View From the Legislature

The horrific crash that killed fifteen people onboard the bus that was carrying the Humboldt Broncos hockey team to a Junior Hockey playoff game has both torn a community and united a country.

On Monday I was joined in Steinbach by Minister of Justice Heather Stefanson and RCMP Assistant Commissioner Scott Kolody as it was announced that $50,000 was being provided to the Steinbach Headway program.

This past Monday, I had the opportunity to congratulate Barkman Concrete on being named one of Canada’s Best Managed Company.

Prior to the last provincial election, one of the consistent concerns that I heard from local residents was the high cost of using an ambulance.

While Manitobans rightly anticipate spring after a long winter, experience has shown us that with spring comes the annual concern about flooding.

We carry more technology with us each and every day than most of us could have imagined a couple of decades ago.

While the federal Liberal government has made the decision to legalize marijuana, it left in the hands of the provinces many decisions including, how it would be sold, the legal age it could be used and where it could be used.

Putting together a provincial budget, not unlike a household budget, is about balancing priorities. There will almost always be more needs or desires than there will be financial ability to meet them.

It seems to be a March tradition in Manitoba that winter provides one last blast of significant snow. This happened again this past week and it means that snow clearing equipment was out in full force on our roads and highways.

The past week may have felt a lot more like the middle of winter, but the spring Legislative session has now begun. One of the first things on the agenda will be the introduction of the 2018/2019 provincial budget on March 12th.