Fletcher holds up money bill; civil servants’ pay in jeopardy

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This article was published 20/03/2019 (1857 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba government’s money tap has been temporarily shut down, raising the possibility, however slim, that the province will be unable to pay some bills and civil servants’ paycheques will be delayed.

On Thursday, the Pallister government was unable to pass an interim supply bill when Independent MLA Steven Fletcher prevented unanimous consent in the legislature for extending debate beyond 5 p.m.

MLAs will not sit again until April 1 due to spring break.

Government House Leader Kelvin Goertzen blamed Opposition stall tactics for the failure of the bill to pass, noting the NDP had used procedural motions to bypass house business on two consecutive days this week.

“There’s never been an Opposition that’s not allowed interim supply to pass to ensure that people get paid and the government continues to provide the services they need,” he said.

Even when the Progressive Conservatives forced the legislature to sit all summer in 2013 to protest the NDP government’s decision to boost the provincial sales tax, they allowed financial appropriation bills to pass, Goertzen said.

In a last ditch effort to pass the supply bill Thursday, both Goertzen and later NDP house leader Nahanni Fontaine moved motions to allow debate to continue past 5 p.m.

On both occasions, Fletcher objected. He said the government had time to pass the bill before Thursday’s deadline.

Finance Minister Scott Fielding said he and his officials will look into the potential impacts of the failure to pass the bill.

“I do want to emphasize the fact that we’re going to work to find a solution for Manitobans that depend on services and depend on getting paid,” he said.

Fielding said he hoped the Opposition does not continue to stall house business when MLAs return.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca