Pallister skips scrum for second straight day

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This article was published 09/05/2017 (3042 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The New Democrats are accusing Premier Brian Pallister of “ducking and running” to avoid questions about his wage controls and communications from Costa Rica.

MLA Andrew Swan told reporters Tuesday that Pallister had postponed scheduled estimates hearings for Tuesday afternoon after extensive questioning Monday in which Pallister refused to discuss how, if or with whom he communicates while at his vacation home in Costa Rica.

Pallister did not scrum after question period and neither did Finance Minister Cameron Friesen. Pallister also did not scrum Monday between question period and his estimates.

“For the second straight day, the podium has disappeared, the premier has disappeared. He’s ducking and running,” Swan said.

Swan said Pallister’s refusal to tell the estimates hearing if he communicates by phone, email or any other means while in Costa Rica leads the opposition to speculate the premier doesn’t communicate at all.

“He unplugs,” Swan charged. “He believes he’s entitled to weeks and weeks” without any communication with his staff.

Press secretary Amy McGuinness told reporters they should have put in a request prior to question period if they wanted to talk to Pallister or Friesen. The normal routine has been to request ministers after question period depending on what happens in the house.

In the house, interim NDP Leader Flor Marcelino went on the attack over public hearings Monday night that drew dozens of speakers opposed to public sector wage controls and a severe reduction in the number of health-care bargaining units.

Pallister responded by telling Marcelino that under his government, the annual pay for communications staff is $4.3 million, compared with $8 million under the NDP.

Marcelino doubted the numbers, to which Pallister retorted: “I don’t mind attacks, even personal ones, because they show desperation — the same as they used against their own leaders. She should show some boundaries.”

The premier also told Marcelino non-partisan civil servants compiled the numbers. “She should not be attacking civil servants in this province.”

Education critic Wab Kinew tried to get a commitment Pallister would make public any reports the government orders in deciding whether to build schools through private-public partnerships. Kinew urged that the auditor general conduct the research.

He got no answer, but he did receive a response. Pallister said the former NDP government had used a P3 to build the Disraeli bridge, but now oppose P3s because the Canadian Union of Public Employees opposes them: “Their union buddies stood up and said, ‘No more P3s,’ ” said the premier.

New Democrat Jim Maloway told the house the Bell/MTS deal means the loss of 85 good-paying jobs and reminded Pallister and Friesen how enthusiastically they had welcomed the deal.

“Is the premier working for Bay Street, or is he working for Manitobans?” Maloway challenged.

Friesen said he regrets the loss of jobs, but “there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic. Overall, it looks as though things are improving.”

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca