Last week the NDP government announced the locations for its 2011 pre-budget consultation meetings. Disappointingly, if not surprisingly, the NDP have decided to skip the southeastern corner of the province thereby ignoring the views of some of the most successful and financially responsible residents in the province.

A quick look at the businesses of our region and its residents and you would know that this is one of the first places that you should want to come and hear the views of residents about a provincial budget. The economy in this region is strong and most businesses continue to do well despite the challenges of the last few years.

Yet, for some reason, the NDP have chosen not to come to the Steinbach Constituency or areas south of it and hear the views of residents. In fact, they have only come to the Steinbach Constituency once in 11 years of pre-budget consultations since they have been in government.

Pre-budget consultations are supposed to be an opportunity for Manitobans to have input in the creation of the provincial budget. In reality, in recent years, the NDP government has used these sessions more as a way to defend economic policy decisions already made. In short they have become more of a political vehicle for defending poor fiscal management than a way to really get public input.

Given the way the NDP have been running pre-budget meetings, it could be argued that we are not missing much by again being overlooked. But even so, it simply is disrespectful to purposely and repeatedly overlook one of the most economically stable and fastest growing parts of the province when it comes to these meetings.

Perhaps the NDP are worried that residents of our region will express concern over the NDP government’s decision to waste $1.75 billion on building the new hydro transmission line on one of the longest routes imaginable.

Maybe they are concerned that local residents will go and express concern over the half a billion dollar deficit the NDP is running on core operations of government. Perhaps, because this part of Manitoba was a key driver in getting the Progressive Conservative government to bring in Balanced Budget legislation in the mid 1990s, the NDP are worried residents would voice their opposition at the meetings about the NDP dismantling the balanced budget requirements.

Whatever the reason, it’s not good enough. One of the first places that the NDP should be going to hear about the fiscal needs and direction of the province is right here. After all, residents, through their actions and businesses have shown that they know what they are talking about. Now if only the NDP would listen.