The only game in town

Inner-city activists support Selinger as the best hope for an NDP victory

Community activists like Kaj Hasselriis (right) have come out in support of Greg Selinger (left), shown here at Ciclovia on Sept. 13.

Community organizers in the inner city are rallying behind Greg Selinger as their best chance to keep a friendly government in office past the 2011 election.

The early front-runner in the race to become Premier has a number of current and former community organizers working for him. They include Community Education Development Association (CEDA) executive director Tom Simms, Dean of the House-turned-MLA Bill Blaikie and University of Winnipeg politics professor Jim Silver.

“I think Greg is the best bet to combine the likelihood of winning in 2011 with a progressive approach to… issues,” said Silver.

Silver has worked on several projects in the Lord Selkirk Park housing development. He said they are in the process of turning the neighbourhood around thanks in part to funding from the provincial government.

“Selinger is at the centre of all that as the finance minister,” said Silver.

Silver acknowledges the NDP government has been slow to act on some issues, but said they have done far more than previous governments.

“As somebody who works on the ground in the inner city, I think it would be a disaster if the Conservatives were to take office in 2011,” he said.

Rebecca Blaikie, an organizer with Selinger’s campaign, said she isn’t surprised inner-city organizers are supporting him.

“Greg has a history of understanding the kinds of issues facing these communities,” she said.

Selinger worked as a community organizer before entering politics. He was active in the Sherbrook-McGregor overpass debate, which led to the first Core Area Initiative. He also helped found CEDA in the late ‘70s.

I think it would be a disaster if the Conservatives were to take office in 2011.

Jim Silver,  politics professor at U of W

These connections have created a symbiotic relationship between the NDP and non-profits, whereby the government keeps money flowing and activists refrain from being overly critical, said Allen Mills, politics professor at U of W.

“One of the amazing things of the Doer government is how silent the left has been publicly about the deficiencies of the government,” said Mills.

These deficiencies include a conservative approach to political accountability and an “unimaginative” approach to urban development, he said.

Mills added that the NDP didn’t come out with their poverty reduction strategy, “All Aboard,” until what turned out to be Premier Gary Doer’s last weeks in office.

That last criticism may be too harsh, according to Blaikie.

“One of the reasons we have an ‘All Aboard’ strategy is because Greg is finance minister,” she said.

NDP delegates will vote on a new leader Oct. 17.

Published in Volume 64, Number 5 of The Uniter (October 1, 2009)

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