The newly announced west side Bipole III expenses make the Liberal’s Lake Winnipeg route the best choice for Manitoba:  Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal party and MLA for River Heights announced today that the NDP’s final route for Bipole III will cost Manitobans millions more than originally forecasted.  The Manitoba Liberals estimate that an underwater Bipole III would cost $1.1 billion and protect valuable agricultural land while the NDP’s west side route is estimated to cost $2.2 billion and take hundreds of acres of prime farmland out of use.

 “The additional cost of funding a $50 million Community Development Initiative as well as the loss of valuable agricultural land will make the Westside route far more expensive than this NDP government originally forecasted,” said Gerrard.  “These additional costs now make it very clear that the best option for Manitoba financially and environmentally, was to route this line down the centre of the province and under Lake Winnipeg.”

 Gerrard refuted the NDP’s claim that Bipole III could not be run under the lake due to lack of research and the harsh climate.  “These lines are being used all over the world very successfully and in climates and conditions that are much harsher than Lake Winnipeg.  The NDP had an opportunity to build Bipole III more affordably while preserving our forests and agricultural land but they opted not to. In fact the NDP are seriously considering an underwater application for Bipole IV.” 

 “Manitobans should be outraged at the negligence this government has shown over the management of the Bipole III project. Many generations of Manitobans are going to be paying for this latest and possible most expensive example of NDP incompetence.”

 The Manitoba Liberal Party has continued to raise the issue of Bipole III as part of their commitment to creating a fiscally responsible government for Manitoba.

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For more information please contact Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for Manitoba Liberal Caucus at Room 169 – 450 Broadway, Legislative Building, Winnipeg, MB  R3C 0V8 or Tel: (204) 771-2513 or Fax: (204) 948-3220 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca .

Manitoba should be partnering with Saskatchewan on funding clinical trials and conducting a large scale MS study: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Dr. Jon Gerrard, Manitoba Liberal Leader and MLA for River Heights criticized the NDP today for not following Saskatchewan’s lead in funding clinical trials of “liberation treatment” for multiple sclerosis patients.  Gerrard suggested that Health Minister Theresa Oswald was missing a valuable opportunity to help advance research on the treatment and prevention of multiple sclerosis.

 “Manitoba Liberals are extremely disappointed that Minister Oswald has not been more informed on the liberation treatment file,” said Gerrard.  “Minister Oswald should have actively consulted fellow provincial health ministers.   Her lack of interest on the issue has now lost Manitoba a valuable opportunity to partner with Saskatchewan on conducting clinical trials on this innovative treatment.”

 Gerrard added: “Manitoba and Saskatchewan have very high rates of multiple sclerosis within their populations so it makes logical sense for the provinces to join forces in funding and running research trials.” 

 The Liberal Leader agreed that the treatment is highly controversial but also stated that questions surrounding the treatment should not be the reason that Manitoba drags its heels in funding clinical trials.

 “I was a medical researcher for 20 years and I believe there is no better opportunity for a government to advance medicine than when a new treatment is beginning to show promise. We should partner with Saskatchewan as a cost effective way to help fund these trials.”

 “Given that Manitoba is internationally known as a hot spot for multiple sclerosis and we have the resources to complete these trials, I am extremely disappointed that our Health Minster and the NDP haven’t positioned us to be a global leader in the fight against multiple sclerosis.”

 The Manitoba Liberal Party believes that funding innovative medical research is fiscally responsible as new treatments can reduce long-term health care costs associated with debilitating diseases like multiple sclerosis.

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For more information please contact Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for Manitoba Liberal Caucus – Tel: (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

The new law came into effect July 1, 2010 yet phosphorus-rich products are still on store shelves: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Manitoba Liberal Leader, Jon Gerrard, today called the NDP’s implementation of Bill 8, The Phosphorus Reduction Act, a failure in government communication.  Bill 8 restricts phosphorus levels in dishwashing detergents sold in Manitoba to no more than 0.5%. The legislation took effect July 1, 2010 but many retailers still have products containing high levels of the algae-boosting element and are unaware of the new guidelines.

 “Many retailers are going to be on the hook for products that contain phosphorus and are still on their shelves, and I think the NDP are to blame.  There has been little to no communication with vendors on this legislation,” said Gerrard.  “Retailers should have been contacted and reminded to begin adjusting their orders of certain detergents in anticipation of this ban starting.”

