Progressive Conservatives celebrate majority status in Manitoba

Manitobans have elected their first provincial Progressive Conservative government since 1999, making leader Brian Pallister the next premier.Once sworn in, he will be the first Tory premier in Manitoba in nearly 17 years.

• Follow the latest results from the 41stManitoba election

PC candidate Myrna Driedger,re-elected in Charleswood, was overjoyed. She said the PC surge "honestly feels very surreal."

"I can't believe it's all really happening ... We worked really hard, I have an unbelievable team behind me," said Driedger.

Former Winnipeg city councillor Scott Fielding was elected to the constituency of Kirkfield Park.

"I'm really excited to be part of this Progressive Conservative government," Fielding said.

• Brian Pallister elected, projected to be premier-designate

From the earliest days in the campaign, polls suggested the PCs held a strong leadover the NDP. For the last couple of years,GregSelinger had some of the lowestapproval ratings of all premiers in Canada.

In March, a Forum poll suggestedSelinger's approval rating was at19 per cent, compared to Pallister's35 per cent approval and Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari's21 per cent.

Pallister seized on the momentum, targeting attacks on the NDP's fiscal record and questioningSelinger's fitness tolead.

'Broken promises, broken government'

"Broken promises, broken government"was a key message used in Toryadvertisements and statements by PC Leader BrianPallister and his candidates to attack the governing NDP.

The biggest broken promise, the PCs said, was Selinger's decision to raise the PST from sevento eightper cent in 2013 despite Selinger's pledge not to in 2011.

The PCs'lower tax message seemed to have traction with Manitobans. According to Vote Compass data analyzed for CBC, the majority of Manitobans believe the PST should be lower, and polling data consistently showed the PCs ahead of the ManitobaLiberals and the New Democrats.

• Most Manitobans want lower PST, finds Vote Compass

PC election promises

A key promise put forward by the Progressive Conservatives on the campaign trail was to reverse Selinger's controversial PST hike, returning the rate to seven per cent.

Pallister pledged improve economic ties between Manitoba and western provinces by joining theNew West Partnership Trade Agreement with Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

The PC leader promised not toprivatizeManitoba Hydro but said hewould not rule outprivatizingaspects of health care in the province.

Other key PC election promises:

• Spend at least $1 billion a year on infrastructure, increasetourism promotion and create a special business plan for the north.
• Cut ambulance fees in half, set up a task force to find waysto cut health-care wait times and fast-track construction of 1,200new personal care home beds.
• Increase operating funds for licensed family child-carespaces, make up to $20 million available for scholarships andbursaries with the private sector, develop a program that focuses onliteracy in elementary schools.
• Announce a target date for ending deficits once the party hasupdated budget figures.

Pallister defendsCosta Rica travel

Pallister was put on the defensive in the final weeks of the election campaign.

On April 14 CBC reported the PC leader had spent 240 days in or travelling to Costa Rica, where he owns a vacation home, since being elected to the Manitoba Legislature in 2012. Then on April 17, a PC spokesperson confirmed Pallister owns two companies in the Central American country that he had not previously disclosed.

Pallister defended his decision to keep his 15 trips to Costa Rica private to protect his family, while the PCs said it is common for foreigners in Costa Rica to own property through privatecompanies.

Pallister also said he frequently worked while on vacation in Costa Rica.

• Pallister owns 2 companies in Costa Rica; NDP wants to know why public wasn't told
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