View From the Legislature

New and expanded schools always bring a great sense of excitement for the students and staff who occupy the space but also to the entire community in which they are located. Schools are often seen as a community hub around which a great deal of activity happens.

During my time as the Minister of Education in Manitoba I had the opportunity to announce and open new schools and expansions and it was among the most enjoyable parts of the experience. That included opening a new high school in Niverville and announcing the much-needed expansion at the Mitchell Elementary School which opened earlier this year.

Recently our government committed hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for school capital projects. In addition to important repair and maintenance projects for every school in the Hanover School Division, there was the funding commitment for a new K-4 elementary school in Steinbach and for the addition of classrooms at the Mitchell Middle School. These are projects that are needed in our growing communities and I am pleased that we have been able as a government to make these projects a priority. Together with the expansion of the Rest Haven Personal Care Home and other much needed health capital commitments and investments in the region there are many important initiatives that are moving forward that will benefit residents for years to come.

The new K-4 elementary school will mark the first time in many years that a new elementary school is being built in the City of Steinbach and it reaffirms a commitment made during the last provincial election. As new housing developments continue to go up around the City and families move to the community, there is little doubt that the school is both needed and will likely fill up quickly. With the commitment made, the next step in the process will be the design phase. This typically begins with a great deal of input from community and staff members which results in a building that is both unique and well suited for the school population it serves. While the opening of the new school is some time away, this begins an extremely exciting process which will result in a school that the community can be proud of for many years.

In Mitchell, the announcement of the future expansion of the middle school is directly related to the recently opened expansion of the elementary school. I remember the great excitement in a packed gym of students a couple of years ago at the Mitchell Elementary School when I was able to announce the upcoming expansion. Of course, with that expansion, we also knew there would be a need to expand the Mitchell Middle School as students progressed through the school system. The announced commitment to this project shows forward planning and an understanding of the importance of giving certainty to these communities.

As the local MLA and Deputy Premier for the province I am proud of the commitment that has been made for important education infrastructure in the southeast region and the positive impact it will have for years to come.