The first session of the 43rd Manitoba Legislature opened Wednesday, October 2, in Winnipeg. Portage la Prairie MLA Jeff Bereza gave a preview before the meeting, outlining key issues expected to be discussed.
He highlighted several important topics, including Manitoba’s significant deficit.
“We want to know the reasons behind that. I think Manitobans want to know the reasons behind that. We want to know things like the Portage redevelopment and how much money the provincial government and the people of Manitoba are putting into a project like that. We also want to hear what actually happened with the new independent member, Mark Wasyliw, who was an NDP member. There have been a number of allegations levelled.”
Bereza believes this session presents an opportunity to discuss those issues, along with concerns from Portage la Prairie residents, particularly the lack of an MRI in the new hospital.
“Why are we still not getting an MRI in the hospital? We want to ask the government why they won’t take the $5 million from the Portage and District General Hospital Foundation, which would essentially cover the cost of installing the MRI during the construction phase. Why wait until five years after construction?”
Bereza says affordability will also be a key topic. He pointed out the rising cost of groceries and the impact it’s having on residents.
“Speaking to many seniors, as well as younger people, the sticker shock at the grocery store right now is something else. We need to examine how we can make things more affordable. It’s also important to press the government on the carbon tax. We’re in the middle of harvest, and farmers have faced significant hardships recently with two strikes that disrupted grain flow in Canada. Does this put Canadian farmers at risk of being seen as unreliable suppliers? These are just a few of the topics we’ll be addressing in the House this session.”