Repairing ties with Manitobans key for Kelvin Goertzen in short stint as premier

Kelvin Goertzen filled in as Manitoba's premier for only a short time, but he hopes one of his principles listening before speaking will be remembered after his brief term is done.

As histwo-month stint as premierwraps up with the governing Progressive Conservative Partyelecting itsnew leader on Saturday, Goertzenacknowledges the government should have spent more time listening to Manitobans.

"I did hear from people saying, 'You know, we would like to be more connected to the government,'" Goertzen said in a wide-ranging interview on Tuesday.

"Not thatwe're always going to agree, not thatwe're always going to be completely aligned in terms of decisions, but there's an importance to have that connection that was lost, I think, partly because of the pandemicand then I think we have to take some responsibility as well."

The contrast between Goertzenwho vowed to be"quick to listen and slow to speak" and Brian Pallister, the opinionated and sometimes brashpremier he replaced, is stark.

WATCH | 'Maybe we didn't do a good enough job' of listening, Goertzen says:

Manitoba government must work on relationships with stakeholders: Goertzen

3 years ago

Duration 1:04

Manitoba Premier Kelvin Goertzen speaks of the importance of bringing calmness to his role as premier and mending relationships with external stakeholders.

Pallister routinely leftstakeholdermeetings tohis cabinet ministers. He and Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman went for long stretches without meeting. An Indigenous leader accused Pallister oftalking at people, rather than having a conversation.

Goertzen wouldn't point fingers at his predecessor, suggesting stressful pandemic decisions took their toll,but it's clear he seespremiership as acollaborative job.

Plenty of meetingsfor premier

It was his idea to set off ona listening tour, after party MLAsdecided he shouldserve aspremieruntila new leader is chosen. Within days, he was speaking with Bowman and Indigenous leaders. He's had more than 110 engagements, through meetings and public events.

"I relished it and I embraced it because I enjoy it but I also knew that it was the best path back to reconnecting government withpeople," Goertzen said.

He portrayedhimself as a "caretaker premier," leaving mandate-setting decisions to his replacement, butstill overturned some of the decisions made under Pallister.

Under Goertzen, the province hasscrapped anunpopular education reform bill, returned the role ofsettingelectricity rates to anindependent body and moved towardintroducingtreaty land acknowledgements at the legislative assembly.

All decisionsPallisterseemedunwilling, or reluctant, to make.

Those orders, combined with Goertzen's friendly, good-humouredmanner and conciliatory approach to governance, have earned the Steinbach MLAacclaim, in spite of a controversialtenure as health minister, during whichhe oversaw the transformation ofWinnipeg's emergency room system.

Some Tory members have suggested it's too bad he didn't wantthe jobforthe long term but the number is "probably less than you think," quipped Goertzen, who denied making decisionsto rescue the party's sinking popularity.

ThePCs appear to havemade gains, according toa recent Probe Research poll, but the poll suggests they still trail the NDP in support.

WATCH | Premier's job not about achievement, but the work:

Short-term stint as premier an 'opportunity to serve,' Kelvin Goertzen says

3 years ago

Duration 0:51

A veteran of numerous cabinet positions in the Manitoba government, Kelvin Goertzen says he treated the premier's job as an opportunity to serve. He decided to leave significant, new initiatives to the person who would take over as premier for the long-term.

Goertzen has rejected previous opportunities to run for leadership because the timing wasn't right for his family. His experience losing his fathertoalcoholism at the age of 11 has tempered his political ambitions.

In the short term, Goertzensawtwo months as premier as an opportunityto serve government in another capacity.

Calming presence inuncertain time

"I hope that people see that I've done my best, that I've triedto be a stabilizing force ina destabilized time and a difficult time," he said, referringin part to the acrimony stemming from the pandemic.

"To the extent that people feel that that has been beneficial or successful I appreciate that, but that's not really why I do it or why I've served."

Either Tuxedo MLA Heather Stefansonor former member of ParliamentShelly Glover willbecome party leader on Saturday. The winner will be sworn in as premier at a later date, Goertzen said.

The pandemic meant some government decisions couldn't wait.So far, he feels Manitoba has "blunted" the fourth wave of COVID-19 cases,thanks in part to a high vaccination rate.

"I'm actually really optimistic in terms of where we're at now," Goertzen said.

WATCH | New Year could bring loosened pandemic restrictions, premier says:

Pandemic restrictions in Manitoba may ease after Christmas

3 years ago

Duration 1:46

Manitoba Premier Kelvin Goertzen says he's optimistic by the province's pandemic performance throughout the "blunted" fourth wave. He suggests Manitoba could loosen restrictions if there isn't a major spike around Christmastime.

He recalls the situation a year ago, when Manitoba was approaching a near lockdown. Now,most people can attendsporting events and eat atrestaurants due to their vaccination status.

"If we can move through Christmas and we all hope that we can gather together in some form or fashion and go to a house of worship if we choose at Christmasif we can do those things, I think we're going to be in a really good position early next year to start to see public health orders removed and hopefully removed for good."

He hopes one lessonfrom the pandemic is abouta more adaptable health-care system. The next health crisis may strain something other than intensive care capacity, he said.

While he sees the premier's job as an honour, he looks forward to handing the reins to the firstfemale premier in Manitoba's history.

"For me, that's going to be a really neat experience, to be able to welcome them in here."

An early askis for the Blue Bombers who won the last CFL Grey Cup pre-pandemic to remain undefeated while his successor is in office.

"Not forever, because that's unrealistic and we shouldn't put unrealistic expectations on our politicians," Goertzen said.

"But [undefeated] to the end of this year, so that we defend thatGrey Cup and we bring that home again, and we can have a great celebration in whatever way we're allowed to because Manitobans again deserve another celebration."

One on one with Manitoba's premier, Kelvin Goertzen

3 years ago

Duration 4:57

Kelvin Goertzen has been filling in as Manitoba's premier for only two months but he hopes his message of listening before speaking will be remembered long after him. When Goertzen sat down this week with the CBC's Ian Froese, Ian began by asking Goertzen if his time as premier was what he expected it would be.