KLEIN: Can the Conservative Party of Manitoba be saved?

Article content

The Conservative Party of Manitoba is at a crossroads. Recent events have exposed deep divisions within the party, leaving many wondering if it can be saved.

Article content

The last leadership race, marred by controversy and questions of integrity, highlighted the fundamental problem with today’s politics: it has become a popularity contest. For the Conservatives to rise again, it will take a true leader, a champion of change, someone with a proven track record in business and someone who understands the issues that matter most to Manitobans.

Having been part of the party, I witnessed firsthand the challenges and dynamics that play out behind the scenes. It was evident even before the leadership race began that some individuals were already manoeuvring for power.

In politics, this is an all-too-common scenario. While many enter the political arena with genuine intentions to serve the public, the reality often becomes a harsh awakening. More time is spent on internal politics and positioning than on tackling the real issues facing Manitobans. This internal game of politics is a significant part of the problem.

Article content

Article content

The Conservative Party’s leadership race remains under a cloud of questions and disbelief. This is not just about the race itself but about the larger issue of the party’s identity and future. A divided party cannot effectively serve its purpose.

It is at this point that an opportunity emerges, a chance for Conservatives in Manitoba to redefine their path forward and choose a leader who is not just a figurehead but a true agent of change.

Manitobans deserve a leader with substance, someone with the strength, vision, and experience necessary to guide the province forward. What the party needs is not another career politician — a person looking for the title and the power that comes with it.

Instead, it needs a leader who understands the realities of business, someone who has faced challenges head-on and achieved success through determination and hard work. This kind of leader will not be focused on short-term popularity but on long-term solutions that benefit all Manitobans.

Article content

The Conservative Party has always stood for principles of hard work, accountability, and responsibility. However, in recent years, these values seem to have been overshadowed by the drive to appeal to popularity.

The evidence of this approach’s failure is clear. Time and again, leaders chosen for their likability or charisma have proven incapable of delivering meaningful change. Manitoba needs more than just another politician. It needs someone who understands the entire province, not just the city of Winnipeg. A leader who knows the rural challenges and urban issues alike and can bridge the gap between communities.

In politics, the idea of service has become secondary to the quest for power. Many politicians start their careers with noble intentions, hoping to make a difference. However, they soon find themselves trapped in a system that rewards loyalty to the party over service to the people. This creates a vicious cycle where only those within the “circle of power” have any real influence. Even those in ministerial positions are often sidelined unless they are in this inner circle. As a result, meaningful change becomes almost impossible to achieve.

Article content

For the Conservative Party of Manitoba, this is a moment of reckoning. Can it break away from the old model of politics as a popularity contest? Can it choose a leader who is not afraid to take a stand, even if it means going against the tide? These are the questions that party members must grapple with as they look to the future. The party’s survival depends on its ability to embrace a new kind of leadership — one that values action over image, results over rhetoric.

There is no shortage of talent and potential within the party. However, it will take courage to shift the focus from internal power struggles to the real issues impacting Manitobans. This means acknowledging the problems within and making a conscious decision to change. It means prioritizing the needs of the people over the ambitions of a few. It means moving beyond the idea of politics as a game and seeing it for what it should be: a call to serve.

Article content

The road ahead for the Conservative Party will not be easy. It will require introspection, honesty, and a willingness to take bold steps. The stakes are high, not just for the party but for all Manitobans who are looking for leadership that can deliver real, lasting change. The time has come for the party to rise above the noise of popularity contests and focus on what truly matters — leadership with vision, courage, and a commitment to serving the people.

The question remains: Can the Conservative Party be saved?

The answer lies not in the hands of a single leader but in the collective will of its members to embrace a new direction. A leader who understands that politics is not about the individual but about the people they serve will be the one to guide the party into a new era.

It is a daunting challenge, but it is also an opportunity — one that, if seized, could redefine the future of conservatism in Manitoba.

— Kevin Klein is a former Tory cabinet minister, a former city councillor and is the President & CEO of Klein Group Ltd.

Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca

Article content