Hugh McFadyen

 

Manitoba's Progressive Conservative Leader received a standing ovation last week in the legislature. Thursday was the last day in the Leg for Hugh McFadyen who will step down once his successor is chosen, a process that will happen prior to the next sitting.

"It was both a special and difficult moment I think for Hugh," notes Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen. He says it was an emotional moment for McFadyen and his colleagues. "Special in that we were paying tribute to Hugh and the work that he's done over the last six years. But also difficult because it also marks a bit of an end of an era for us and we know that he won't be back as our leader in the next session."

Goertzen had the opportunity Thursday to pay tribute to McFadyen on behalf of the PC Caucus and PC Party. Goertzen says he acknowledged the work of McFadyen in helping bring financial stability to the party. He notes when McFadyen took over as leader in 2006, the party was experiencing financial challenges. At the time corporate donations could not be received and as a result the party had to rely much more on individual donations. "He really helped that transition," explains Goertzen. "Now we are in a position where we out-fundraise the NDP. We have more small donors than the NDP do. So over the last six years he's made us a very good fundraising operation, which has helped us have stability as a party."

Goertzen says McFadyen has also played a role in creating more popularity for the party in Manitoba. He notes McFadyen helped generate a near record amount of popular votes for the Conservatives in the last election. "He did really well in terms of getting popular vote," says Goertzen. "Didn't translate into seats of course, but he really did get us a number of new supporters and it's a good base for the next leader to build on."

Tributes came in Thursday from more than just the PC party. Goertzen notes both Premier Greg Selinger and Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard expressed kind words to the outgoing PC Leader. "It's nice when we can all but put aside those partisan differences we sometimes have and do something special for somebody."