Manitoba Premier Gary Doer has called an election and voters will head to the polls on May 22, giving parties little more than a month to campaign.

"We have shown that Manitoba has changed," Doer told supporters late Friday at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

"We have changed because we have become a can-do province, and we will continue to be a can-do province."

He said his government has worked hard to increase enrollment in the province's universities, bring in environmentally friendly energy, and will improve the health care system.

He also told supporters that "the endangered species of the building crane has returned to Manitoba," referring to a new national human rights museum and other major projects.

Doer, 59, has spent 21 years in the legislature and routinely tops popularity polls with voters. Paul Thomas, a political science professor at the University of Manitoba, said Doer has successfully taken up position in the middle of the political spectrum.

Before the election call, Doer's New Democratic party held 35 seats in the Manitoba legislature, while the Progressive Conservatives had 19.

The Liberals were a distant third with two seats, one seat was held by an independent, and another was empty.

Doer is hoping for a third straight majority government, which would be a first for a Manitoba NDP leader.

He now faces a new PC leader: Hugh McFadyen, a former lawyer who took over the party in 2005.

McFadyen said he plans to make Manitoba's economy a central campaign issue, arguing the province has fallen behind its Western neighbours since 2002.

Doer has recently come under fire for Manitoba's slow job growth, while a high number of workers have sought higher-paid employment outside of the province.

Another major issue is the Crocus Investment Fund, created by Doer's government. In 2004, the venture fund's value continued to drop until it was placed in receivership, affecting 34,000 investors.

Manitoba's auditor general reported that the government was not to blame for the labour-sponsored fund's loss of value, although it did miss warning signs as early as 2001.

Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard will again try to bring his party out of their place. He has led his party since 1998.

With files from The Canadian Press