'Ready, willing and able to show why I was elected': Selinger

Manitoba Premier Greg Selingerbroke his silence on Monday afternoon, saying he's ready to show why he was elected to the job in the first place.

Its time to put this question of leadership into a democratic arena where Im ready,willing and able to show why I was elected leader of the party by our members andelected Premier by Manitoba voters,Selingerwrote in astatement released Monday afternoon.

On the weekend, Selinger invited a leadership review at the party's spring convention.

Its important we clarify the rules governing any challenge to the leadership of theNDP.We must follow the partyconstitution and the ManitobaNDPstradition of democraticpractices," Selinger wrote.

The premier went on to say he thinks such a meeting is "appropriate" so that members of the provincialNDPmay "deal directly" with him.

NDP can multitask, says cabinet minister

Opposition parties say Selinger should call an election rather than a leadership racethat could drag on for months.

But Mineral Resources Minister DaveChomiak, who is one of the province's longest-running cabinet ministers, said theNDP can multitask while Selinger's leadership is in question.

"We can continue to work as a government and the party can make its own decision," he said following a meeting in Selinger's office at the legislature.

"Every four years, there is an election. The public gets a chance to make a decision as to what we have done as a government and whether they want us to continue or not. That's democracy.

"The leader of the party is decided by the party."

Chomiak wouldn't answer directly when asked whether he supported Selinger's leadership.

"That's not a yes or no question. It's always been a principle of mine that I support who the party chooses as leader. I've done that for almost 40 years," Chomiak said.

"I haven't devoted 40 years of my life to working in public life to be reduced to a question that's yes or no. I support what this government does. I support what this premier does."

Selinger has been under fire from his own cabinet and caucus over last year's decision to raise the provincial sales tax. The party has plummeted in the polls and one party source told The Canadian Press that half the NDP caucus wanted Selinger to step down during a caucus retreat in September.

That evolved into open rebellion last week when five of Selinger's most senior cabinet ministers resigned after publicly suggesting he should step aside. They have not reacted to the prospect of a leadership contest and did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

No 'foolproof plan for political happiness,' says expert

A call for a leadership vote in March doesn't mean the turmoil within the NDP will calm down, saidPaul Thomas,professor emeritus in political studies at the University of Manitoba.

"There's not a foolproof plan for political happiness, that's for sure," said Thomas. "We've got fourmonths,I guess, now of distraction and internal unrest within the party."

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The review committee will be composed of NDP president Ellen Olfert, partysecretary Nanci Morrison, Selinger's principal secretary Heather Grant-Jury, Manitoba Federation of Labour president Kevin Redbeck and executive member Eleanor Thompson.

Deputy premier Rosann Wowchuk andNDP election planning co-chairs Jeff Traeger and the president of the United Food and Commercial Workers union will be part of the committee, too, timepermitting.

Months-long wait good for opposition:Thomas

Thomas said the party needs to establish a set of rules for debate over the next few months.

He saidwith the party turning on itself,waiting for months to undertake the review, it could be a bonus for the opposition parties.

"I would joke almost that Brian Pallister can give his speech writers a rest because the New Democrats will be writing the best lines of attack against one another," Thomas said, referring to theProgressive Conservative leader.

On Monday,Pallistersaid the infighting is a distraction from the real concerns ofManitobans. All voters should be able to decideSelinger'sfate, not just card-carryingNDPmembers, he said.

"Why should 99.9 per cent ofManitobansbe excluded from deciding who the next premier of Manitoba is?"Pallisterasked.

"Why should these democratic rights be limited to the members of the New Democratic Party and the few remaining supporters of the premier or of his rebellious ministers?"

The battle for leadership of the party has created an unstable government,Pallistersaid.

"Manitobansare telling us they're concerned. They're worried about their health care. They're worried about their social services. They're worried about the quality of their education," he said.

"These worries have been deepened as a result of them seeing a government that's dysfunctional, a government that's clearly focused on its own health more than the health ofManitobans."

Liberal LeaderRanaBokhariadded her voice to the call for an immediate election.

"Like the rest of theNDP,Selingeronly concerned with his political survival. Can't run for party leader and be premier at same time,"Bokhariposted on Twitter. "Manitobansmust be allowed to choose the next premier now. It is not for unaccountableNDPinsiders to decide."

The legislature is set to return Nov. 20 with a speech from the throne.

Timeline: NDPleadership review

The purpose of this Saturday's meeting: to determine what rules and procedures need to be put in place for a leadership contest:

• Dec. 3: Next regularly scheduled executive meeting
  • Approve leadership race plan, bring to council
• Dec. 6: Provincial council meeting
  • Approval expected for ground rules for leadership race
• Marc 6-8: Annual NDP convention*
  • Possibility of a leadership race vote
  • Vote on resolutions brought forward by delegates

*Ellen Olfert, president of the NDP, saidif several contenders come forward, the leadership race vote would have to be different than the annual convention. This would need to be done to allow for speeches of contenders and for voting to take place. This is an example of the ground rules the NDP will hash out over the next twoexecutive meetings and provincial council.