This Winnipeg Free Press article reveals a long list of studies by private consultants ordered by the Pallister government since they took office in 2016. The article quotes Winnipeg political scientist Paul Thomas, who comments on the trend to rely on outside consultants as it reduces the number of in-house policy analysts. This is a … Continue reading The Pallister Government and Private Consultants: Are they giving us ‘value’ for our money?
Will the Pallister Government Privatize Manitoba Hydro?
An October 18th provincial news release announced that former BC Premier Gordon Campbell will head yet another economic review of Hydro mega projects, Keeyask and Bipole III. There is a huge red flag here that relates to our November 4, 2016 post, Manufacturing Crisis. In that post we outlined the 10 step strategy governments use … Continue reading Will the Pallister Government Privatize Manitoba Hydro?
Manitoba’s Housing Strategy: Subsidies for Luxury Living Downtown
There have been a number of decisions made by the Pallister government that are raising some eyebrows on the housing front. We've written about some of these in previous posts. But the recent True North Square deal, juxtaposed against a soon to be eliminated tax credit aimed at stimulating the development of affordable units, are … Continue reading Manitoba’s Housing Strategy: Subsidies for Luxury Living Downtown
Post-secondary education supports bite the dust
Now that Manitoba’s universities have had time to digest what the 2018 budget cuts mean for them, they are starting to react. Anyone who has been to university, or works at one, understands the importance of the campus library. The library provides, intellectually speaking, essential services to students, professors and instructors. It seems unthinkable that … Continue reading Post-secondary education supports bite the dust
Brian Pallister’s so called “best budget ever”
On Monday March 12th, the Manitoba government released its 2nd budget since being elected in 2016. The often socially awkward Premier chose to use a kind of Trump-esque communication style by describing the 2018 budget as "the best budget ever. As described in our post outlining the fall Throne Speech, we had a pretty good … Continue reading Brian Pallister’s so called “best budget ever”
Manitoba Speech from the Throne 2017
As is typical of government speeches from the throne, the 2017 Manitoba speech contains a lot of platitudes and little more. It hits on topics of importance to many Manitobans including a promise of "better health care sooner" and building "a better place for all of us for generations to come". It gives a nod to … Continue reading Manitoba Speech from the Throne 2017
Post-Secondary Education: For Elites Only?
Of course we knew that the Pallister government would be going after public education. Last week it held hearings on its Bill 31. As this CBC blog explains, “Bill 31, introduced in March and debated this week at the Manitoba Legislature, will permit university tuition fees to increase up to five per cent, plus the … Continue reading Post-Secondary Education: For Elites Only?
Housing the Homeless in Manitoba: What’s the Plan?
The National Conference on Ending Homelessness was held in Winnipeg October 25-27. Minister Scott Fielding joined Mayor Bowman and Adam Vaughan, the federal government's Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Social Development, to share with delegates what their governments are doing about homelessness. While those in attendance were encouraged to hear that the federal government … Continue reading Housing the Homeless in Manitoba: What’s the Plan?
Beware of “Mixed-Model” Home Care in Manitoba
In September the Pallister Government announced its plans to implement a 'mixed-model" home care system that smacks of privatization. In the article The Politics of "Mixed-Model" Home Care, Mary Jean Handle and Christine Kelly, scholars in the Department of Community Services at the University of Manitoba warn that Manitoba's home care services, described by Manitoba … Continue reading Beware of “Mixed-Model” Home Care in Manitoba
Value Manitoba 