Voters denied the Liberals official party status on Tuesday, although the party held its two existing seats.
The party needed to win four seats to be recognized as an official party in the legislature, but when the votes were all counted, there were only two wins, both in Winnipeg.
Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard didn't see his party make any gains Tuesday night.
(CBC)
Party leader Dr. Jon Gerrard was re-elected in River Heights, as was incumbent Liberal Kevin Lamoureux in Inkster.
Liberal hopes had been high in the central Winnipeg ridings of Fort Rouge and Minto, but the NDP triumphed in both races.
With official party status, the Liberals would have had access to caucus research funds, guaranteed membership on committees and more opportunities to ask questions in the legislature.
In the 2003 election, the Liberals took two seats and had less than 14 per cent of the popular vote. This election, their popular vote dropped to 12 per cent.
During the campaign, the Liberals made more than $1 billion worth of promises, including a number of initiatives dealing with child welfare and health care.
The party pledged to make Manitoba a "have province" so that eventually it would not be a recipient of equalization payments. It also promised a public inquiry into the collapse of the Crocus Investment Fund.
Manitoba Votes 2007 Headlines »
- NDP wins historic 3rd majority in Manitoba
- Manitoba NDP Leader Gary Doer has led his party to a historic third majority government in the province's 39th general election, taking 36 of 57 seats.
- PCs win 19 seats, lose ground from 2003
- The Progressive Conservatives won 19 out of 57 ridings Tuesday — a drop of one seat from 2003.
- Liberals hold 2 seats
- Voters denied the Liberals official party status on Tuesday, although the party held its two existing seats.
- Greens make slight gains
- The Green party's dreams of a breakthrough quickly wilted on Tuesday night.
- 16 cabinet ministers re-elected, one loses nailbiter
- Sixteen members of Premier Gary Doer's former NDP cabinet in Manitoba were re-elected Tuesday, but Trade Minister Scott Smith lost the riding of Brandon West in a squeaker.