Economic Statement or Political Spin?

The Manitoba Legislature begins a new session November 20th with an opening that will be slightly different than is tradition.

Normally, a new Legislative Session begins with what is called a Throne Speech where the government outlines its basic priorities for the months ahead. Because of the global financial crisis and the impact it is having on economies around the world, this year’s Throne Speech will also contain an economic statement which will give an update on the current state of the province’s books and finances and how the NDP plans to handle the weakening economy.

The economic statement from the NDP government will indicate what, if anything, it have learned from the past few months. Early indications are that Gary Doer and his cabinet may not have learned much. Even after eight years of record spending and running the provincial net debt to a level that has every Manitoban owing $8,500, the current economic uncertainty doesn’t seem to have dampened the NDP’s spending spirit.

In fact, while global financial markets were crashing Gary Doer and his colleagues were going on a spending spree and using your money to finance it all. In September alone the province announced $225 million of new spending. Added to this is the fact that the NDP government recently passed legislation that ends any requirement for the government to balance its budget annually in Manitoba.

Gary Doer and the NDP’s response to financial uncertainty has been to rack up the credit cards and change the rules so that they no longer have any restraint on their spending.

While it doesn’t appear likely, Thursday’s economic statement does provide an opportunity for the NDP government to set a new direction for Manitoba. A direction that both helps families deal with a weakening economy and provides a better outlook for Manitoba’s future.

Manitoba Progressive Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen provided the NDP government with several suggestions in advance of the economic update and Throne Speech. These include reversing the decision to spend an extra $640 million running the new hydro transmission line down the longer less reliable route on the west side of Lake Winnipeg instead of on the east side of the Lake. Manitoba Progressive Conservative’s also want the NDP to repeal legislation that gives a million taxpayer dollars to the NDP to finance their next election campaign.

The Conservative plan also calls for making our province more competitive by ensuring an Inland Port is developed in Manitoba to create meaningful employment opportunities and renew infrastructure. As well, it includes a plan to make us more competitive with our provincial neighbor Saskatchewan.

Having an economic statement is an unusual way to start a new session of the Manitoba Legislature. But these are unusual economic times. Hopefully when it comes to the free spending NDP Government, this will not just be business as usual.