Manitoba Goes to the Polls

Manitoba goes to the polls tomorrow and by all accounts look certain to elect a Progressive Conservative majority government. Elections are closely fought in Manitoba and the revelation that the Opposition Leader, Brian Pallister spent some 200 plus days at his vacation home in Panama have not gone over as well as he may have hoped. These revelations probably would have blown over except it appears Mr. Pallister lied about his travel stating he was attending a wedding in British Columbia during the Manitoba floods a few years back when in fact he was enjoying the sunny climes of Central America. This has most likely scuttled any hope he had to win 45 seats in the 57 seat Legislative Assembly.

This campaign has seen the resurgence of the Manitoba Liberals into double digits and they look set to have their best result in a decade or more as voters abandon the NDP of premier Greg Sellinger. Still, due to an inept campaign, mistakes and lack or organisation and money the chance the Liberals had to usurp Official Opposition from the New Democrats has faded and a respectable albeit third place result is likely to be the outcome.

For my money I'll predict PCs: 41, MNDP: 10, MLP: 6 in the New Legislature. Bokhari will win Fort Rouge for the Liberals and I think there about a 50/50 chance Sellinger will fail to be re-elected. I will also predict an Ashton as the next leader of the Manitoba NDP.