Manitoba PCs mete out responsibilities for 22-member Official Opposition

Manitoba Progressive Conservatives unveiled roles and responsibilities for their new caucus as their MLAsprepareto serve as the province's Official Opposition.

Interlake-Gimli MLA Derek Johnson will serve as PC House leader and Lac du Bonnet MLA Wayne Ewasko will be party whip for the PCs, the party announced Tuesday.

They'll join caucus chair Ron Schuler,the MLA for Springfield-Richot,and Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen, who will serve as deputy leader to Heather Stefanson.

The former premier announced her plan to resign as PC leader after her party was defeated in the Oct. 3 election, but has said shewill stay on as interimleader for at least one year.

The Opposition party also assigned shadow-minister duties to most members of the 22-person PC caucus.

Fort Whyte MLA Obby Khan takes on the finance critic role, while rookie Roblin MLA Kathleen Cook will serve as health critic.

The PCs won 22 seats in the Oct. 3 election. The governing NDP have 34 MLAs, and the Liberals hold the remaining seat.

The New Democrats have unveiled their cabinet but have yet to name a speaker.