 Gerrard also noted that there has been little if any money invested in educating retailers about the implementation of Bill 8.  “Compared to the money spent on educating the public on the new cell phone ban in vehicles, I would say that the NDP have totally ignored the need to work with the retail sector on properly launching this regulation.”

 The concept for the Government’s Bill 8 was originally presented by Gerrard as Private Members Bill 206 on November 21, 2006, but was not supported by the NDP.

 “It’s always disappointing that the NDP choose to play partisan politics with policies that are good for Manitoba’s environment.  Had the original Liberal phosphate reduction act been passed in 2006, the amount of phosphorus heading into Lake Winnipeg and other lakes due to dishwashing detergents would have been reduced starting more than two years ago.”

 The Manitoba Liberal Party believes that protecting and repairing Manitoba’s lakes through innovative research and progressive legislation is a cornerstone of the Liberal commitment to environmental stewardship. 

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For more information please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer, Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

Seventeen days have passed since Child Advocate’s Office appeared at a legislative committee and the NDP have done little: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party said today that Manitoba Liberals are outraged by the lack of action by the NDP on the crisis within the province’s child welfare system.

 “The NDP’s lack of urgency on this situation is unacceptable.  Seventeen days have passed since the acting director of the Child Advocate’s Office was called before a legislative committee and there has been little work done by Minister Mackintosh and his office,” said Gerrard.   “They should have been able to come up with a basic priority list for the most urgent issues and should have also moved forward on plans to integrate recommendations from reviews of the system,” said Gerrard.  

 Gerrard said that his office has made Manitoba’s child welfare system a priority for a number of years and has ramped up work on the issue in recent weeks.  “Following the initial presentation to the Legislative Assembly Management Committee by the Child Advocate on April 27, 2010, I instructed my staff to move aggressively on identifying best practices in BC and Alberta.  Both provinces have had much success in keeping kids out of care by providing preventative services to families and we need to move fast towards similar models.”

 “This NDP government cannot be trusted to correct this child welfare crisis anytime soon and I have seen little contribution from the Conservatives as well,” said Gerrard.   “It’s disgraceful that the majority of action on this crisis is happening in an opposition party office with two MLAs.  The children of this province deserve to have their needs attended to by all parties working together with a focus on expediting solutions.” 

 The Manitoba Liberal Party believes that keeping families strong and healthy is a cornerstone in the Liberal commitment to social justice and fiscal responsibility.

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For more information please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for Manitoba Liberal Caucus at Room 169 – 450 Broadway, Legislative Building, Winnipeg, MB  R3C 0V8 ; Tel: (204) 771-2513; Fax: (204) 948-3220 ; michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

Large increases in the number of kids needing dental surgery for cavities shows the NDP are failing to deliver: Gerrard

Winnipeg – Dr. Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party and MLA for River Heights today criticized the NDP’s performance on basic dental care for children in the province. Gerrard cited a Freedom of Information Request that reveals almost 2,679 dental surgeries related to cavities were performed on Manitoba children, aged six and under, in 2008/2009.

“The number of pediatric dental surgeries needed as a result of cavities continues to climb under this NDP government,” said Gerrard. “There were 1000 more of these cavity related surgeries in 2008/2009 than in 1999, when the NDP formed government. If the NDP were managing the dental health of children properly, the number of kids needing surgery should be well below 1999 levels.”

Gerrard recommended that all current pediatric dental programs currently in operation be reviewed to ensure they are being utilized by parents and children and that these programs be expanded where necessary. The former Pediatrician also recommended that additional resources be directed to parental education on the subject of cavity prevention.

“The majority of pediatric dental surgeries are done on children from northern Manitoba. These kids must be flown to Winnipeg and ultimately cost Manitoba taxpayers far more than if their parents had received adequate education on preventing pediatric cavities in the first place.”

“No child in this province should need to have invasive dental surgery before the age of six,” said Gerrard. “Nearly every child under the age of six that needs dental surgery this year was born under this NDP government. The continuing increase in these cavity related surgeries shows a real lack of progress and management by the NDP.”

The Manitoba Liberal Party believes that keeping children strong and healthy is a cornerstone of the Liberal commitment to social justice and fiscal responsibility.

