NDP wants a winner at helm

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/10/2014 (4080 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The 2011 provincial election results, which led to an unprecedented fourth term for the NDP, showed Manitobans appreciated the accomplishments of the government since 1999 and wanted it to continue working for Manitoba families.

I don’t know how widely or when Premier Greg Selinger consulted prior to raising the PST, but, after pledging not to raise taxes during the campaign, he made the fateful decision to break his word. Raising the PST may have been the responsible thing to do, but when the premier goes back on a commitment, especially on an issue that directly affects people in their daily lives, he needs to be accountable for that decision. Manitobans expect and deserve that.

Over the past number of months, it has become increasingly clear to me and others that Selinger has not convinced Manitobans he made the right decision. Manitobans still don’t understand why he changed his mind on the PST. They want him held accountable. We see this in the polls and we saw this vividly during the recent City of Winnipeg campaign — when voters told campaigns for NDP-affiliated candidates they felt betrayed by the premier, and while they could trust some of our council candidates, they were not willing to trust us with the top job.

Manitobans feel betrayed by Selinger and, as a result, they will not trust him again.

To send a message to him, Manitobans are prepared to go down a different path from the one we started down together in 1999. I know Manitobans don’t want deep cuts to infrastructure, health care and other front-line services, but it appears they are ready to support a party committed to those cuts so they can punish Selinger.

I understand that anger and the desire for change in leadership. That is why I have chosen to speak out.

Manitoba has come a long way since the last time the Progressive Conservative Party was in office. Our population is growing faster than it has in decades. Winnipeg’s downtown is experiencing a resurgence. Our health-care system is no longer in critical condition. Manitobans don’t want to go back. They don’t support the deep cuts, cancelled projects and user-pay health care that Tory Leader Brian Pallister is proposing.

Unless there is a change in leadership, the next election will be a referendum on Selinger, instead of about the very different visions the NDP and PCs have for the province of Manitoba. That would be unfortunate because there is a great deal at stake. We need an opportunity to rebuild the trust of Manitobans.

Then, the next election can be about issues and visions, not personalities. Manitobans deserve nothing less.

 

Becky Barrett is a retired MLA and cabinet minister in the Gary Doer government. She has been active in the NDP for more than 30 years and currently sits on the NDP provincial executive as the regional vice president for the Interlake.