Today Premier Pallister announced that he was going to hire a high-priced lawyer ten months after the federal government announced its carbon plan. This is a stunt. The premier could have consulted with in-house lawyers at any time.
The Minister is making massive changes to our health care system, causing disruption and sowing confusion, based on reports the Premier refuses to release to the public. Manitobans cannot understand why these changes are being made unless the Premier and his Minister stop misleading and release the reports Manitobans paid for.
In response to the looming overnight closure of Misericordia Urgent Care, please accept the following statement on behalf of Official Opposition Health Critic, Matt Wiebe:
We are now seeing the consequences of the disruption and disorganization caused for front-line workers by Pallister’s cuts to our health care system. Pallister and his Ministers can no longer deny or evade the fact that their irresponsible and ill-conceived plan is having an impact on access to patient care for thousands of Manitobans.
This is another blow for health care in Manitoba. The firing of so many employees at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and at Prairie Mountain Health is misguided. At a time when the government has caused so much disruption and confusion in the system, they are also firing people who support patient care.
The NDP agrees with the concerns of the Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba and urges the Pallister government to reverse its decision to close the Misericordia Urgent Care Centre. The province should listen to patients and the medical experts and keep the urgent care centre open. Closing the urgent care centre will hurt patients in the communities that rely on it and will further clog emergency rooms at other hospitals.
It’s always a concern to hear about major cost overruns, and it’s important for Manitoba Hydro to account for any pressures they may experience in construction through their annual application to the Public Utilities Board.
As the president of Manitoba Hydro said today, this province is growing. Manitoba must develop clean and renewable sources of power to meet that demand and into the future. Manitoba Hydro still considers the completion of Keeyask the best path forward and we agree.
The news of the horrific terrorist attack on the mosque in Quebec is shocking and heartbreaking. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and their communities during this difficult time.
This attack on a peaceful Islamic place of worship was a violent refutation of the values we hold dear.
Today, we stand in solidarity with Muslim families across Manitoba and Canada in condemning this cowardly act of murder. As Canadians, we must commit to ending the victimization of Muslims and other refugees and recommit to having an open, democratic society for all.
Just like Pallister’s so-called review of regulations in the 1990s, this announcement is for show, not about substance – there is no need for a government to legislate this rule. By introducing such a law, the Pallister government is potentially hamstringing itself or any future government by forcing it to eliminate regulations merely for the sake of show.
The Brandon Sun revealed today that Premier Pallister claimed in a closed door party meeting there is a ‘race war’ in Manitoba, before leaving for Costa Rica.
“Premier Pallister’s ‘race war’ comments are a divisive and unhelpful intervention in an already over-heated conversation”, Wab Kinew, NDP MLA for Fort Rouge said today.
“To claim behind closed doors that there is a ‘race war’ in your province and to then leave for a multi-week vacation in Costa Rica is not leadership – it’s irresponsible. The Premier should return to Manitoba immediately, apologize for his insensitive comments, and start discussions on solutions that work for everyone” said Kinew.
The NDP has named a new caucus chair and new roles for two MLAs, Interim Leader Flor Marcelino said today.
The new caucus roles take effect immediately and include:
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