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For more information, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for Manitoba Liberal Caucus  at (204) 771-2513 or email at Michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

WINNIPEG – In a nomination meeting held earlier today in Tyndall Park, Manitoba Liberals nominated Roldan Sevillano Jr. to be the candidate in the newly formed constituency of Tyndall Park for the 2011 provincial election.

Approximately sixty people attended the constituency meeting, including Roldan’s nominator, Kevin Lamoureux, MLA for Inkster, and Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, a former MP for Winnipeg North.

Roldan, who served as past riding president federally for Winnipeg North, is considered by many to be a rising star in the Liberal Party. He immigrated to Canada with his family from the Philippines when he was very young and has lived and worked most of his life in the Winnipeg North area.

Roldan received his training at Red River Community College and he works in therapeutic recreation for older adults. He is also strongly committed to youth issues. As Area Head of CFC – Youth for Christ Manitoba/Saskatchewan, Roldan supports Liberal values about promoting multiculturalism, safety for neighborhoods, and community involvement.

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dr. Jon Gerrard has said that Roldan is a dynamic, bright, and extremely capable leader in his community and is one of the most charismatic new faces in politics today. Roldan intends to be very much part of the trend of building the Liberal Party in North Winnipeg and winning more seats in the provincial legislature. To find out more about Roldan, please visit his website at http://roldantoday.ca.

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For more information please call Dennis Trochim, Executive Director for the Manitoba Liberal Party at 988-9380.

Both the Tories and NDP have allowed this company to shaft Manitoba taxpayers: Gerrard

Winnipeg – Manitoba Liberal MLAs used the last day of the Manitoba legislative session to lambast both the Manitoba NDP and Progressive Conservative Parties for their role in allowing a $17 million dollar taxpayer loan to devalue to under $2 million.

 “Manitoba taxpayers have had their pockets quietly picked by the NDP and Tories on this deal,” said Gerrard.  “This was a questionable deal when Gary Filmon backed it in 1994 and today, under the NDP, the deal is still shady.”

 Gerrard said that the Manitoba Liberals recently learned that Inspyre Solutions Inc. (formerly known as Faneuil) is failing to meet obligations outlined in a NDP plan that saw the company’s debt to the province restructured in 2001. 

 Under the restructuring plan, the NDP replaced the government loan to Faneuil in return for 10.4 million Class B preferred shares.  Also part of the restructuring plan were commitments by Faneuil to maintain its head offices in Winnipeg and to employ no less than 400 people in the city.  Additionally, the NDP deal required that Faneuil provide up to $750,000 in services to the Province or a provincially designated organization for a minimum of five years or until the Class B shares were redeemed in full. 

 “As of December 31, 2009 the consolidated financial statements for Inspyre Solutions Inc. show that the government’s shares are now worth a paltry $1.8 million,” said Gerrard.   “Reports also indicate that Inspyre has less than 175 people working in the city.  Manitoba taxpayers were setup by the Tories to lose on this deal and the NDP have allowed the loss to continue through their failure to hold this company accountable.”  

 The Manitoba Liberal Party has raised the issue of Inspyre Solutions Inc. as part of their commitment to fiscal responsibility and the protection of taxpayer investment.

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 For more information, or to receive a copy of the  Inspyre Solutions Inc. financial statements for December 31, 2009, please contact Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for the Manitoba Liberal Caucus at Tel: (204) 771-2513 or email at michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca .

Bill 237 will ensure that the Manitoba Government is not using public funds to supply single-use water bottles when potable water is available: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Manitoba Liberal MLAs, Jon Gerrard and Kevin Lamoureux today presented Bill 237, The Single-Use Bottled Water Spending Act for first reading in the Manitoba Legislature.  Bill 237 would require that during the course of legislative and administrative functions, every branch and body of the government, use potable water when available in lieu of single-use water bottles.  The goal of the bill is to reduce landfill waste and to lower costs associated with government administration.

 “The NDP government spends tens of thousands of dollars on single-use water bottles for use at meetings and other administrative events,” said Gerrard.  “These bottles add tons of extra waste to our landfills and also to our recycling system along with wasting taxpayers’ money.  This bill promotes the concept of reduce and reuse ahead of recycling.”

 Gerrard added that in most cases high-quality potable water is simply a tap-turn away at government meetings. “I don’t even know why we need to have single-use bottled water available,” he said.  “Our government should be promoting our excellent drinking water by eliminating these single-use bottles during government administrative activities. 

