his office, looked him straight in the eye and, turning the tables, said "Hey, nice tie!" Once settled in, I confidently urged, "With the PST increase, there's a serious credibility issue, I'm hearing about it locally, and it's focussed on you. You gotta look closely at the polls. You should think about getting out on your own terms."

As on other occasions, he flatly rejected my advice. He firmly responded he hadn't lied about the PST hike, said he did the right thing, and, "If I know our party, like I think I do, you don't get thrown out for that." I was surprised at his disinterest in questioning me or discussing it further.

Like everyone, Greg has shortcomings but one was an apparent belief he bested other Members. That's a problem when it comes to political smarts where advice can help avoid calamity. It can also sink you, and that's instead what guided him. I ended, "Well, I'm saying you should take a hard look at the polls and the credibility thing." He concluded by committing to deal with his credibility "head on." He said he had ideas how to do that. I accepted this commitment.

Some Ministers didn't accept this commitment when made to them. They decided to take it up a notch at two caucus meetings.

From Stories Best Left Untoldby Gord Mackintosh and published by Great Plains Publications.