View From the Legislature

Early in June the Manitoba Legislature spring session will end wrapping up four months of daily committee work, debates and consideration of new legislation brought forward both by the NDP government and members of the opposition. As this session featured the first NDP budget under the new government, it revealed several priorities of their administration. And after close scrutiny of the budget, it left many Manitobans wondering why the priorities of the government seemed out of synch with those of ordinary Manitobans.

One of the very first measures the NDP introduced is doubling the taxpayer funded subsidy that their political party will receive after every election. At a time when many Manitobans are struggling with the high cost of food, gas and housing and in a period of high interest rates, it is telling that the NDP felt their number one priority should be getting more tax dollars into the coffers of their political party.

The desire to provide more taxpayer support to the NDP is not something the NDP campaigned on during the election just last fall. It is also not something that was asked for by other political parties. It seems only to be a priority to the NDP at a time when many are struggling to make ends meet. Contrast this desire to funnel more money to their party with the fact the NDP decided in their budget to cut millions of dollars of funding from youth employment program at summer camps and at charitable and community organizations. I am not aware of the NDP campaigning last fall on cutting money to camps or charity and doubling the money to their political party and yet that was a key priority for the NDP this session.

Also in this budget, the NDP brought forward the largest school tax increase in recent history by doing away with the school tax rebate that Manitobans have received recently. While the NDP have acknowledged with their words that Manitobans are facing significant financial pressures, it is adding to those pressures by increasing taxes.

Also this session, the new government took a very unusual step by refusing to allow for public presentations on a number of substantial pieces of legislation. It has been Manitoba practice for many decades that most legislation is brought before a committee hearing where members of the public can provide their input on those bills. This session, the NDP exempted legislation that deals with public sector unions as well as legislation designed to create a new way for seniors to have an advocate, from going to a public committee.

For reasons the NDP have yet to explain, they do not want to hear public input into these bills despite past practice and despite the fact that legislation is often amended and improved after the process of public presentations. This is not only a democratic concern, it is an early indication that the NDP government are willing to ignore democratic rights and principles.

This legislative session was really the first opportunity for Manitobans to get a true picture of NDP priorities and they appeared to differ significantly from what they campaigned on just last fall. As all MLAs find greater opportunities to engage with residents over the summer, Manitobans can hope the NDP government returns to the legislature in the fall with a better sense of their real priorities.