 “It’s not rocket science we’re talking about here.  This is a simple change that can have immediate environmental benefits and reduce government spending quickly. Get reusable plastic water jugs and glasses for each government office building and the change is made.”

 Bill 237, The Single-Use Bottled Water Spending Act was developed by the Manitoba Liberal Party as part of their commitment to environmental stewardship and fiscal responsibility.  The Manitoba Liberal Party believes that the Manitoba government should be active in searching for creative methods to reduce spending as well as protecting Manitoba’s environment and resources.

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For more information on Bill 237, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for the Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or email at michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca .

This bill failed to pass because it put the Minister of Health’s salary on the line: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Manitoba Liberal-sponsored Bill 223, The Family Physicians for All Manitobans Act, was killed on second reading today by the NDP. 

 The bill would require that an annual percentage of Manitobans without access to a regular family physician be publically reported and targets are established to increase access.   Under the bill if targets are not met, the Minister of Health’s annual salary would be reduced by 20% and Cabinet Ministers would see a reduction in pay of 10%.

 “The Manitoba Liberal Party developed this bill because we recognize the important role that family physicians play in keeping Manitobans healthy and lowering our overall health care costs,” said Gerrard.  “Having access to a regular family doctor is vital to reducing chronic conditions such as diabetes.  We must realize that walk-in clinics are not designed to promote preventative health care and we need to increase the number of people who have a regular family doctor.”

 According to the CANSIM survey by Statistics Canada, only 85.1% of Manitobans had a regular family physician.  The College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Canadian Medical Association both recommend that governments should aim to have 95% of their population under the care of a regular physician.

 Gerrard noted that bill 223’s clause to reduce the salaries of the Minister and Cabinet members is needed when working with a NDP government. 

 “With 10 years of opposition against the NDP, Manitoba Liberals have learnt that unless we hold the Ministers personally and financially responsible for the poor performance of their portfolios, the issues continue to grow and taxpayers’ money is wasted on ineffective programming.” 

 Bill 223, The Family Physicians for All Manitobans Act, was developed by the Manitoba Liberal Party as part of their commitment to social justice and fiscal responsibility.  The Manitoba Liberal Party believes that public access to regular family physicians is vital to improving the quality of care while lowering the overall cost of Manitoba’s medical system through the promotion of preventative health care.

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 For more information, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

Many families are split apart as parents must wait up to 300 days to access addictions treatment: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party and MLA for River Heights, today revealed that the NDP’s poor performance on addictions treatment is exasperating the crisis in Manitoba’s child welfare system.

 “I have spoken with families who have had children removed from the home due to addiction issues,” said Gerrard.  “But instead of accessing addictions treatment or counseling quickly, they have faced wait times of up to 300 days.  That’s 300 unnecessary days that the family is torn apart even before the parents can begin to correct the central issue that caused their children to be removed in the first place.”

 Gerrard added that by adding spaces to provincial addiction treatment programs, there would be a number of families that could be reunited in less than a year and a significant amount of money would not need to be allocated to keeping kids in long-term care.

 “We must focus on reuniting Manitoba families and we must ensure that the services needed to bring families together are available in a timely manner. No family should be apart because a parent is on a NDP-created wait list for addictions treatment.”

 The Manitoba Liberal Party believes that keeping families strong and healthy is a cornerstone to the Liberal commitment to social justice and fiscal responsibility.

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 For more information, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for the Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

We cannot continue to pour money in to the NDP’s faulty child welfare system without treating the reasons behind why Manitoba families are disintegrating: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party and MLA for River Heights, today called the Liberal push to have the Children’s Advocate appear before a legislative committee “successful.” 

 “It is vital to the health and safety of Manitoba’s children, that we further explore the Office of the Children’s Advocate presentation to the LAMC,” said Gerrard.  “The Children’s Advocate made some very serious claims in her presentation about the state of our child welfare system.  Professional comments about the safety of our children need to be public record and not hidden away to protect the NDP from the repercussions of their poor performance.”

 Gerrard noted that it was ironic that the NDP were so opposed to having the Child Advocate speak publically about the number of Aboriginal children in care on a day that was meant to honour residential school survivors.

 “Today we had a gathering at the Legislature to remember our residential school survivors and their suffering as they were kept apart from their families.  Yet the NDP want to keep hidden the fact that we have more than 7200 Aboriginal children who have been removed from their homes under this government’s chaotic child and family welfare system.”

