COLUMN: Report from the Legislature – Intersection improvements and school needed

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas full of delicious food, relaxing, and lots of time spent with loved ones. The new year is just around the corner, and I cannot wait to see what 2025 will bring!

One of the great things about this year was that Manitobans continued to benefit from several PC affordability measures that were grandfathered into 2024—saving you up to $1,399 in taxes this year. This was also the last year that Manitoba homeowners were able save an average of $774 thanks to our 50 percent school tax rebate.

Unfortunately, poor NDP policies will be taking full effect in 2025, meaning Manitobans will have to tighten their pockets. Rather than helping you to relieve some of your financial stress, the NDP government has been clear that you can expect your property taxes to hike in the new year. The NDP’s elimination of the 50 percent rebate means that Dawson Trail residents are looking at a 6.4 percent school tax hike. As your MLA, I will keep pushing for the province to take meaningful action on affordability.

Something I hope to see in the new year is improvements to the intersection of Highway 12 and Provincial Road 210. This intersection has been a growing safety concern for not only the residents of Dawson Trail, but all travellers who use this road, where there have been a number of vehicle collisions over the years. Our previous PC government already began the work and published a safety review last fall with several suggestions, resulting in some interim improvements being installed. To ensure the safety of Manitobans and prevent further collisions, we need changes made now.

Another thing I know we all want to see in the new year is the development of a new school in the Town of Ste Anne. The lack of a new school has been a growing concern for community members, especially as it was already announced, planned, and accounted for until the NDP changed course. The population of Ste Anne has rapidly increased in recent years, and the current school does not have the space or infrastructure to facilitate all of the students in the community and provide them with the best possible learning environment.

I have continuously written letters to the appropriate ministers regarding these concerns, and unfortunately, no action has been taken. It is incredibly disappointing to see how little the NDP government values and cares for the constituents of Dawson Trail, or their rural communities in general. I will continue to make sure that your voices and your concerns are being heard.

And I will continue to show the NDP how important our rural communities are and how vital it is to invest in them. One shining example is the 74 new daycare spaces that opened in the RM of Tache this year. Progressive Conservatives had the high-quality facility built in just one year’s time through an award-winning construction project that’s seen new spaces open in rural communities across the province over this past year. It’s meaningful investments like this that help Manitobans thrive.

For more updates and information, visit my website at boblagasse.com. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact my constituency office at ca.lagasse@outlook.com or 204-807-4663.