Progressive Conservative Brad Michaleski won't seek third term as Dauphin MLA

Dauphin MLA Brad Michaleski is stepping away from provincial politics.

The two-term Progressive Conservative member of the legislative assemblysaid Tuesday that he won't run in fall.

"It has been the honour of a lifetime to serve the public for 15 years, being on local council for eight years and seven as the MLA for Dauphin," he wrote in a statement.

"Now, it's time to take a step back and spend some much-needed quality time with my family."

Michaleskiwas elected as an MLA in 2016 and re-elected in 2019. He's the 14th Progressive Conservative MLA among the 36 in the party's caucus at the start of this term to decide against seeking re-election.

Michaleski was the last PC MLA to state his intentions; all other Tory MLAs are slated to run again.

In his statement, Michaleski challenged the narrativePC MLAs aren't seeking re-election because the party, trailing in opinion polls for two years, expectsto be defeated.

"Before that falsehood gets repeated again, I would like to clear the air: I have every confidence that Premier [Heather] Stefanson and our PC Team will win the next election," he said.

Michaleski said the premier doesn't get the credit she deserves for the work she's done to improve the lives of Manitobans.

As for himself, Michaleski said he'll miss many aspects of the job, and there will be days he misses doing it.

He said he intends to help the PC candidate for Dauphin hold the constituency for the party. The NDP has nominated former cabinet ministerRon Kostyshyn as its candidate.

The provincial election is slated for Oct. 3.

PC exodus started last spring

The exodus of PC MLAS, which started in 2022, saw Scott Fielding, the former minister responsible for Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, andCameron Friesen, the former finance minister,resign mid-term.

Deputy premierCliff Cullen,Municipal Relations MinisterEileen Clarke,Labour Minister Reg Helwer andIndigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations MinisterAlan Lagimodiereannounced they won't run again, as didSpeaker Myrna Driedgerand backbenchers Michaleski,Ralph Eichler, Shannon Martin, Blaine Pedersen, Dennis Smook, Cathy Coxand Ian Wishart. Those who aren't running account for 39 per cent of the 36 Progressive Conservative MLAselected in 2019.