Very poor time management by the PCs and NDP in this session results in a lack of accountability as estimates for many departments were never completed.

Today is the last day of the Legislative Session. Many bills were given royal ascent. But at the same time there were remarkable problems with the way the PCs and NDPs managed the time of the Legislature. As an example of the problems, we were unable to complete the 100 hours of time in estimates that is usually taken for this process. Even more surprising is that many departmental estimates were never even considered.

Departmental estimates for Growth Enterprise and Trade, for Municipal Relations, for Sports, Culture and Heritage, for the Civil Service Commission, for the Legislative Assembly, for Employee Pensions and other costs and for the enabling and other appropriations were not considered at all. It is in fact astonishing that the estimates for Growth Enterprise and Trade were never considered since this is the main economic department for the government. How could such a thing happen? Well, sad to say, it was terrible organization by the PCs and the NDP in how time was managed during this last session of the Manitoba Legislature.

I brought this forward earlier today in the Manitoba Legislature as a Matter of Privilege. In my view, a Legislature which does not even consider the Departments of Growth, Enterprise and Trade, Municipal Relations and Sports, Culture and Heritage has a major problem. Manitoba Liberals will continue to stand for much better democracy and much better accountability of government than this.

Comments

Comparison between Manitoba and South Dakota shows dramatic impact of Physical Distancing

Manitoba implemented physical distancing measures in mid-March. South Dakota has still not made physical distancing mandatory. The result is a dramatic difference in the incidence of covid-19 viral infections between the two jurisdictions. This graph shows the number of people with Covid-19 infections from March 27 to April 14. Manitoba ( red line ) started leveling off about April 4 and has seen only a small increase in Covid-19 infections since then. South Dakota ( blue line ) has seen a dramatic increase in Covid-19 infections since April 4. Those who are skeptical of the impact of physical distancing in Manitoba should look at this graph! Data are from the Johns Hopkins daily tabulations

Pushing for safe consumption sites and safe supply to reduce overdose deaths

On Monday June 20th, Thomas Linner of the Manitoba Health Coalition, Arlene Last-Kolb Regional Director of Moms Stop the Harm and Winnipeg City Councillor Sherri Rollins were at the Manitoba Legislature to advocate for better measures to reduce deaths from drug overdoses, most particularly for safe consumption sites and for a safe supply, measures which can reduce overdose deaths.

There is an imperative to have a provincial plan to ensure every child learns to read

Too many Manitoba children with learning disabilities like dyslexia are not being identified and helped early on starting in Kindergarten and grades 1 and 2. The Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that it is the provinces responsibility to ensure that every child learns to read, and even when, in the case of a child with dyslexia intensive intervention is needed. In 12 years Manitoba has failed to produce a provincial plan to address this issue. We are holding a Forum (see below) on this subject. Please come out to the Forum. There is no cost. Everyone is welcome. To learn more about the need to do better helping children, youth and adults with a learning disability click on this link

The Gerrard Report

Search This Blog