A trip to Dauphin to attend his son’s U13 hockey tournament in Dauphin also provided Obby Khan an opportunity to locally promote his aspiration of becoming leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba.

“I’m meeting with Ron (Dauphin MLA Kostyshyn), meeting with a few PC supporters, some people on the board of the association here, meeting with businesses and then I’m trying to get a couple of other stakeholder meetings here in the area,” Khan said, adding it is a formula he follows wherever he travels throughout the province gathering support for his leadership bid.

“I’ve been everywhere. Everywhere from up to Swan Lake, all the way to Virden and all over southern Manitoba. All over.”

Khan, a Winnipeg restaurateur and former professional football player with the Ottawa Renegades, Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, currently sits as the MLA for Fort Whyte since being elected in a by-election in 2022.

Seeking the leadership of the provincial party is the hardest thing he has ever attempted from his time developing a successful restaurant business to his time as an elected official, even including his 10 years as a professional football player.

“It wasn’t just that I played. I went through nine almost career-ending injuries.” he said, listing challenges such as four knee surgeries, ruptured discs, a brain hemorrhage and a tricep muscle torn off the bone, as some of the highlights.

“So I went through that and this is still the hardest thing. It’s a grind. Because this never stops, number one and number two, no matter what you do, you’re never going to make everyone happy.”

What Khan focuses on in politics is the same thing that made him successful in sports and in business; being prepared and taking responsibility for his own perfermance.

“When I can go to bed at night and I believe what I’m doing is right, I’m okay,” he said, adding the feedback he has been receiving about his campaign has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It’s been unbelievable. Fantastic. I’m absolutely blown away and I am really, really pleased with the way it’s going.”

As a city resident and not being a “traditional conservative leadership candidate”, heading into the process Khan had reservations. It wasn’t until he hit the parade circuit in the summer that he realized he had made the right decision.

“I did I think it was 19 parades this summer all over rural Manitoba. People were like really happy to see me. People were supportive and I hadn’t announced leadership yet,” Khan said.

“I sat at meetings thinking I was going to run, but I wanted to get feedback. People are really coming on board, so it’s been it’s been a lot of fun.”

Those coming on board include his fellow MLAs with some high profile conservatives backing his bid.

Part of the reason for that, Khan believes, is that they like his vision for the party.

“I’m going through this campaign like I’m a thousand votes behind. But I am very confident that we’re going to prevail not so much because of me, but because of the message and what I’m trying to do for this party,” he said.

“It’s the belief in the members. It’s the belief that this party needs to return to its grassroots members. It’s the belief that this party, the PC Party of Manitoba, is an inclusive party with conservative values. It’s the belief that we have a lot of internal work to do as a party. I realize that we have to be accountable and more transparent to our members. I think that message is really resonating with people.”

Khan is one of two candidates vying for the position. The other is Wally Daudrich, a Churchill business owner and a long-time board member for the provincial PCs.

Khan said his vision for the party is quite different than his opponent’s.

“My message has been about a big tent party with conservative values, while still representing and welcoming people to the party and growing,” Khan said, adding that philosophy is illustrated through his campaign co-chairs in Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen and  Lori Shenkarow, a businesswoman who sought the PC nomination in last year’s Tuxedo byelection.

“So you have got a Jewish lady, a conservative Christian and a Muslim candidate all working together as a big tent party in the PC party of Manitoba. That is a powerful message right there.

“This shows that we can come together across the party. My whole message in this is we have to come together as a PC party, as PC members to win not only this leadership, but win the province back in 2027. If we’re divided now we don’t stand a chance in 2027 or 2031 or 2035.”

Khan will continue his efforts to grow the party and build support for his leadership campaign as the process nears it end.

Those wanting to get involved in choosing the new leader must have their party membership purchased by Feb. 28.

“You have got to be 14 years or older and you have to live in Manitoba. It costs $20, but you get $15 back on your taxes, so it costs you $5,” Khan said.

“You will get a ballot in the mail in March and then you mail it back. On April 26th they will announce the winner.

“I’m not taking anything for granted. I’m working because I believe that this election also is an opportunity to unite the party and to grow the party and to strengthen the party.

“If I was to have the honour of going forward and becoming the leader  . . . it’s not about me, this is about the province, my love for the province and that we can do better as a province.”