Teamwork part of vision for 2017

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/12/2016 (3310 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If you’re wondering what file is going to be the most important file for Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister and his Tories in 2017, Thursday’s state-of-the-province address to the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce removed all doubt. It’s health care, and it’s a smart move because there are few that would argue health care isn’t an issue in Manitoba with the longest ER wait times in Canada.

As Mr. Pallister wrapped up his talk with the chamber, he and his newly named advisory panel are off to Ottawa, to attend a first ministers meeting hosted by the prime minister that begins today. On paper, the meeting is to discuss climate change, but Mr. Pallister has signalled his concerns about funding from Ottawa, putting pressure on provinces attempting to balance their budgets and provide quality health care.

The premier also talked Thursday about health care as a way of streamlining the bargaining process. In Manitoba’s health-care system alone, Mr. Pallister said, there are 169 bargaining units while in the rest of the Prairie provinces, there are less than 20 bargaining units combined. How the premier sold this idea to the crowd is really indicative of his skill as a speaker. Instead of talking dry numbers and cutbacks, which are sure to get people’s backs up, he focused instead on the fact that there are 47 bereavement clauses available within 169 bargaining agreements in the province’s health-care system. What this means, he pointed out, is that two members of the same family working in different bargaining units in health care, would have different levels of leave available if their mother died. Now, how could a union leader stand up and say they are against changing that? Answer: they couldn’t.

There could have been an informal drinking game for the chamber audience on Thursday requiring members to take a drink every time the premier mentioned the word “team.” Few would have left sober, frankly. Mr. Pallister talked about the need for everyone to work together to make Manitoba the most improved province — all hands on deck as he put it.

He proved his dedication to teamwork by interrupting his address several times in order to have audience members stand up for recognition, including not only MLAs of all political stripes, but his newly named members of his enterprise team as well as groups of students who were also attending and members of the government advisory panel. Everyone is on his team was the subtle message. They all can take part in the work ahead.

He also paused to hold back tears as he described his emotions while playing on a fastball team at an international tournament and hearing the Canadian anthem. His team, the underdogs won its first game against the first-ranked home team. The message there: you can’t underestimate a Canadian or a Manitoban.

But Mr. Pallister is still missing some key team members. Namely, organized labour. He brushed off concerns that those named to his inner circle do no appear to include union leaders. Instead, he says he has talked to labour, including front-line workers as the Tories consult with Manitobans in preparation for the 2017 budget.

This was the premier’s first state-of-the-province address and around 1,300 chamber members showed up to hear his vision as the province moves toward 2017. It ended with a standing ovation from a friendly crowd interested in buying Mr. Pallister’s vision. Let’s see if the unions will.