In the face of an economy in Manitoba and Canada that is under increasing pressure and despite significant questions around the handling of health care, Premier Gary Doer told Manitobans last week that he has little intention of recalling the Manitoba Legislature any time soon.

In January it was reported that the province had lost 1,900 jobs the previous month and that Manitoba bankruptcies were the highest in the country, up 34.5% from the same time period last year.  Across the country, provincial governments are giving financial updates and making plans on how to reduce the negative impact on their residents of a failing economy.

Also this past month, it was revealed that the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has been accepting brown envelopes filled with cash and other goodies after awarding contracts to companies. Shortly after this, Manitoba’s Chief Medical Examiner made the shocking revelation that Brian Sinclair, who died after waiting 34 hours in a Winnipeg hospital emergency room, had approached the hospital triage desk seeking help, a direct contradiction to the information the NDP Minister of Health had been providing for months. These two revelations led to the call for the resignation of the NDP Minister of Health.

But instead of dealing with the issues of a failing economy and a lack of confidence in his government Ministers in the Manitoba Legislature where there can be transparency and accountability, Premier Doer has made a strategic decision to keep the lights off. He has publicly said he isn’t willing to answer any questions in the Legislature for, at least, several weeks. He also has no intention of introducing a provincial budget for several weeks. That means the provincial budget won’t be announced until several months after the federal government introduced its economic plan.

In the past Premier Doer has been quick to grandstand and to trumpet the importance of a government being transparent and ready to answer questions. But now that there are very serious questions on the economy and health care, he refuses to live up to those previous statements and allow the Manitoba Legislature to go back into session.

The need for the resumption of the Manitoba Legislature is even more pressing given Mr. Doer’s decision to hide behind legal tactics rather than respond to the public’s concern over the Brian Sinclair tragedy. While there has been a written review by health authorities regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of Brian Sinclair, Mr. Doer has said he cannot legally release the report. This is contrary to the advice being given by the government’s own former deputy justice minister who says there is no reason the review cannot be released publicly.

Mr. Doer’s current position is that he will not recall the Legislature for weeks to deal with the economy or to answer questions related to health care. That is an insult to all Manitobans.