Bill 6–The Public Sector Compensation Disclosure Amendment Act

Thursday May 31, I spoke briefly at 3rd reading on Bill 6 which would raise the threshold for public reporting of salaries for people working in or for government bodies in Manitoba from $50,000 a year to $75,000 a year.

Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, on this bill, we actually support an increase in the threshold, but we see a fundamental problem in the way that this bill is being administered, and we see no sign that the government is ready to change that. And the problem is this: that an unknown number of people who are getting money from the government, who are earning, or will be earning, more than $75,000 a year are not being captured. And they're not being captured because they're earning from two different places in government. And because they're earning–they may get $60,000 one place and $50,000 another, and they end up earning $110,000, but they're not even going to be listed at the $75,000 rate [because the government does not report all combined income from government sources] .

So this is wrong. And so we can't support this building–this bill because it actually won't capture everybody who's above $75,000. And, until that's done, then we won't support it. Thank you.

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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

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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

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