View From the Legislature

It is tradition in many Canadian legislatures as well as the federal Parliament to begin a new fall sitting with a speech from the throne.

In 2016 when the Progressive Conservative Party was elected to government in Manitoba, one of the key platform promises was that within two terms the provincial books would be returned to balance.

March feels like a very long time ago. Back when in-class learning was suspended prior to the traditional spring break, which was eventually extended for the balance of the school year, there was little that was certain about what lay ahead.

Last week was National Trucking Week, an annual time when various provincial trucking associations honour the job that our professional drivers do ensuring that the shelves of our stores remain stocked for customers and that online packages get delivered.

While summer is not officially over, it is hard not to notice that there has been a change in the air with the beginning of September.

It is hard not to be overwhelmed by the news these days and the almost singular focus it has on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Traditionally at this time of the year there is a great deal of excitement in the homes of school aged children as the return to school nears. Of course, this year is different in many ways and the return to school is different as well.

Over the last few months one of the things that most of us have discovered is that there can be a danger of getting too much information.

The recent increase in COVID-19 numbers in our province has caused greater concern regarding the coronavirus among Manitobans than likely existed during the days when few if any cases were being reported.

While there is much of summer left, it is the traditional time when some thought would turn to the upcoming school year for those that have school aged children at home.