Pandemic restriction opponents line up behind Shelly Glover's bid for Manitoba PC leadership

Vocal critics of Manitoba's pandemic-related public health orders — including a protester who has been charged a dozen times — are openly campaigning for a Progressive Conservative leadership candidate who says she supports the restrictions.

Shelly Glover has the backing of Patrick Allard, who has organized several anti-mask rallies, and Karl Krebs, the organizer of a rally outside Winkler where People's Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier violated quarantine requirements by refusing to isolate upon entering Manitoba, according to social media posts. 

A self-described "law-and-order candidate" who follows the rules, Glover said she adheres to the health orders and has called on Manitobans to do the same.

But the former police officer and Conservative member of Parliament doesn't appear to have qualms with accepting the endorsements of people who have mobilized others in opposition to pandemic restrictions.

"We respect all public health orders and have garnered support from a great number of Manitobans who come from every corner of the province and represent a wide variety of views," Glover's campaign said in an email.

Glover is challenging MLA Heather Stefanson for leadership of the governing PC Party in the Oct. 30 vote, which will also determine the next premier of Manitoba.

Political and health experts have accused Glover of courting the anti-vaccine vote. She has voiced opposition to mandatory vaccination or testing for some front-line workers, insisting the practice, which took effect Monday, will leave the health-care system short-staffed.

She's also said she does not believe in "economic lockdowns" that negatively impact businesses.

Last week, Glover, who says she's fully inoculated against COVID-19, told The Western Standard, a conservative publication based in Alberta, she wouldn't pit unvaccinated people against the vaccinated.

"Any leader of a province must represent all constituents. You can't just say that one sector of society is good, and another sector is bad," she told the publication.

Felix Mathieu, a University of Winnipeg political scientist, said Glover appears to be "tacitly supporting" anti-vaccine voters, which he considers a calculated risk.

Mathieu noted she is going up against the Tory caucus, which overwhelmingly supports Stefanson and the status quo of vaccination or testing requirements.

A Stefanson spokesperson said the MLA has "always taken the advice of trusted health professionals and will continue to do so. If we don't do this right, we will never recover from this pandemic."

When reached by phone Tuesday, Allard said he initially endorsed leadership hopeful Ken Lee, who opposed vaccination requirements to enter businesses or work in some government jobs. The party disqualified Lee's leadership bid.