Editing Gary Doer (section)

===1988 election===
Doer promised a $58 million tax cut, and opposed the [[Government of Canada|federal government]]'s free trade deal with the [[United States|United States of America]].  He indicated that he was open to the possibility of amending the [[Meech Lake Accord]], a federal proposal for constitutional reform.<ref>Derek Ferguson, "Tough fighting starts now in Manitoba election race", ''Toronto Star'', 4 April 1988, A16; Geoffrey York, "New Manitoba NDP leader promises tax cut if returned", ''Globe and Mail'', 5 April 1988, A4.</ref>  He also promised to build more community health centres, and supported home renovations for senior citizens and the disabled.<ref>Geoffrey York, "Tories pledge additional tax cuts", ''Globe and Mail'', 8 April 1988, A4.</ref>

The NDP won 12 out of 57 seats, while the Progressive Conservatives under [[Gary Filmon]] won 25 seats and the [[Manitoba Liberal Party|Liberals]] under [[Sharon Carstairs]] jumped from one seat to twenty. Although the NDP was knocked down to third place, it still held the balance of power. Doer rejected the possibility of forming a [[coalition government]] with the Liberals. Instead, he opted to tolerate a PC [[minority government]], clearing the way for Filmon to become premier with the Liberals as the Official Opposition.<ref>Geoffrey York, "Manitoba's NDP will permit Tories to assume power", ''Globe and Mail'', 28 April 1988, A1.</ref>  He was not personally blamed for his party's loss, and continued as party leader.  The NDP chose not to defeat Filmon's government during confidence votes in late 1988 and early 1989, as Doer argued the public would not support another election for a legislature less than a year old.<ref>Geoffrey York, "NDP critical, but won't kill Manitoba Tories' budget", ''Globe and Mail'', 18 August 1988, A4; "Doer goes against non-confidence vote", ''Globe and Mail'', 25 May 1989, A13; "Manitoba NDP foils Liberal bid to force election", ''Toronto Star'', 25 May 1989, A15; Geoffrey York, "NDP cites tax breaks, backs Manitoba budget", ''Globe and Mail'', 8 June 1989, A14.</ref>