Despite shiny new buildings, voters may still want new provincial leadership

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This article was published 15/12/2015 (3593 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Premier Greg Selinger tried his best to look like a man of the future, but the overall impression after his state of the province speech Tuesday was of a government that is tired and out of new ideas.

Mr. Selinger said it was the first campaign speech of the 2016 spring election, but if so, it was not an inspiring start.

The premier received polite applause a few times when he mentioned some of the city’s “world-class assets,” such as the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, but overall the business-friendly audience was subdued, a stark contrast from the mood of some earlier years in the NDP’s reign.

The premier, however, is satisfied with the government’s record, although he admits to a brief oversight in the way the provincial sales tax was raised to pay for new infrastructure. Other than that, it’s steady as she goes, damn the fiscal torpedoes.

He said infrastructure spending would be ramped up beyond 2020, which will undoubtedly be a cornerstone of the election campaign, with the NDP reminding voters of all the new construction that has occurred over the last 16 years.

The premier made no mention of his broken promises to balance the budget, a pledge he seems to have abandoned completely after moving the deadline several times over the last four years.

There was no talk, for example, of balancing the budget in five years or 10 years or ever. Not a word about whether it was even important to reduce deficits. That was a concern for the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, which said later it would be making the fiscal situation an issue in the election campaign.

Mr. Selinger simply said the global economy is fragile and we live in a time when government initiatives are always at risk of being disrupted by the accelerated pace of change.

Under these conditions, he suggested, cutting taxes and resources is not an option, a swipe at both the Tory and Liberal opposition.

He invested more time than usual in hitting the Liberal party, which has not been a factor in Manitoba politics for some time. Liberal leader Rana Bokhari, however, has succeeded in capturing headlines and popular interest over a series of announcements this year. It may well be that internal NDP polls show she is building momentum, which could be deadly for the NDP in Winnipeg, where the party still has significant support.

In terms of infrastructure, the premier took credit for MPI’s announcement it would partner with True North Sports and Entertainment in erecting three new buildings between the MTS Centre and the RBC Convention Centre. He advised his audience to stay tuned for more announcements on True North’s plans.

It was no coincidence MPI’s role was leaked to the Free Press in advance of the premier’s speech. A day earlier, there was another announcement about rebuilding the McPhillips Station Casino into a shiny new emporium that would attract young people.

The NDP has a strong record on downtown development and in supporting special projects that have improved the reputation of the city. Low unemployment and forecasts of modest economic growth are also in the NDP’s corner.

The premier is promising more of the same, but it may not be enough to stave off defeat, particularly if the Liberals are surging. Voters may like the shiny new buildings and roads, as well as the new schools and health facilities, but many Manitobans may also feel it is time for a new set of eyes to examine the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Time eventually catches up to everyone, and it is creeping up fast on Premier Selinger.