Last week I was once again honoured to co-chair the Midwest Canada-U.S. Relations Committee, a role I have held for the past several years.
Communities can deal with a variety of challenges at different times in their history. By far the most difficult challenge is when a community is losing residents and subsequently businesses or services.
Last weekend across Canada, millions of people gathered in parks and pavilions to celebrate Canada Day. In Manitoba and Steinbach, many events were held on a hot summer weekend to mark the 156th year of Canada as a nation.
Over the past few days as I was walking out of the Manitoba Legislative building, I saw a sight that has become common around this time of the year.
Last Thursday morning in my role as Minister of Justice, I was in Gimli to celebrate the opening of the new RCMP detachment in that community.
Late last year, I was pleased to participate in an announcement to establish an integrated policing unit specifically dedicated to arresting violent criminals that are wanted on warrants in Manitoba.
The excessive heat of the past two weeks is a sure sign that summer has arrived in Manitoba. Another essential part of Manitoba summers, community festivals and fairs, are also beginning to make their appearance.
On Thursday a very busy spring legislative session at the Manitoba Legislature ended. Over the past few months many pieces of legislation were debated and passed, and a provincial budget was introduced and passed as well.
Last summer as reports grew in Manitoba of victims of violent crime where the accused individual was on bail for a previous violent crime, our Manitoba government began a campaign for bail reform in Canada.
The role of elected officials, like all occupations, has its unique pressures, challenges, and rewards.
