With Gary Doer finally agreeing to call the Manitoba Legislature back into session for March 25th there was a renewed sense of hope that important issues such as the weakening economy, the need for improved highways, a strategy for the agriculture sector, crime fighting initiatives and improvements to health care might finally make it onto the NDP government’s list of priorities.
It appears that may have been overly optimistic.
With a host of important issues needing to be discussed in Manitoba, the top priority for the NDP and its supporters this past week has been whether or not Manitoba needs a new flag. As NDP members meet this coming week at their annual convention, it seems to be the priority that is garnering most of their attention and discussion.
The Manitoba flag, despite its historical significant, is probably not the most recognizable symbol even among provincial residents. Although it is flown at many provincial government buildings, the Canadian flag, as a symbol of all of Canada, would be far more recognizable to Manitobans of almost every age. Still, the Manitoba flag with its Union Jack in the upper left corner and provincial crest on red background has been the official provincial flag since 1966. It represents both our ties to the British parliamentary system and the history of our province and the people who founded it.
Among the many issues and concerns that people raise with me on a weekly basis, from our crowded schools to the need for better health care services, one issue that has never come up is the need to change our provincial flag. But while it may not be at the top of the agenda for most Manitobans, it is for the NDP.
Perhaps this shouldn’t be surprising. For almost the last two years, while the provincial debt was increasing and the livestock sector was struggling to stay alive in Manitoba, the NDP spent millions of dollars and countless hours developing and then trying to sell Spirited Energy as a new brand for Manitoba. This despite the fact that few people could be sure what exactly it was supposed to mean and what image it was intended to present.
Yet millions of taxpayers’ dollars went into TV, radio, banners and newspaper advertising to promote the Spirited Energy slogan. Slowly but surely, those ads have stopped and the banners have come down as the NDP government has reluctantly admitted that the Spirited Energy campaign was a bust and a waste of millions of dollars.
There are many, many priorities that face our province today. We have never been more dependent on federal transfer payments and our key assets, such as Manitoba Hydro, are drowning in debt due to government mismanagement.
Fresh off the experience of Spirited Energy, Gary Doer and the NDP need to spend less time worrying about symbols and brands and more time worrying about the real challenges that face Manitobans.
