View From the Legislature

As people begin to return to a more regular routine following Christmas, thoughts often turn to the new year ahead. For many, this will include making resolutions for the coming year centered around self-improvement or other goals. Looking beyond the individual goals of Manitobans and Canadians, there is a lot at stake for our province and our nation as we begin 2025.

At some point this year, there will be a federal election. This has been an election that has been anticipated for some time given that there has been a minority government in Ottawa that has had to rely on the support of the NDP to remain in power despite evidence that suggests Canadians are looking for a change. The recent turmoil in the Liberal government that saw the stunning resignation of the Deputy Prime Minister was just another chapter in a tumultuous time in Ottawa.

This instability comes at perhaps the worst possible time as Canada prepares to deal with a new administration in Washington that is threatening to add a 25% tariff on all goods imported into the United States from Canada. This would have a devastating effect on the Canadian economy as well as increase food and gas prices in the United States. At this critical time, Canada needs to have a government that not only has the confidence of Parliament but of Canadians. A federal election is needed sooner rather than later so that a government with a renewed mandate can deal with this and other challenges the country is facing.

For Manitoba, 2025 is also an important year as the province continues to struggle with getting its fiscal house in order. The NDP government has already run up record deficits in our province and recently announced that it is expected to miss its current budget target by half a billion dollars. This after inheriting a budget surplus upon taking office. Already the Manitoba NDP have introduced higher taxes on homeowners for this year and as the debt continues to escalate, more tax increases are sure to follow. The provincial budget this spring will be important to revealing whether the Manitoba NDP have any ability or interest in finding a path back to fiscal balance.

In the Steinbach Constituency, there is much to look forward to in 2025. Despite a slight delay, there is a great deal of anticipation about the opening of the Southeast Events Centre early in the new year. This will be a project that will be a hub for community gatherings and recreation for years to come. Also, this year is the expected opening of a new Steinbach elementary school, called Parkhill School. This is the first new elementary school to open in the community in many years and is a recognition of the growth that is happening in the City of Steinbach.

The expansion of the Bethesda Regional Health Centre is ongoing. While health capital projects often take longer to complete than other projects given their complexity, the expansion is important to adding surgical capacity, medicine beds and palliative care services for the region.

Overall, 2025 promises to be a year that will have important political moments that will shape the country and our province in the years to come as well as those that will improve our region today and for future generations. I wish you and your family a healthy and prosperous New Year.