Anti-phosphorus detergent bill, Apology Act blocked by NDP from coming to vote

WINNIPEG – In a quick and dirty legislative move earlier today, the Doer NDP government adjourned debate on two highly popular Liberal bills effectively killing any chance for the bills to proceed through the Legislature this session.

Bills 202 and 203, the Liberals’ bills to ban the sale of dishwashing detergents containing phosphorus and to remove legal liability when saying sorry, both hit the NDP’s brick wall when two government backbenchers moved to shut down debate.

“Instead of having the courage to put their views on the public record, the NDP have decided to purposely stonewall progressive liberal legislation based solely on the fact that the bills were not their idea,” Liberal Leader Dr. Jon Gerrard said. “This is without doubt one of the most cowardly and petty acts a government can do – and it shows utter hypocrisy from a government who claims to care about the well being of Manitobans.”

Equally appalling was the decision of Selkirk MLA Greg Dewar to serve as Gary Doer’s puppet by wielding the knife to kill the Liberal ban on phosphorus in dishwasher detergents. The bill is an important part of the Manitoba Liberals’ larger effort in fighting Lake Winnipeg’s massive problem with toxic blue-green algae.

“NDP MLAs around Lake Winnipeg like Greg Dewar, Peter Bjornson and Thomas Nevakshonoff are going to have to do some major spinning to explain to their constituents why they held up legislation to save Lake Winnipeg,” Dr. Gerrard said. “That these MLAs and their government would be so selfish as to deliberately block lake-saving legislation just because it wasn’t their idea is reprehensible. They have a duty to their constituents, not just to their political masters in Gary Doer’s office.”

Dr. Gerrard said he will continue to speak out about the plight of Lake Winnipeg and other Manitoba lakes which are encrusted in toxic blue-green algae.

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