Brian Pallister’s path to the premiership may well lie in seat-rich southern Manitoba, but this past weekend he sought to build bridges in the North.
The Progressive Conservative leader made stops in Flin Flon, The Pas and Thompson on Saturday, March 19, unveiling Yes! North, his party’s vision for the northern region.
Pallister is heavily favoured to become Manitoba’s 22nd premier on April 19, but it remains to be seen how much appeal he carries for northern voters who historically tilt NDP.
As CBC.ca reported, a poll out this week from the firm Mainstreet, commissioned by Postmedia, gives the PCs 44 per cent support among all Manitoba voters who are decided or leaning toward a particular party. That was 20 points ahead of both the Liberals and NDP, who each had 24 per cent.
Outside of Winnipeg, the Tories enjoyed 46 per cent support compared to 14 per cent for the NDP. While “outside of Winnipeg” is a broad region, such figures offer hope to a PC Party long shut out of northern Manitoba.
The PCs describe Yes! North as a plan to make economic development a priority, a message the party hopes will resonate in northern Manitoba, a region with a sky-high 35 per cent unemployment rate.
“We’ve listened and heard the significant challenges we face in the North,” Pallister says.
Of course Pallister is not without his detractors. Some portray him as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a man whose cuts to public spending would not stop at waste, but would in fact eat into the services Manitobans hold dear.
The Reminder caught up with Pallister to discuss his approach to Flin Flon, the attacks against him and whether Manitobans should worry about his spending priorities.
Q: What do you see as the top priority for Flin Flon specifically and northern Manitoba as a whole?
Pallister: As we said on Saturday in making our Yes! North announcement, a new PC government has a better plan for a better Manitoba. And economic development and jobs for the North are a major part of that. The Yes! North initiative is about creating partnerships to allow Flin Flon and northern Manitoba to reach their full economic potential.
Under the NDP, that potential has been ignored. The Selinger NDP has taken the North for granted. Northern Manitoba’s unemployment rate has reached 35 per cent – the highest in Canada. Yes! North will focus economic investment on developing partnerships in priority sectors, including tourism and natural resources.
We want to attract companies and private-sector investment, help entrepreneurs and make expansion for businesses easier in order to create quality jobs and a stronger economy in Flin Flon and across northern Manitoba.
Q: Your party has not been competitive in the Flin Flon constituency for decades. Do you think this election will be any different? If so, why?
Pallister: We take nothing for granted and are working hard to earn the trust of every Manitoban.
Manitobans want change. Northern Manitoba wants change, too. Our better plan for a better Manitoba is resonating with people across this province, who see what Manitoba can become and want a change for the better.
In Flin Flon, this is no different. Voters are tired of the NDP’s broken promises and excessive waste, which has eroded the front-line services that Manitobans depend on.
In the Flin Flon constituency, we have a superb candidate in Angela Enright who is reaching out to residents and organizations and hearing their concerns.
On election day, April 19, voters in Flin Flon will decide which candidate they want to represent them in the legislature. I believe Angela Enright has a really good chance to become that winning candidate.
Q: Suggestions have been made by supporters of other parties that should you win, you will de-fund projects the NDP has pledged for this riding, such as the new Flin Flon General Hospital ER. Can you confirm that projects already underway will proceed?
Pallister: It is sad to see these kinds of fear and scare tactics circulated by a political party. Flin Flon residents deserve better.
A new Progressive Conservative government will protect front-line services, in health care and all other sectors. We will do so by eliminating wasteful government spending that should be directed at these services rather than inside government.
After 17 years, the Selinger NDP has built up a record of waste in government. We will carry out a thorough value-for-money review of the province’s finances and operations to locate that waste, duplication and overlap so we can invest in better front-line services like health care.
Q: In passing the latest Flin Flon School Division budget, which boosts spending by $521,234, one trustee described the board as “really scared” if there’s a change in government. There was a concern that education dollars from the province would be reduced. How do you respond?
Pallister: There is simply no reason or evidence for that kind of concern. A new Progressive Conservative government will focus on results.
Under the Selinger NDP, Manitoba is in last place in Canada in literacy, math and science. You pay more and get less under this NDP government.
Our plan is to improve front-line services in the entire education system, so we can achieve better learning and education outcomes for students while empowering parents, teachers and students. We will make Manitoba the most improved province in Canada for educational outcomes.
Q: Your party has raised concerns over rising Manitoba Hydro rates and their impact on families. Would you as premier take steps to ensure rates are lowered or, at the very least, no longer increased at the current rate?
Pallister: All Manitobans should be very concerned about escalating hydro rates and the impact they will have on their pocketbooks.
This is a legacy of the Selinger NDP government. According to Manitoba Hydro’s own estimates, residential hydro rates will at least double over the next 20 years.
As Progressive Conser-vatives, we are committed to making decisions based on expert advice, instead of the NDP’s short-term political thinking. This is the way to ensure rates do not continue to rise to pay for expensive Hydro decisions.
Q: You have smiled off the NDP ad accusing you of “running with scissors.” To be clear, are you saying you wouldn’t cut any services?
Pallister: The Selinger NDP has run out of ideas. This is an old, tired government. Manitobans want change.
We’ve been very clear from the outset that we’ll maintain all front-line services for Manitobans. This is extremely important, because these services have been steadily eroding under the excessive waste, huge debt and high taxation of the Selinger NDP.
Manitobans are tired of paying more in taxes and getting less in services. Manitobans need their front-line services enhanced and improved. We’re going to do that.
Q: How do Progressive Conservative values suit the challenges currently facing Manitoba?
Pallister: Our values are Manitoba’s values. Values like trust, compassion, inclusion, common sense and teamwork. Now, more than ever, Manitoba needs partnerships and teamwork between its government and the residents of this great province.
That’s what we will bring to the North and to Flin Flon. Manitobans have seen quite clearly that the Selinger NDP is not a team.
The Progressive Conser-vatives are a team that will work collaboratively with municipalities, businesses, organizations and residents to make Manitoba the most improved province in Canada.
Q: The polls suggest you are undoubtedly Manitoba’s next premier. I presume you’ll tell me you’re not taking anything for granted?
Pallister: The PC Team is not taking anything for granted. We’ve been working hard for the past few years, listening to what Manitobans have to say about our future and about what they want for this province.
We’re continuing to do that, right up to April 19. And the only poll that matters is the one on election day when the voters speak.
