Education cuts, inflation concern Manitobans
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/09/2022 (265 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Welcome back to school for our families and friends. It’s been an eventful summer meeting with constituents, attending events and hearing more about the issues that are top of mind for Wolseley residents.
With the return to school, I have heard from a lot of parents and families about plans for their kids and their concerns about education. We all want the best for our kids, and that’s why it is so important that funding for education keep up with the growing needs of our classrooms. Unfortunately, the Progressive Conservative government is not doing its part. In 2016, the province paid for 62.4 per cent of the core operating costs in public education. Now, in 2021-2022, the province’s share is down to 56.4 per cent. This puts pressure on our schools to do more with less. When comparing the numbers year over year, the province has cut their contribution to the core funding of public education by $20 million during this past year alone.
These decisions make it difficult for schools to plan for the future as they struggle to meet student’s needs. The PC government has not been a good partner. As the auditor general of Manitoba recently reported, only 15 per cent of school leadership agrees with the statement that the PC government is taking appropriate action to help our kids to recover from the pandemic.
I have also heard a lot from families concerned about affordability. Inflation is really making it more difficult for many people and wages are just simply not keeping up. That’s why I was disappointed to learn that the PC government plans for this fall will keep Manitoba with the second-lowest minimum wage in the country. Like many people, we want a living wage so that no one working full time has to live in poverty.
As your representative, I am committed to addressing your concerns around affordability. That’s why I am so disappointed to see the PC government put forward legislation that, if passed, would all but guarantee that Hydro rates will increase by five per cent each and every year for years to come. The Manitoba NDP caucus opposes this legislation and this approach and has called for an all-party committee to address cost-of-living issues and to provide transparency on rising prices.
If you have a question or concern about education or affordability or any other issue, please call my office at 204-792-2773 or email lisa.naylor@yourmanitoba.ca
Lisa Naylor
Wolseley constituency report
Lisa Naylor is the NDP MLA for Wolseley.