View from the Ledge - June 2010
by
Blaine Pedersen
The
spring session of the Legislature concluded on Thursday, June 17.
The highlight, or low point, depending on your view, was the passage
of Bill 31. This bill was the last nail in the coffin of balanced
budget legislation. Bill 31 protects Cabinet Ministers’ salaries
from the 40% pay cut – based on current and projected budget
deficits - prescribed by the now defunct balanced budget
legislation. During the recorded vote on Bill 31 in the Legislature,
the Minister of Finance was so preoccupied with her Blackberry she
forgot to vote. Arrogance and chaos come to mind when a Finance
Minister fails to vote on the top priority Bill of the Government!
Also passed Thursday evening was Bill
38, the Loan Act, 2010. This bill authorized the NDP government to
borrow an addition $ 3.3 billion for fiscal year 2010 – 2011. This
is new debt, additional borrowing on top of the $ 21 billion current
debt.
$ 3.3 billion in borrowing is $ 9
million each and every day of the year. At a borrowing rate of 5%,
the interest alone on this $ 9 million is over $ 123,000. per day.
Our children and grandchildren will be
faced with crippling debt loads here in Manitoba at this rate of
fiscal neglect.
We were, however, very successful on
several fronts during this session. The NDP Government was forced to
call a public committee meeting for the Children’s Advocate Office
for June 25, 2010. The Children’s Advocate Office has described the
Child and Family Services Department as “in chaos”.
We brought attention to the fact welfare
money continues to flow to dangerous criminals on the lam. Our party
has also restarted the process to hire a Chief Electoral Officer for
Elections Manitoba. All party consent will be required prior to
hiring the new CEO.
We were also successful at having
government rethink their non scientific domestic waste water
regulations. Although the new rules are somewhat less onerous on
rural Manitobans, the regulations still have no base in science and
will continue to cost rural homeowners costly upgrades.
Bipole III continues to worry landowners
of Carman Constituency and all Manitobans. Manitoba Hydro has been
contacting landowners for preliminary environmental studies. The
preferred route is to be announced in mid-July and I will be
contacting affected landowners. At $1.7 billion in additional costs
for the west side route, as well as interference with agricultural
land and concerns of proximity to residences and farmyards, the east
side route remains the most viable option. Stay tuned as this
project unfolds.
The New West Partnership Agreement
between B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan continues to develop and many
Manitobans have expressed concerns about being left out of the
Western Alliance. The three Western provinces continue to work
toward harmonizing various regulations including trucking,
recognition of trades people and the bulk purchasing of
pharmaceuticals. Manitoba remains isolated and this can only hurt us
economically as we move forward.
Our caucus heard a presentation on
Centreport Winnipeg. Centreport has huge potential for all of
Manitoba in terms of jobs, trade, and commerce. There will also be a
spinoff in economic value for Carman Constituency given our relative
proximity and access to the Winnipeg Airport Centreport development.
Not being part of the New West Partnership could affect the ultimate
success of Centreport. However, the potential is there and all
Manitobans need to support the project.
Graduations, summer fairs and events
will make for a busy summer. I look forward to seeing you at a
community event in Carman Constituency.
Please contact my office if you have
concerns or community events I should be aware of. The Carman
Constituency Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 am to 2
pm. Phone 745-2203, toll free at 1-866-849-0142 or email
bpedercarman@mts.net |
