Manitoba NDP leader accuses PCs of 'sowing seeds of division,' hints at racism in focus on his past
Focus 'at least partially about the fact that I'm somebody who sometimes wears my hair in a braid': Wab Kinew
Manitoba's Opposition leader says the governing Progressive Conservatives are trying to deflect from their inability to tackle high crimes rates in the province by making his past run-ins with the law a campaign issue.
"Why would Heather Stefanson and the PCs, who've been so terrible on crime, want to talk about crime during this election?" NDP Leader Wab Kinew said in a Wednesday morning speech at the Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg.
Kinew, who is First Nations, suggested racism was at play.
"Because it's not about crime — it's about me. And it's at least partially about the fact that I'm somebody who sometimes wears my hair in a braid," he said.
During his speech, the Opposition leader outlined his party's plans for tackling crime if elected in this fall's provincial election, but also discussed his past struggles.
Kinew, now 41, has previously openly admitted to a conviction for impaired driving and for assaulting a cab driver in his early 20s — offences for which he has received pardons.
He spoke about how in his youth, he had a major problem with alcoholism and "did some things that I'm not proud of," going on to say that his encounters with the justice system forced him to face his own issues.
"I want to be perfectly clear here — being held accountable by the justice system was a necessary step. It forced me to confront the fact I needed to change my life, to apologize and tackle my addictions."
WATCH | Wab Kinew opens up about his own struggle with addiction:
These experiences are part of why Kinew says he feels comfortable with his pledge to be tough on crime if his party wins the election set for Oct. 3.
"So if people ask, 'Wab, why are you delivering a tough-on-crime message?' what I would say in response to that — it's because tough love has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me."
'Our opponents want to divide us'
Meanwhile, he accused the Progressive Conservatives of trying to divide Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Manitoba, instead of tackling the root causes of crime.
He pointed out that Indigenous people are concerned about public safety too, something that often gets lost "in the conversation my opponents want to have about public safety in Manitoba."
"It's a simple truth — far too often in our province Indigenous people are the victims of crime," he said.
"And so you want to know who wants real action, and not just rhetoric when it comes to crime and public safety in Manitoba? Indigenous people."
He said an NDP government would not only address root causes of crime, but target drug traffickers who are bringing toxic drugs into communities with harsher penalties.
"We cannot run from the challenges to public safety in Manitoba, and there is no way around them. We have to work through them."
At the end of his speech, Kinew promised he would work to unite Manitobans if he becomes premier on Oct. 3.
"Our opponents want to divide us. But there are not two Manitobas: one for Indigenous people and one for non-Indigenous people," he said.
"There is only one Manitoba, and I wouldn't be running to be premier if I believed any different."
'It's not about race': PC MLA
Responding to Kinew's speech, PC MLA and Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen said he had respect for Kinew and his ability to overcome his addiction, but said every candidate's past is fair game with an upcoming election.
"The election is great big job interview, where people ask about what you've done in the past," he said.
"If you're not willing to go through the interview, then maybe you're not up for the job."
As for Kinew's suggestions of racism, Goertzen said Kinew is the only person who has brought up the issue of race on the campaign trail.
"It's not about race, it's about the record of the NDP on crime," he said.
Goertzen said his Progressive Conservative government has already taken significant steps to address violent crime through various initiatives, while Kinew's speech only mentioned one tangible action: a law that would require people to explain how they acquired their assets if unlawful activity is suspected.
"It demonstrates they don't take this seriously."
Kinew has spoken about his past before, but it's interesting that he's doing it while arguing that the NDP will be tough on crime, said Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor of political studies at the University of Manitoba.
"It's not the first time he's addressed being an Indigenous man with a troubled background, but it is something that's fairly interesting in this election that he's tying it to his criticism of the PCs ... claiming that the PCs have dropped the ball on crime and in fact the NDP have some solutions."
WATCH | Wab Kinew's full speech on crime and reconciliation:
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With files from Ian Froese