Parties cap legislature session with parting shots

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This article was published 31/05/2023 (328 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s two main political party leaders got in one final dig before hitting the campaign trail Thursday afternoon, as the legislative session wrapped with a reminder to members to clear out their desks and say their goodbyes.

Following a question period dominated by the Opposition blaming the Tory government for the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals setting a June 15 strike date, NDP Leader Wab Kinew offered a few surprise words of thanks to Premier Heather Stefanson.

“Serving as the leader of the official Opposition has been the great honour of my life and there’s no opportunity to serve as Opposition leader unless there is a government to oppose,” Kinew said, acknowledging Stefanson made history by being the first woman premier in Manitoba.

“It’s always nice to end on a good, positive note… It sets the tone as we move into a wonderful summer, as we’re going to be out on the campaign trail,” Stefanson replied.

“I certainly look forward to coming back in the fall after we get a renewed mandate of four more years,” she said to cheers from the Progressive Conservatives side.

“Four more months,” Kinew shot back.

With the house rising for the summer, the 42nd legislature came to a close as lawmakers are not set to return to the chamber prior to the general election, scheduled for Oct. 3.

Over the entirety of the fifth session, which kicked off in November, the government passed over 50 bills, including 17 from private members.

Among the new legislation, the Progressive Conservative government cut fees for cannabis retailers, expanded powers of community safety officers, established a teacher registry, and strengthened laws around the distribution of intimate images.

The premier declined to meet with reporters to talk about her government’s record after question period Thursday.

Government House leader Kelvin Goertzen highlighted consequential changes made to laws affecting community safety and First Nations, on top of early passage of the budget implementation bill and its tax measures.

“A very productive session,” the Steinbach MLA said.

Key pieces of legislation were held back by the Opposition, including bills to regulate addictions services and increase private liquor sales. However, the parties also found common ground on a number of opposition bills which passed into law with government’s support.

A Liberal bill strengthening accountability measures for personal care homes and a New Democrat bill mandating anti-racism training for the civil service were among the more than a dozen private member’s bills that became law.

“There’s hope for democracy and all the sense that political parties never work together isn’t always true,” the house leader said.

Heading into the summer, Goertzen said his optimism is growing as the Tories prepare to ask Manitobans for another mandate and to confirm, for the first time at the ballot box, their support of Stefanson.

She became party leader in October 2021 and premier in November 2021. The PCs have been in power since 2016.

“She demonstrates a quiet leadership, a humble leadership, and sometimes people take a while to see that kind of leadership,” Goertzen said. “But I think that people are going to appreciate that quiet, humble leadership, but bold leadership, gets things done.”

At an announcement earlier Thursday, Stefanson spoke briefly about the upcoming election campaign. The Tories have been trailing the New Democrats in the polls since December 2020, and 13 PC caucus members will not seek re-election.

Stefanson said the recent election in Alberta that put United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith back in the premier’s office doesn’t tell her much about her party’s shot in Manitoba.

“I think it’s totally different,” Stefanson said. “I just get up every day, I go to work I put one foot in front of the other, and make sure I’m doing what’s in the best interest of Manitobans, and I will continue to do that.”

The premier also stood by her election campaign co-chair, who came under fire last week for an address she delivered to a group of young PC supporters at the Manitoba legislature.

Veteran politician and former Portage—Lisgar MP Candice Bergen described “so many young” people as entitled and disengaged, and said many have been brainwashed at university or grade school. A recording of the address was released by the Manitoba NDP.

Stefanson said she left the room after introducing her campaign co-chair and does not know what Bergen said at the event.

“But what I will say is that that was about getting young people involved in politics, and I’ll never apologize for that,” the premier said.

Speaking to reporters after question period, Kinew was quick to switch to campaign mode, choosing to take a swipe at the government when asked about the NDP record in Opposition.

“The PCs didn’t do anything to fix the crisis in health care and it’s clear that we need an election,” Kinew said.

“This afternoon, the PCs are going to be in the chamber patting each other on the back, and our team is going to be in the Rossmere constituency on the door step, knocking on doors, talking to people about why we need change.”

Manitobans can expect the NDP to rail against the government’s record on health care throughout the campaign, Kinew said, while pitching a plan to cut bureaucracy in the health-care system.

“Right now, there are too many people in fancy suits earning big salaries in the health-care system,” he said. “If we can save money there to reinvest in nurses and allied health professionals, then I think we’ll be willing to make those changes.”

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Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont described the session’s conclusion as bittersweet as his party gears up for the campaign.

“In some ways, it’s a relief that it’s over, because it has been such an incredibly difficult time since the last election (2019),” Lamont said, saying the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cast a long shadow.

“We all faced challenges we never thought we would face.”

— with files from Carol Sanders

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca

Danielle Da Silva
Reporter

Danielle Da Silva was a general assignment reporter for the Free Press.

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