The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The contest to replace Stuart Murray as opposition leader was hot and heavy for six weeks and is finally over. As previously mentioned, it is a one member, one vote system, making it a most democratic contest. Members voted in their constituencies, sent in their mail-in ballot or attended the actual leadership convention in Winnipeg. All candidates presented themselves well during the campaign. The obvious frontrunners were new MLA Hugh McFadyen and second-term legislator Ron Schuler. Both are highly skilled and qualified, and would be well able to ascend to the job of Premier. Hugh is a St. James boy who was one of the smartest students I ever had in my junior and senior high schools. He graduated at the top of his class and had little trouble getting a law degree, or a job with the Premier and later the mayor of Winnipeg, as their top advisor. Hugh has a long family history of rock-ribbed devotion to the Conservative cause, including ancestors who were MLAs from deep rural southern Manitoba generations ago. Hugh's grandmother, Gwen Laughlin, was secretary of the St. James Tories for years. In one election Gwen knocked on a resident's door and told him why he should vote for her man. "I won't vote for him," the resident answered, "but I sure would vote for you!" Schuler is a different kind of candidate, but also very skilled and clever. An orphan at seven, Ron has a degree in political science and is experienced in business. He was elected twice to the River East School Board and served for a time as Board Chair Ð all while well under the age 40. Married with a young family, Ron has been twice elected to the Legislature from the rural-urban seat of Springfield, and has been both an excellent MLA and verbal thorn in the side of the NDP. I have known Ron for years, as he was PC Youth President when this writer was PC Party President. He was an excellent and positive contributor, always wise beyond his years and not afraid to take a stand. He was also a tireless worker. Early in the race, both Ron and Hugh came up with plans to improve the PC Party to make it more responsive to the average member. Ron suggested a policy allowing challenges to sitting MLAs at nomination time. (They already can be challenged, but it seldom happens). Ron also proposes, like the federal party, to allow members free votes on all matters except the budget and votes of confidence. He also wants to have policies endorsed by the local executives before coming to caucus, suggests a three-term limit for premier and endorses fixed election dates. Ron is a severe critic of the province's growing reliance on gambling revenue and calls for a moratorium on expansion of legalized gambling and pro-gambling advertising. Hugh calls for a grassroots approach with regular policy conferences and an annual policy convention with questions of the party leader a feature. This is not new and was a part of the conventions in the '80s and '90s, but is still a positive proposal. McFadyen also proposed more emphasis on the Tory youth and wants to set up a party office in rural Manitoba. Ken Waddell planted himself right in the middle. He was the best speaker of the three and an excellent representative from rural Manitoba. He is a former mayor of Neepawa, a newspaperman and hopefully a candidate in the next election. Who did this writer vote for? Ron Schuler, of course, my friend of many years. But I have nothing but praise for the landslide winner, Hugh McFadyen, and third-place finisher Ken Waddell. Hugh got two-thirds of the votes. This is surprising considering the party did everything it could to allow people to vote and conducted an excellent election in every constituency of the province. Why did Hugh do so well? He had 14 sitting MLAs endorsing him plus many who had retired. Tory icons like former finance/health minister Eric Stefanson were on side as well. Watch out for Hugh McFadyen in the next election. The Tories have a 20-point lead in the polls in rural Manitoba and are expecting big gains in the city. Remember, Manitoba normally elects a government for just two terms. Stay tuned. Roger's Right Corner runs Wednesdays.
