Kelvin Goertzen to take over as premier and interim leader of Manitoba PCs

Manitoba MLA and deputy premierKelvin Goertzen will take over as interim leader of the province's Progressive Conservatives and as premier, following Brian Pallister'sresignation on Wednesday.

The PCcaucus voted Goertzen to serve in the role on Tuesday.

Caucus chair GregNesbittnotified the lieutenant governor of the decisionafter aclosed-door party meeting that started at 2 p.m. CT.

"It was unanimously decided that Kelvin Goertzen is the best person to lead us through this interim period,"Nesbitt said in a statement.

Goertzen will be Manitoba's 23rd premier for a two-month term, at which point one of the candidates running to replace Pallister will be selected.

Pallister'stime as premier will end Wednesday morning. Once he resigns, Goertzen will be sworn in.

Goertzen has served as MLA for Steinbachsince 2003.

He is one of the most experienced MLAsin the party, with stints ashealth minister and education minister.

Pallister gave him the health file amid controversial reforms that converted several emergency rooms into urgent care centres. As education minister, Goertzen was in charge of overseeing more reforms, though the pandemic delayed those plans by a year.

Hewas appointed deputy premier earlier this year.

Goertzen has said he has no plans to run for leadership right now. As deputy premier, he cannot endorse any candidate.

So far, former PC cabinet minister Heather Stefanson, backbencher Shannon Martin and former Conservative MP Shelly Gloverhave declared they will run for theleadership.

More than two-thirds of the party's caucus has rallied behind Stefanson's bid.

The winner won't be decided until Oct. 30.

Pallister announced his retirement from politicsearlier this month. He revealed earlier this week that he would bow out as premier on Wednesday at 8 a.m.

The premier's decision to step downcomes after his personal popularity and that of his partyplummeted.

Pallistersuffered self-inflicted damage this summer, making comments about settlers that wereperceived asdownplayingthe harms of colonization. He apologized weeks later, but not before one of his cabinet ministers resigned and cracks in the partycaucus began to emerge.