Selinger picked as Manitoba's next NDP premier

Greg Selinger, Manitoba's finance minister since 1999, has been chosen to become the province's next premier.

Provincial NDPdelegatesat aconvention in Winnipeg voted Saturday to select Selinger as the party's new leader, succeeding Gary Doer.

Asleader of the governing party, he becomes premier.

Selinger, 58, edgedfellow caucus member Steve Ashton, 53,in thevoteof2,003delegates at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. Ashton is a longtime MLA and cabinet member.

Of the ballots cast, Selinger won 1,317 andAshton 685. One ballot was spoiled, party officials said.

Doer announced Aug. 27 he was stepping down. The next day, he was appointed Canadas next ambassador to the U.S.

Selinger,MLA for the riding of St. Boniface, has beenfinance minister since the New Democratic Party took power 10 years ago.

In a brief acceptance speech, Selinger told the packed house of NDP faithful that the party is comingout of thesometimes-fractious campaign more united than before.

"We will govern with warm hearts and cool minds," Selinger pledged.

"We come together today to move Manitoba forward," hesaid. "We come out of this convention stronger."

He askeddelegatesto be publicambassadors for the party.

Selinger went on to acknowledge both Ashton and Andrew Swan as formidable candidates. Swan dropped out of the race in late September and declared his support for Selinger.

Ashton was gracious in defeat, saying he wanted to make Selinger's win unanimous.

University of Manitoba political scientist Jared Wesley said the margin of Selinger's win was the largest for any Manitoba NDP leader at a convention since 1974.

Pre-vote speeches mark different styles

Before the voting, each candidate made a brief speech to delegates.

Selinger focused on his track record asfinance minister and his endorsements from high-profile community members, union leaders and NDP heavy-hitters.

He also addressed the importance of party renewal and reached out to Ashton in comments addressing party unity.

In his most partisan statement, Selinger warned that opposition parties are always seeking ways to divide the NDP.

"I hear the opposition ... our opponents want to wipe out our accomplishments," Selinger told delegates, two-thirds of whom were wearing orange T-shirts in support of him.

Ashton stressedthe themes of his campaign in his speech to delegates.

He portrayed himself as the man who knows what it's like to be a political outsider, with his background as a northern Manitoban who has fought for the rights of working people, aboriginals and new Canadians.

Ashton pledged to improve the living conditions of aboriginal people living in remote areas of the province if he became premier.

"Let's put an end to the Third World conditions," Ashton said.

His proposed "dignity bill" would haveseen governments, workplaces and public establishments work toward zero tolerance for discriminatory, demeaning or racist actions.