Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, who consistently ranks as Canada's most popular premier and stands as arguably the brightest star within the NDP's ranks, offered strikingly direct counsel to candidates vying for the federal NDP leadership during his opening remarks at the party's national convention in Winnipeg.
"Win" as the Ultimate Political Strategy
"(To) the leadership candidates, my best piece of advice: win," Kinew stated plainly. "It's way better than the alternative." The Manitoba NDP leader, who secured a majority government in the fall 2023 provincial election, emphasized how electoral victory has empowered his administration to pursue an ambitious progressive agenda.
Governing Achievements Fueled by Victory
Kinew highlighted that winning a majority government enabled his Manitoba NDP to implement significant initiatives, including sweeping anti-scab legislation, a ban on algorithmic pricing, and free public transportation for children and youth. "This is the kind of thing you can do when you have an NDP government in power," he declared during his campaign-style address.
He further explained the financial approach behind these programs: "And you know how we're going to pay for it? By asking the top one per cent of wealthy Manitoba to contribute their share to make sure that other folks will have an opportunity to get ahead too."
French Proficiency as a Leadership Requirement
Kinew directly addressed the issue of French language proficiency—a notable concern in the current leadership race, which features an entirely anglophone slate of contenders. Speaking in French, he asserted, "The next leader of the NDP needs to be able to speak French."
He noted that Canada's Francophonie extends well beyond Quebec, pointing to the thousands of French speakers in his own province of Manitoba. This emphasis on bilingualism, combined with his campaign-style delivery, has fueled speculation that Kinew might be considering a future move to federal politics.
Mounting Speculation About Federal Ambitions
Kinew's speech, delivered with a substantial amount of French content, comes amid growing chatter that he may be preparing to call an early provincial election this year. More significantly, it has intensified speculation about his potential eventual transition to the federal political arena.
Former federal NDP leader Tom Mulcair recently told National Post that he expects the party's next leader to essentially be a "seat warmer" until Kinew decides he's ready to make the jump to the national stage. "Everyone sees, in Wab Kinew, an absolutely extraordinary leader," Mulcair said, adding that Kinew's solid command of French would be a valuable asset in rebuilding the party's presence in Quebec.
A Premier at the Peak of Popularity
Kinew consistently leads all of Canada's premiers in popularity polls, solidifying his position as the NDP's most prominent political figure. His address on Friday afternoon served as the opening major event of the three-day convention, which will culminate with the announcement of the party's new federal leader on Sunday.
The Manitoba premier's combination of electoral success, policy achievements, linguistic skills, and widespread popularity has positioned him as a potentially transformative figure for the federal NDP, should he choose to pursue national leadership in the future.
