Former Manitoba premier Doer wants off 'bleachers,' will take on Canada-U.S. trade adviser role if NDP win

The Manitoba NDPpromises to bring back a party all-star as an adviser if it forms the next provincial government.

LeaderWabKinewannounced on Tuesday thatformer premier Gary Doer would work with a Manitoba NDP governmentas an adviser on Canada-U.S. trade, should the party win the Oct.3 election.

"I thought I owe it to my community if I can be helpful, constructive, valuable with the contacts that I still have in Washington," Doer said during a Tuesday morning news conference at The Forks in Winnipeg.

"I just want to be part of the solution and not sit totally in the bleachers."

Doer, 75,served as the 20thpremier of Manitobafrom 1999 to 2009,winning threeprovincial elections, witha larger majority each time.

After retiring from politics,Doer served as Canada's ambassador to the U.S. from 2009-16. He later worked for theAlberta government as an advocate in resolving thesoftwood lumber dispute with the Trump administration.

Heis currently the volunteer co-chair of the Woodrow Wilson Institute andis a member oftheadvisory board of the Canadian AmericanBusiness Council. His gig with the NDP would also be on a volunteer basis.

Doer said the invitation from Kinew reminded him of one of his first moves after becoming premier in 1999, which was to approach former Progressive Conservative premier Duff Roblin for advice on expansion plans for the Red River Floodway.

"I think this is a tradition in Manitoba we use the talent we have in the most effective way we can," Doer said.

"Elections are competitive, politics is very competitive, but I've always believed that we should try to work together after the election as much as possible for the benefit of our kids and our grandchildren."

Doer has been "aninspirationto mesince the beginning of my political career," Kinew said Tuesday.

"I'mgrateful he has accepted the offer to lend his greatexpertiseto theimportant issueof Manitoba-U.S. trade."

Doer would helpincrease trading opportunities with the U.S., said Kinew.

"If my teamhas the opportunity toserve as Manitoba's nextgovernment,we'llget back on trackandwe'lldraw on Gary's experience and advice to do it."

Doer said he feels health care is the biggest issue in this election, and the status quo isn't cutting it. The NDPhas also put health care at the centre of its election campaign.

Doer "has something to contribute to build up our economy to help with the health care issues we're talking about," said Kinew.

"I think his approach produced great dividends for Manitobans while he was the premier, and I think he has got a ton to offer to help us moving forward."

• Read full coverage of the 2023 Manitoba election here

Doer said he has been impressed by the reaction to Kinewfromhealth-care workers, business people and other Manitobans whom he has spoken with about the NDP leader.

"I've been around townI live in this community, love this community and I have beenvery impressed with the people I've met who have met Wab Kinew," he said.

"I've come to the conclusion that Wab Kinew is open to advice from all Manitobans, and I've been very impressed with that. And a person who is open to advice, I think, will run an open government."

WATCH | Kinew announces Doer will take adviser role if NDP elected Oct. 3:

NDP's Wab Kinew open to advice, former premier says in endorsement

1 year ago

Duration 1:37

Former Manitoba Premier Gary Doer says he's impressed at the range of people who've had good things to say about current NDP Leader Wab Kinew, even if they may not vote for him in the upcoming provincial election.