View From the Legislature

It has been several months since NDP Premier Greg Selinger announced that he would be increasing the provincial sales tax from 7% to 8%.

Manitoba school children and youth are heading back to school as another summer recess comes to an end.

In Manitoba we are fortunate to have caring and professional medical staff in our hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centres.

The past week at the Manitoba Legislature focused largely on the search for accountability. It wasn’t an easy search.

One of the things that Manitoba’s NDP government has been trying to do since increasing the PST from 7% to 8% is convince Manitobans that it’s really a small increase in taxes that will not impact Manitoba.

Academics and those involved with politics and campaigns often express concern with the lack of citizen engagement in public issues.

As we near the end of July and the sixth week of the extended session in the Manitoba Legislature the NDP government is becoming more and more desperate to distract from the PST increase which they brought in without a referendum and without the law having passed.

Last week I introduced in the Manitoba Legislature Bill 214, The Cyber-bullying Prevention Act.

They say that in politics a week is a long time. It’s a saying that reflects the fact that things can change very quickly in public life.

During visits with constituents this past Canada Day long weekend, many expressed concern not only with the PST increase that took place on July 1 (from 7% to 8%) but also with the way in which the increase happened.