Doer to step down as Manitoba premier

Gary Doer is stepping down as Manitoba's 20th premier, ending his reign as the longest-serving of Canada's current premiers.

The 61-year-old Winnipegger, who has held the province's top job since 1999, leading an NDP government, made theannouncement at a news conference Thursday.

He would not give the exact date of his resignation, saying only that it would likely be in the fall afterbeing decided in consultation with his party. Doer would also not discuss his future plans and refused to discusswho might step in as successor.

Bill Blaikie, the popular former NDP MP who is now a provincial MLA, is widely viewed as the obvious choice. Potential candidates also include Finance Minister Greg Selinger and federal MP Pat Martin among others.

'As we mark the 10-year anniversary of our government, this is the appropriate time to pass the baton to a new leader who can carry on that important work.' Gary Doer

"I look back with pride at all the hard work this team has done on behalf of all Manitobans, but there is still more work to be done to ensure this province is everything it can be," said Doer, who made the announcement with his wife, Ginny Devine, at his side.

"As we mark the 10-year anniversary of our government, this is the appropriate time to pass the baton to a new leader who can carry on that important work."

He made the announcementThursday because he wanted to go out on his own terms and felt it was a good time. As for more public service, Doer saidhe'll never say never, but his plans are to move on.

"I thought, if you ever get a chance in this job to go out on your own timing, you better take advantage of it. I have watched very good people leave not of their own accord," he said.

"I've talked to people that went a fourth term and lost, and if they had it to do over again [they] wouldn't do it. I feel the party is in great shape, the caucus is in great shape, the government is in great shape, the province, you know, is in good shape, but it can always be improved," he said.

The next provincial election is set for October 2011.

Doer mentioned that he has always been able to maintain his sense of humour while in office, then displayed it.

"I've really been proud to hold our head up high as premier, and to the media," he said. "I believe you can't be accountable to the public without accessibility through the media. I try to be accessible, unless I'm dodging you."

Scandals,be it the collapse of Crocus Investment Fundor repeated problems with child and family services, including the deaths of several children in care, just didn't seem to slow down thepopularity of his party,which rolled through threeprovincial elections, earning a larger majority each time.

A political newcomer in '86

Theformer corrections officer at the Vaughan Street Detention Centre in Winnipeg rose to become deputy superintendent of the Manitoba Youth Centre. He became president of the Manitoba Government Employees Association in 1979, and served in that capacity until 1986.

He first ran for political office for the NDP in 1986 after being courted by both the New Democrats and Progressive Conservatives. He won his seat in the Concordia constituency, which he has maintained ever since.

Doer was rated as Canada's most popular premier in polls taken in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, scoring a 77 per cent rating in March 2006. His approval rating was 81 per cent in March 2008, making him the second most popular Canadian premier after Danny Williams of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Doer's political road:

• President of Manitoba Government Employees' Association, 1979 - 1986.
• Became member of legislative assembly in March 1986.
• Minister of urban affairs,April 1986 - May 1988.
• Minister of Crown investments, February 1987 - May 1988.
• Minister responsible for MTS, February 1987 - May 1988.
• Minister responsible for the accountability of Crown corporations, Aug, 1987 - May 1988.
• Minister responsible for Liquor Control Act, Sept. 1987 - May 1988.
• Leader ofManitoba New Democratic Party,March 1988.
• Leader of the Official Opposition,Sept. 1990
• Sworn in as Manitoba's 20th premier,October 1999.

When Doer became leader of the Manitoba NDP in 1988, the party was on the verge of collapse. An internal poll before the provincial election that year showed thatit had only six per cent of popular support.

The NDP won 12 out of 57 seats, the Progressive Conservatives won 25 seats and the Liberals took 20. Doer rejected the possibility of forming a coalition government with the Liberals, allowing the Progressive Conservatives to form a minority government with the NDP holding the balance of power.

'A humbling experience'

The election of 1990 saw the Progressive Conservatives win a narrow majority with 30 seats, while Doer's NDP jumped to 20 and took over as the Opposition party in the legislature as the Liberals fell to seven.

A poll released a week before the 1999 election showed the NDP and Progressive Conservatives in a dead heat, each with 42 per cent of the popular support. On election day, the NDP triumphed with 32 seats, against 24 for the Progressive Conservatives and only one for the Liberals.

In 2007, Doer became the first NDP premier in Manitoba to lead three successive majority governments.

"It's always a humbling experience when you walk out of this [legislative] building and don't know what your role is going to be when you come back in terms of the verdict of the public [during an election]," he said."It's always very gratifying when you do well and not so gratifying when you have the agony of defeat."

"Certainly, as part of the rebuilding, I had both those emotions. I want to thank the people of Manitoba for the opportunity and honour to serve them."