Rumblings in and around the Manitoba Legislature suggest that Premier Gary Doer will drop the writ shortly on the next Manitoba election.

The Manitoba NDP convention takes place on February 2-4 where some general housekeeping is expected, including the collective nod to Gary Doer as the party’s leader. With that out of the way the election call is speculated to be on February 8th or 9th. That will allow the Province to deal with the election before the possible federal fall when the budget is introduced on March 20th.

With recent polls showing Doer at roughly 70% approval throughout the province, even the rumour of a minority government, opposed by Hugh McFayden of the provincial Tories, has dried up and blown away.

The Manitoba public seems to have a good impression of the NDP even though the party has had numerous scandals in riding associations, the Crocus Investment Fund, Workers Compensation Board and the Auditor General of the province.