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Manitoba byelection called in traditional Progressive Conservative stronghold

  • The Canadian Press

  • Canadian Press

  • July 25, 2025

The sculpture titled "The Golden Boy" tops the exterior of the Manitoba Legislature is seen in Winnipeg, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

WINNIPEG -- Voters in a section of western Manitoba will go to the polls in a provincial byelection on Aug. 26.

Premier Wab Kinew has called a byelection in the Spruce Woods constituency, which has been vacant since Progressive Conservative Grant Jackson resigned in March to run for federal office.

The Spruce Woods seat has been a longtime Tory stronghold, and Jackson garnered more than twice as many votes as his NDP opponent in 2023.

But the governing New Democrats are riding high in opinion polls and Kinew and his cabinet ministers have made a string of spending announcements in the region in recent weeks.

Kelly Saunders, a political science professor at Brandon University, says the Tories have the upper hand, given past voting patterns, but an NDP win is a possibility.

The Tories have chosen Colleen Robbins for this race, the NDP has nominated Ray Berthelette, while the Liberals have selected teacher Stephen Reid.

This report by was first published July 25, 2025.