Departing premier Heather Stefanson apologizes for ‘hurting Manitobans’ with landfill-search ads – CBC

Oct 16, 2023

PC leader expresses discomfort with campaign, says she had to take combative tone

Manitoba Progressive Conservative Leader Heather Stefanson is apologizing for election ads promoting her decision to not search a landfill north of Winnipeg for the remains of First Nations women, and says she was “a little uncomfortable” with the combative tone of her party’s unsuccessful re-election campaign.

During a conversation she described as her final interview in the premier’s office before she cedes that space to NDP Leader Wab Kinew on Wednesday, Stefanson said her party’s “Stand Firm” billboards and newspaper ads “hurt Manitobans,” but she still insists they were intended to clarify the PC position on a search for two women police believe are the victims of an alleged serial killer.

“There were some unintended consequences where we hurt some people. You know I apologize for that because it was not intended to hurt anyone,” the outgoing premier said Friday. The ads appeared during the final 10 days of Manitoba’s election campaign, which culminated with the PCs losing power to the NDP on Oct. 3.

“I’m the leader of the party. I take responsibility for the campaign,” Stefanson said.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/heather-steafnson-exit-premier-interview-1.6996919