 The Manitoba Liberal Party believes that keeping families strong and healthy is the cornerstone to the Liberal commitment to social justice and fiscal responsibility.

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 For more information, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for the Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or email michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

Nineteen per cent of Manitoba’s children are living in poverty and the NDP is failing them: Gerrard

 Winnipeg –Manitoba’s Liberal MLAs, Jon Gerrard and Kevin Lamoureux, today presented Bill 201, The Social Inclusion and Anti-Poverty Act, for second reading in the Manitoba Legislature.  Bill 201 would require the government to establish and implement a provincial strategy to combat poverty and social exclusion.   The bill also mandates that the government release annual reports on poverty rates and that The Social Planning Council of Winnipeg be designated as the Minister’s advisory council on the issue of poverty.

 “Manitoba has been Canada’s child poverty capital nine times in the last 20 years,” said Gerrard.  “We currently have the third highest rate of child poverty in the country, yet the NDP continue to promote their  “All Aboard” poverty plan.  By many accounts, the NDP’s anti-poverty strategy is unfocused and doing very little to reduce chronic poverty in this province.”

 Gerrard added that Bill 201 would ensure that no matter which political party is in power there would be a long-term anti-poverty plan in place.  “We need consistency with our approaches if we are going to effectively combat poverty.  This means enacting legislation so that any governing party has to continue to support and operate an anti-poverty program that includes hard targets, timelines, and indicators of success.”

 A poll commissioned by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives in February 2009 found that 80 per cent of Manitobans want the provincial government to implement a strategy to reduce poverty by 25 per cent over the next four years.

 The presentation of Bill 201: The Social Inclusion and Anti-Poverty Act, is part of the Manitoba Liberal Party’s commitment to the Liberal values of social justice and fiscal responsibility.     

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Links

 February 2009 Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives report: http://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/Manitoba_Pubs/2009/FF_poverty_reduction_02_12_09.pdf    

 Bill 201: The Social Inclusion and Anti-Poverty Act

http://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/39-4/b201e.php  

For more information, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

By ensuring that all checkout bags in Manitoba are biodegradable or made from recyclable material, we can reduce our reliance on oil and improve the environment: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Manitoba’s Liberal MLAs, Jon Gerrard and Kevin Lamoureux, today presented Bill 206, The Waste Reduction and Prevention Amendment Act which would prevent non-biodegradable and non -recyclable checkout bags from being sold or supplied to retail customers in Manitoba.

 “Bill 206 will help reduce our reliance on petroleum products by making all retail plastic bags in our province biodegradable or recyclable.  With the British Petroleum disaster on the minds of millions of Canadians, this bill is very timely,” said Gerrard.

 Gerrard also suggested that by eliminating petroleum based plastic bags, Manitoba farmers and producers could benefit through the development of new industry to locally produce bio-degradable plant-based checkout bags.

 Countries and jurisdictions that have successfully implemented bans on petroleum bags include:

-          Coles Bay, Tasmania, Australia;

-          San Francisco, California, USA;

-          Fort McMurray, Alberta;

-          Leaf Rapids, Manitoba; and

-          The People’s Republic of China.

Facts about petroleum based plastic bags:

-          Plastic bags can take between 15 and 1000 years to breakdown in the environment.

-          The production of plastic bags requires vast amounts of oil.  Each ton of recycled plastic bags saves the equivalent of 11 barrels of oil. 

-          North Americans use 110 billion plastic bags per year.

-          Plastic bags are often mistaken for food by marine animals.  100,000 marine animals die each year from ingesting plastic bags.

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For more information, please contact:

Michelle Nyhof – Communications Officer for Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

Former Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray will be the featured guest for a fundraising event with the Manitoba Liberal Party hosted at the residence of Manitoba Liberal Leader Dr. Jon Gerrard and Mrs. Naomi Gerrard, at 119 Brock Street between Academy and Wellington Crescent on Friday, June 4^th, between 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

 Guests are asked to donate $100 to attend with a special discount print of $50 for LAMP Members – members of the Liberal Annual Membership Plan.

 Glen Murray, former mayor of Winnipeg, was recently elected as a Liberal member of the Ontario Legislature representing Toronto Centre and will be speaking about the importance of shared Liberal values.

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For more information please call Dennis Trochim at 988-9380 or Email: manager@manitobaliberals.ca.

Given the number of problems that are plaguing the BRHA, the Premier must take immediate action and commit to reviewing the standard of health care being delivered in northern Manitoba:  Gerrard

 Winnipeg  – Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party and MLA for River Heights, today challenged Premier Greg Selinger to launch an inquiry into BRHA’s delivery of health care in northern Manitoba.  Gerrard cited the chronic shortage of surgeons and pediatricians,  as well as a number of individual cases involving misdiagnosis and service delays, as proof that an inquiry is needed.

 “The BRHA is responsible for the health care of 46,000 Manitobans living in the province’s North and I have grave concerns regarding the quality of the care being delivered there,” said Gerrard. 

 “The chronic shortage of surgeons and pediatricians is alarming and needs to be investigated.  The NDP have allowed two levels of health care to develop in Manitoba.  There is one standard for the North and a better standard for southern Manitoba.  We have a two-tiered system and people in the North are suffering because of it.”

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 For more information, including a recent list of BRHA heath care errors, please contact: Michelle Nyhof ; Communications Officer for Manitoba Liberal Caucus for (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

Minister Mackintosh is feeding Manitobans false information on this issue:  Jon Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party and MLA for River Heights, today challenged Gord Mackintosh, Minister of Family Services and Consumer Affairs on his statements regarding the number of children in care.

 “The Minister of Family Services is feeding Manitobans the idea that the number of children in care in our province is on par with what is occurring in other North American jurisdictions, and that is false.  Manitoba has the highest number of children in care out of the four western provinces.  Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC all have much lower rates,” said Gerrard.

 Gerrard also added that while the number of children in care in Manitoba has steadily risen, Alberta has dramatically reduced the number of children in care through new programs that provide enhanced services to families at risk.

 “The NDP need to review their family services policies and programs, and commit to funding enhanced family services with a goal of keeping families together.  The Manitoba Liberal Party is challenging the NDP to set long-term goals for reducing the number of kids in care and to create a system that supports these goals.”

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For more information, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

Some communities in Manitoba have more children in the CFS system than in their schools: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party and MLA for River Heights lambasted the Minister of Family Services and Consumer Affairs, Gord Mackintosh today for the growing number of Manitoba children who have been removed from their families.  A report issued by the Office of the Children’s Advocate on April 27, 2010 shows a 30% increase in the number of children who have been apprehended by the government since 2005. 

 “I recently visited the communities of Berens River, Little Grand Rapids, Bloodvein, and Pauingassi where there are more kids who have been apprehended and taken out of the area than are enrolled in the local school,” said Gerrard.  “Community leaders suggested that the lack of addictions treatment, early childhood education, jobs, and recreational facilities is creating a difficult environment to raise kids in.”

 Gerrard called on Mackintosh to disclose the NDP’s plan to reduce the number of children in care and to increase support programs to parents.

 “The safety of children must always be paramount, but we must ensure that all Manitoba communities have the services that people need to become healthy, strong parents.  We cannot continue to allow families to disintegrate at this alarming rate,” said Gerrard.

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For more information, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

It’s very disappointing that the Government did not support a bill that protects landlords and allergy sufferers: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party and MLA for River Heights, said he was dismayed that Bill 218 (Fluffy’s Law) was killed in second reading by the NDP.  Gerrard was also disappointed that the Tories did not voice their support for the bill.

 “Bill 218 is a step forward in building good relationships between landlords and pet owners.  The current NDP legislation ties the hands of property owners when it comes to allowing pets into rental properties.  Landlords can currently charge a pet fee but once they allow a pet in, the landlord have no tools to set and enforce house rules on cleanliness, noise levels, and pet behavior,” said Gerrard.

 Gerrard also added that by killing Fluffy’s Law the NDP have lost a prime opportunity to save millions of dollars in health care costs.  “There are countless studies that reveal numerous health benefits to pet ownership.  People who own pets have lower rates of cardiovascular disease and suffer from less depression.  An Australian study showed that the national health care budget could be cut by 5% if more people owned pets.”

 “If we could lower Manitoba’s health care costs by 5% for 2010-2011, that would mean savings of $25 million for Manitoba taxpayers, but the NDP have chosen to not support a very easy way to cut costs.”

 Gerrard also challenged the NDP’s arguments that Fluffy’s Law doesn’t protect allergy sufferers.   “The NDP are talking out of both sides of their mouth.  On one hand they are promoting the idea of pets in apartments and rentals through their pet-fee policy, but on the other hand they are saying that pets don’t belong in apartments due to allergies.  Bill 218 actually protects allergy sufferers whereas current NDP law is silent on this important issue.”

 Pet-friendly legislation has successfully been in place in Ontario for more than 10 years.  More than 800,000 complaints are made to the Ontario Rental Tribunal each year but less than 1% of the complaints involve pets.

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To view a complete version of Bill 218 (Fluffy’s Law) please visit:  http://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/39-4/b218e.php

For more information on Fluffy’s Law, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or email michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

Bill 218 protects both landlords and their tenants while recognizing that owning a pet has numerous social and health benefits, especially for seniors: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party and MLA for River Heights is set to welcome hundreds of Manitoba pet lovers to the front steps of the Legislature on Saturday, May 8 at 11:00 A.M., for a rally in support of Bill 218 (Fluffy’s Law).  The event is co-hosted by Bill McDonald, Executive Director of the Winnipeg Humane Society. 

 “This bill has been extremely well received by Manitobans.  We have collected nearly 6000 signatures on our petitions and the facebook group has grown to 4400 people,” said Gerrard.  “I know that many NDP and Tory MLAs are receiving letters and calls from their constituents asking that they support Fluffy’s Law as it comes forward for second reading on May 11.”

 Gerrard added that Fluffy’s Law isn’t just about accommodating pet lovers as the bill offers taxpayers significant benefits though a reduction in government health care costs: “Numerous medical studies reveal that owning a pet has a very positive impact on cardiovascular and mental health.  I have spoken with medical professionals who are involved with pet therapy programs and they see almost immediate improvements in their patients after a visit with a pet.”  

 “If we can keep our citizens happy and healthier by simply allowing them the option to have a pet in their rental property while protecting the investment of property owners then that is something that government should support.  Healthier Manitobans will use our health care system less and this will ultimately save taxpayer’s money,” said Gerrard.

The Winnipeg Humane Society has endorsed Bill 218 citing the growing number of pets that are surrendered each year due to a lack of pet-friendly rental properties in Manitoba. 

 “Nearly each and every day our shelter faces the upset of owners turning over their pets due to a no-pet policy.  Frankly I find it baffling that landlords are being so shortsighted and hard-headed on this issue.  We have learned that in the 11 years Fluffy’s Law has taken effect in Ontario, only 1% of the 800,000 complaints received annually by their rental tribunal are pet related,” said McDonald. 

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Government Link to Bill 218:  http://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/39-4/b218e.php  

Background Information Attached

Rally Information:

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Start Time – 11:00 am

Front Steps, Manitoba Legislature

For more information, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer, Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

It is not acceptable to ask our post-secondary students to pay fee increases that are 154 times greater than the rate of inflation: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party and MLA for River Heights today called on the Premier to immediately cancel proposed increases to continuing fees paid by graduate students at the University of Manitoba.  Gerrard noted that the proposed increases of 216% are 154 times the rate of inflation.

 “It is simply unacceptable that this NDP government continues to ask students to absorb massive increases in tuition and fees.  This government has dug Manitoba into a financial hole so deep that now they must prey on post-secondary students,” said Gerrard.

 Gerrard added that it is unreasonable to expect post-secondary students to work more than they already are while studying.  “There are only so many hours in the day for students to work and earn an income in combination with proper studying.  The NDP are not providing a suitable environment for advanced learning in Manitoba.”

 The MLA for River Heights also called on the Premier to revisit the NDP’s recent cuts to student aid due to the growing debt load of graduates.  “I have heard of many post-secondary students now graduating with student debt that will take 20 years to payoff.  That is unacceptable and clearly proves that this NDP government is anti-student.”

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 For more information, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

The Justice Minister’s probation system is flawed and does not factor in FASD, which is a major issue in reducing repeat youth crime: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Manitoba Liberal Party Leader and MLA for River Heights, Jon Gerrard, today called on Minster of Justice, Andrew Swan to immediately start a complete review of all probation cases involving monitoring bracelets.  Gerrard also promoted the Liberal’s comprehensive approach to reducing repeat youth offenders by including FASD testing as part of the justice process.

