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This article was published 9/3/2015 (2021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Greg Selinger is parting company with three senior political staffers who took leaves of absence to work on Theresa Oswald’s failed leadership bid.

A source said late Monday that cabinet priorities and planning secretary Anna Rothney and two others had been fired.

The dismissals come despite a memo from the premier’s office last fall that there would be no consequences for staffers who worked on rival campaigns, the source said.

Paul McKie, a spokesman for Selinger, denied anyone had been dismissed. "I can confirm that no one has been fired," he said Monday evening.

But a government source said Rothney and others have been in discussion with the government on a mutual separation agreement.

The Free Press obtained a copy of a thank-you email from Rothney to fellow staffers, dated mid-afternoon on Monday. It made no specific mention of being fired, but it was clear she was leaving.

"It’s been honouring and humbling to work with all of you — your talent, your devotion, and your unwavering vision for a better world and a better Manitoba is inspiring," Rothney wrote.

Oswald and her fellow cabinet rebels were weighing their political options on Monday in light of Selinger’s narrow 33-vote victory in Sunday’s leadership contest.

In an email earlier in the day, Oswald declined comment when asked if she would rejoin the NDP caucus or resign her seat in the legislature.

The Seine River MLA’s continued presence in the legislative chamber would be a constant reminder of how close the premier came to being dethroned.

In a brief interview before the staff departures came to light, Selinger would not name a date for recalling the legislature and delivering the 2015 budget, saying it was still being decided. Nor would he say when he would call a byelection to fill a nearly year-long vacancy in The Pas.

He also sidestepped a question on the process for fully welcoming dissident MLAs, like Oswald, back into the NDP caucus. "That process hasn’t come to a conclusion yet," he said.

Oswald and four other MLAs — Jennifer Howard, Erin Selby, Stan Struthers and Andrew Swan — resigned their cabinet portfolios last November over Selinger’s continued leadership. A sixth MLA, Clarence Pettersen of Flin Flon, also publicly urged the premier to step down.

They technically remain part of caucus, Selinger said, but they have been forbidden from attending meetings.

A seventh NDP MLA who has clashed with Selinger in the past, Christine Melnick, has the same status.

Howard, the former finance minister, said Monday she plans to seek re-election in Fort Rouge next year, but was unsure about her caucus status.

"I can’t answer that. It isn’t up to me," she said in a text. "I don’t know what process will unfold regarding caucus. I know I am a New Democrat and will remain one."

Struthers, the former municipal government minister, said he would discuss with his family whether to seek re-election in Dauphin, just as he does before every election.

Former health minister Selby declined comment Monday, while Swan, the former attorney general, could not be reached.

A day after barely hanging onto his job at the NDP leadership convention, Selinger allowed several one-on-one interviews with media outlets on a first-come-first-serve basis. His press secretary limited each interview to five minutes.

If Selinger had a date in mind for recalling the legislature, he wasn’t sharing it, although he said he may wait until after Ottawa has brought down its own budget before laying out the province’s financial blueprint.

The Pas has been without an MLA since Frank Whitehead resigned nearly a year ago. According to provincial law, the premier has mere days before he must call a byelection there. When he does, the government will face advertising restrictions during the election period.

Selinger also refused to say if or when leadership candidate Steve Ashton may be welcomed back into cabinet. Ashton’s duties as infrastructure and emergency measures minister were handed to Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn after the Thompson MLA resigned in December to seek the leadership.

Kostyshyn has been doing double duty ever since.

Ashton didn’t bad-mouth the premier last fall when the rebels spoke up. He threw his hat into the ring after Selinger opened up the leadership.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca