COLUMN: Report from the Legislature – NDP promises delayed and denied

On June 27 we officially kicked off the campaign to select the next leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba. The party’s Leadership Election Committee is overseeing the nomination process. Chaired by Brad Zander, the committee includes representation by party members from urban and rural Manitoba. The next leader of the PC Party of Manitoba will be announced on April 26, 2025.

As much as I am enjoying my new role as interim leader of the PC Party of Manitoba, I will not be seeking leadership for our party. I plan to work this year to continue to hold the NDP to account for their actions, while strengthening our PC Party’s grassroots.

While Premier Wab Kinew basks in his polling popularity, Manitoba voters are quickly realizing that his NDP government are beginning to fall short on many of their pledges and promises. In fact, in the last nine months health-care wait periods have increased, crime continues to rise and the premier’s promise to lower grocery prices in Manitoba has become nothing more than wishful thinking. In December, Wab Kinew vowed to take action against grocery stores if savings from his deferral of the fuel tax was not passed on to Manitoba consumers. In reality, food prices continue to rise and Manitobans are paying more than the national average.

More recently, the NDP’s failure to deliver on their plan for $10 per day summer daycare by July 1 is another broken election promise made to Manitoba families. For working parents of one or more children, daycare costs in the summer can cause considerable financial strain. Instead of offering a viable explanation for not being able to roll out a plan in time, what is becoming the NDP’s favorite excuse is to blame someone else and avoid accountability for their failures. This same excuse has also been used for other broken promises like the costly delay in construction of the Lac du Bonnet Personal Care Home. Kinew’s NDP say that they have no access to money because their budget hasn’t yet been passed in the legislature. The truth is, the NDP passed an interim supply bill in March. It’s a bill that allows the NDP government to spend money before this year’s budget is passed. The NDP blame anyone but themselves to deflect from their fiscal mismanagement. Besides, last I counted, the NDP have a majority government so when it comes to making a decision on how and where to spend money, the numbers are currently in their favour. They certainly have the money for $10 summer daycare and the Lac du Bonnet Personal Care Home – they just don’t have a plan to get the job done.

Speaking on delays, without public explanation to Manitoba outfitters and hunters, the NDP decided to hold up the draw for big-game hunting licences for three weeks from June 21 to July 12, on which the NDP Minister for Natural Resources Jamie Moses announced a 75 percent reduction in the number of moose hunting licences in northern Manitoba. A 75 percent cut in licences demands an explanation and supporting data, but the NDP government has not been transparent or accountable for these sudden changes. If the NDP minister is prepared to make these changes, he needs to re-engage with all stakeholders and share that data with Manitobans today.

Summer is here and the Lac du Bonnet constituency is blooming and booming with exciting celebrations and festivals taking place throughout our communities. The month of July began with the Lac du Bonnet Canada Day Celebrations, and includes other events like West Hawk Lake Meteor Fest, Summer Winds Family Music Festival in Victoria Beach, and Pinawa’s Birthday Celebration. There are also many local community museums, shows and markets to explore. Enjoy your summer.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at wayne@wayneewasko.com, or call me at 204-268-3282. Also, you can follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @wayneewaskomla and friend me on Facebook.