The former Permier’s priorities
by Dorothy Dobbie
Despite losing the election, former Premier Heather Stefanson is still upbeat and excited about the future of Manitoba. “We did so many good things,” she said, including former premier Brian Pallister in her assessment. “We turned the economy around. We made Manitoba more competitive. I truly hope Wab will keep the momentum going.”
Asked about her exit interview with the new premier, she responded, “It was brief, but positive. He asked for some technical advice, and I am leaving him a transition letter that I hope will ease his way at the outset.”
She continued. “The next few months will be the honeymoon period where everyone will be getting accustomed to the new House – there are so many new MLAs on both sides, and we have very few who have previously served in Opposition on our side. The role takes some time to learn.”
She sees the role of the Opposition as the force to keep the government in line and to provide productive criticism. “In these early months, we are still fully informed, and they are not. That gives us an advantage in terms of keeping them on track. We have to continue to push to make sure that things that are in the works actually happen.”
She has in mind the 66 companies and projects that were about ready to burst onto the scene, adding as much as $8 billion a year to our coffers, and with the good of the province in mind, Heather is hoping Wab will reach out and reassure the proponents that his government cares about development and the economy and that he will be able to keep these businesses interested in investing here.
“His mantra has been that the “economic horse pulls the social cart”,” she said. “He has a degree in economics, so I hope that this was not just an empty slogan. I am sure he understands that Manitoba can’t afford the benefits that he has promised without further investment.
“He also needs to remember,” said Heather, “that he governs for all and that 42% of the votes went to our party. Those people deserve representation not just by us, but by his government.”
Some time later this fall, perhaps in mid-November, the new government will present its speech from the throne laying out the NDP agenda. If they were serious about their platform being one that respects the need for a vibrant economy, it will be interesting to see how they handle the details of their promises. “They pulled our platform right out from under us,” said Heather. “It is not a new trick. But it was clear during the television debate that the NDP had not fleshed out what those promises really entailed and Wab was just repeating his lines. Now they have to figure out what that all means.”
Right now, the NDP will be working feverishly to sort out priorities. That is going to be a challenge as they will be faced with some seriously conflicting agendas within their own caucus.
Already, we see backtracking on such ideas as cutting the gas tax which would cost the treasury some $330 million a year, almost twice as much as the government gives the city for street maintenance. The promise to open three new emergency wards is also likely to be “delayed” indefinitely as it is not a feasible alternative at this point. They will, however, be able to fill those 300 nursing jobs as the Tories have already recruited the 300 new nurses from the Philippines and they should begin to arrive soon.
Most importantly, though, from the former Premier’s point of view, is that there continues to be progress on the revenue generation side of things. “Without growth in our economy, we can’t do anything for long,” said Heather. “We can’t rely on federal windfalls or on some kind of organic growth based on adding civil servants to the payroll. That leaves tax increases, and we are already one of the higher taxed jurisdictions. We will lose productive people and jobs if taxes get out of control again.”
Wab Kinew, or someone in the NDP must understand that tax increases are not in the cards, as he also promised to not to ditch the Tory education tax cuts for homeowners.
“As I said at the outset,” the former Premier concluded, “I am excited to be going forward. I want to see my Party being the best Opposition they can be, and I want to see a fair and well-organized leadership process established so that I can leave with confidence when the time is right.”
Not that she intends to sink into the sunset. When all this is over, she will be looking to the future for a new way to serve. It is what she does. It is who she is. “I am sure some new project will come along,” she says. And when it does, she will be ready.
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