The longest serving current premier in the country announced today that he is stepping down.
In a news conference today, Gary Doer announced that he will not be running in the next provincial election in October 2011.
Doer was elected premier in 1999 and had led the NDP to three consecutive majorities, each time increasing the number of seats for his government, while holding on to one of the highest approval ratings for all Canadian premiers.
The former corrections officer at the Vaughan Street Detention Centre in Winnipeg, became the president of the MGEU (formerly MGEA) in 1979 and represented members until 1986. He also held prominent positions with the Manitoba Federation of Labour and the National Union of Provincial Government Employees.
Doer has not said what his next plans will be following provincial politics.