Interesting. The plot thickens. :/

A former Manitoba NDP vice-president and candidate has quit the party over what he describes as Premier Wab Kinew’s “top-down leadership style” and unprogressive policies.

Wiebe, who finished second to Progressive Conservative MLA Bob Lagassé by 543 votes in Dawson Trail in 2023, said he is disappointed the NDP government has made little progress since the election on climate change and does not appear to have a climate-change plan.

“There are a number of reasons I would say: Dysfunctional leadership within the party itself. Also, they campaigned as progressives, but they’re governing as conservatives,” Wiebe said Monday in an interview outside the University of Winnipeg’s Richardson College for the Environment and Science, where he works as a chemistry professor.

Wiebe said he was motivated to speak out after Kinew said Friday he was open to oil shipments through Hudson Bay. Wiebe claims Kinew insisted in 2023 the party did not support pipelines.

“We had multiple meetings with Mr. Kinew throughout the campaign as candidates to talk about policy, and one of his lines in the sand was no more pipelines,” Wiebe said.

When asked about Wiebe’s comments, Kinew rejected the idea his party had such a prohibition.

“It’s a big tent and there’s room for everybody on board Team Manitoba,” Kinew said Monday.

Paul Thomas, professor emeritus of political studies at the University of Manitoba, suggested he would not be quick to dismiss Chris Wiebe.

Thomas said the Kinew government has been forced to contend with serious issues such as the U.S. trade war and Manitoba’s wildfires and may not be able to focus on keeping party members happy.

The professor also suggested the premier’s focus on polling and popularity may impair his ability to develop policy.