Byelection blackout has Tories mum on post-secondary cuts

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This article was published 19/05/2017 (3093 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It could be June 14 before universities and colleges get any word from the provincial government about an impending order to cut 15 per cent of their managers.

“No, I’m not doing any announcement on that at the present time,” Premier Brian Pallister told reporters Thursday. “You know the reason why.”

Pallister did not elaborate, but the Progressive Conservatives are declining to discuss issues because of the blackout on publishing or advertising information on government activities or programs during the campaign for the June 13 byelection in Point Douglas.

Earlier during question period, Rochelle Squires, the minister of sport, culture and heritage, refused to answer questions from New Democrat MLA Tom Lindsey about funding cuts to museums in northern Manitoba.

“I will not do that today because we are in blackout,” Squires told the house.

New Democrat argued the blackout does not cover matters raised in the legislature.

“I know they’re a little bit nervous now, but the house is paramount — there’s nothing preventing the minister from answering a question,” Swan said in an interview.

David McLaughlin, Pallister’s own director of communications and stakeholder relations, said exactly that in an email to the media when the byelection was called.

Citing section 92(1) of The Election Financing Act, McLaughlin quoted: “The EFA ‘blackout’ provisions do not apply in the legislative assembly. Ministers can continue to table bills, promote government programs and activities during legislative debates, and engage in question period and the regular business of the legislative assembly. Media interviews in response to such legislative activities are allowed.”

In question period, NDP education critic Wab Kinew predicted cutting 15 per cent of university and college managers is “going to disrupt programs. Some of them even teach. Sounds like front-line services to me,” Kinew said.

Kinew said universities aren’t run like businesses, a statement on which Pallister pounced right away, telling Kinew there is a lot post-secondary institutions can learn from business principles, such as how to get maximum value.

“There are many business principles we can learn from” that could help schools to make smart decisions, the premier said.

Earlier this week, Pallister said the directive will not extend to school divisions.

Kinew questioned that Thursday, specifically in terms of cuts in school division management. “Is this all we can expect, or will there be more?”

Pallister didn’t answer, instead firing back about the former NDP government’s tax increases and wait times.

Universities and colleges say they have heard nothing from the province about the coming directive and have no idea how long they would have to hit the target.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca