Trail Talking

I am so pleased to share that Bill 217 has received a second reading – bringing Manitoba one step closer to establishing a Men’s Mental Health Awareness Week that would take place annually in the week leading up to Father’s Day. This bill would help generate conversation, raise awareness, and help break down some of the stigma attached to men’s mental health.

I initially brought forward Bill 217 during the spring legislative session. After the NDP continued to reject the bill, I am so happy to see that it will finally be able to continue moving forward in the process of getting passed. I want to thank the house leaders and our Opposition Leader Wayne Ewasko for recognizing the importance and value of this bill, and for making it a priority.

One of the many roles I have as a legislator is to work to ensure that that the public are well informed and supported on, for example, social issues, safety concerns, and other matters facing our communities.

Recently, I had the pleasure of accompanying Constable Reid to different schools throughout Dawson Trail for Rail Safety presentations. Rail Safety is such an important topic and one that needs to be more widely discussed, which is why I brought forward Bill 221, The Rail Safety Awareness Act, back in 2017. I am so pleased that the significance of this bill was seen and that it was passed. Now every year, the last week of September is Rail Safety Awareness Week. It’s incredibly important for people to know the dangers of railways, rail yards, and trains, as well as to learn the different signs and signals and understand the meanings they contain. Thank you to Constable Reid and the CN Police for doing these presentations and making sure our youth are aware of this important information.

On another note, I would like to assure constituents, especially those who live in Ste. Anne, that I am continuing to advocate for you all and your need for a new school. I understand how greatly this school is needed to support the ever-growing population – just considering how much the community has grown in recent years – and ensure that the youth of Ste. Anne are being provided with the best environment to foster learning and help them succeed in their academic careers. I will continue to push against the decision by Wab Kinew and his NDP government to reject this project and show them how important it is to invest in our rural communities.