Tory candidates lay out visions for the party and province

Article content

The two candidates vying to be the next leader of Manitoba’s PCs shared their visions for the future of the party and the province at an event in Winnipeg Wednesday evening.

On Wednesday, The Manitoba PCs held their first leadership event since both Churchill-based businessman Wally Daudrich and Fort Whyte MLA Obby Khan had their candidacies for the leadership of the party made official earlier this month.

The candidates both took questions from Radisson PC MLA James Teitsma, who acted as moderator, and from people in the audience, and spoke about how they would work to rebuild the party that lost power to the Manitoba NDP last fall.

Article content

Daudrich, who lives in the RM of Stanley and owns three businesses in Churchill said he has spent years running successful businesses and if elected the leader of the PCs, says he would run government the same way he runs his businesses and would work to restore “fiscal responsibility.”

“We want to run it like a business,” Daudrich said. “The party needs some fixing and it needs more than just a coat of paint but we want to run it like a business so that it is profitable.”

He added he would run the party under principles of “small government,” and would look for ways for the party to grow Manitoba’s economy while bringing fiscally responsibility.

“We haven’t been growing the economy, and to my friends on the NDP when they are finished breaking the taxpayer, we are going to be here with principled leadership,” Daudrich said

Article content

Article content

“We need to fix our economy.”

Daudrich also said he was concerned about crime in Manitoba and would be looking to restore “law and order.”

Daudrich a longtime PC member has sat as a member of the party’s executive and has run for office twice, in 2008 and 2011, as a federal candidate for MLA in what was previously called the Churchill riding.

He said he will have high expectations for those who are in his party, the same way he says he has high expectations for those who work at his businesses

“If you do good and do what you’re asked to do you’ll stay with us for a long time, if you don’t do what we want to do, your time is numbered,” he said.

Khan, who is currently serving his second term as Fort Whyte MLA said his experience in government will have him ready to take on the job of PC leader “on day one”

Article content

“I’m in the legislature now and I’m ready to hit the ground running on day one,” Khan said. “I’m ready on day one to take on the NDP to take on Wab Kinew.”

He said if elected his first priority will be building the party back up and to create a “big tent” party that welcomes a diverse range of people and opinions.

“What I really see is a big, big, big tent party,” Khan said. “We’ve talked about this for years, but now is the time to reflect on our membership, we can grow a big tent party.”

He said he would also like to balance fiscal responsibility while supporting social programs that help those in need.

“We can have fiscal responsibility while helping people who need help, while also having accountability measures. I don’t think anyone disagrees with that,” Khan said.

Article content

He added he would like to “open up the conversation” about parental rights when it comes to what children and youth are learning in school.

“We need to have that conversation and the NDP refuse to have it and when I say that we need to have it then I’m labelled a bigot.

“We need to have the conversation about parental rights.”

The PC Party will chose their next leader on April 26, 2025.

— Dave Baxter is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

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