WINNIPEG — Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger is officially launching his campaign to keep his job today.
Selinger is filing nomination papers this afternoon for the NDP leadership race that has been forced upon him.
Selinger has been facing a caucus coup over the government's low poll numbers, which prompted five senior cabinet ministers to resign in November.
The party has called a leadership contest for March 8 to settle the dispute, and two former ministers — Theresa Oswald and Steve Ashton — have already joined the race.
The NDP government has faced public anger over a decision in 2013 to raise the provincial sales tax to eight per cent from seven.
Selinger is likely in for a tough battle, as several high-profile members of caucus and the party have come out in support of his opponents.