 “I am asking the Minister of Justice and the NDP to do the right thing and conduct an emergency review of all active probation cases that involve the use of monitoring bracelets.  Our prosecutors and police are telling us that the case currently in the media isn’t isolated and that this scenario happens all the time,” said Gerrard.  “We need to listen to our justice professionals and act quickly to keep Manitobans safe and keep chronic youth offenders under surveillance.”

 Gerrard also suggested that the NDP’s justice system is flawed because it does not require mandatory testing of repeat young offenders for FASD.  “Some studies indicate that 23% of youth in the justice system have FASD so until you make FASD testing a mandatory part of the justice process for repeat youth offenders, we will see little to no improvement in reducing crimes like car theft.  These kids’ brains simply do not operate the same as kids without FASD.  We need to know about this disorder when sentencing youth offenders.” 

 “I have been calling on the NDP for years to adopt mandatory FASD testing and to develop better processes for dealing with FASD kids in the justice system.  The NDP have resisted adopting these Liberal suggestions and we are now seeing the end result of the NDP’s lack of action.  To stop the increasing rate of youth offenders and to keep Manitobans safe, this NDP government must act immediately to address FASD in our justice system,” said Gerrard. 

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 For more information, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

This NDP government is no friend of Manitoba’s Environment: Gerrard 

 Winnipeg – Liberal Leader and MLA for River Heights, Jon Gerrard today called Premier Selinger’s environmental policy all talk and no action.  Gerrard highlighted the NDP’s recent 21% funding cut to the Environmental Stewardship Department as well as a poor record on the protection of Manitoba wild lands.

 “I asked the Premier today why he chose to cut funding to environmental stewardship programming by 21% instead of not reducing the size of his bloated cabinet,” said Gerrard.  “This government is continually struggling to convince Manitobans that they are environmentally minded, but in reality they have shown the complete opposite.  Due to their weak financial management they are now in a massive deficit position and scrambling to cut costs.  Sadly environmental protection is low on the NDP priority list so is one of the first portfolios to be cut.”

 Gerrard cited the following NDP cuts to environmental funding in the 2010-2011 budget:

• Regional conservation operations cut by 3%
• Minor capital projects cut by 8%
• $1.4 million less for sustainable development education
• $3 million less for environmental stewardship (21% reduction in funding)

 Gerrard also noted the NDP’s poor track record on managing provincial parks.   “The NDP have not indicated that they are willing to create development plans for our parks.  We have multiple commercial developments happening in our most pristine areas with no real guiding documents or policies in place.  Without these plans, the NDP have no basis for calling themselves an environmental protector.”

 The Liberal Leader also called on the Premier to make a firm commitment to ensure that the new Waverly West housing development will be heated by geothermal energy.

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For more information, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

There is plenty of evidence indicating this purchase is not in the best interest of Manitoba taxpayers: Lamoureux

 Winnipeg – Deputy Liberal Leader and MLA for Inkster, Kevin Lamoureux called for an immediate halt and review of the NDP’s purchase of four new water bomber planes at a cost of $126 million dollars.

 “There is more evidence to suggest that this deal is bad for Manitoba taxpayers.  The Premier is calling this purchase a stimulus project but I reject that claim.  These planes are built and retrofitted outside of Manitoba so there will be few if any new jobs created by their purchase,” said Lamoureux.

 The MLA for Inkster also called on the Premier to release documentation proving that Manitoba’s current fleet of water bombers is unsafe and unusable. 

 “The Premier himself said that our water bombers are maintained to standards above and beyond what Federal standards require and that our planes are in excellent shape,” said Lamoureux.  “I have to question why we are buying these planes while we are struggling with record-high deficits.  No responsible government would consider spending $126 million on unnecessary equipment when we are projecting to run massive deficits for the next four years.”

 “I think that the NDP should follow the lead of Newfoundland and Labrador government which cancelled their water bomber purchase in April, 2009 when it became apparent that it was not the best decision for their taxpayers.”

 Lamoureux also said that the Premier was misleading Manitobans about the urgency and timing of the purchase.  “The Premier told us yesterday that we needed these planes as part of regular upgrading of our fleet and there are a limited number of planes built each year so it was now or never, but the Saskatchewan government chose a more cost effective way to upgrade and bought retrofit kits from Bombardier.”

 “I also know that from 2002 to 2005 there was an over-supply of these planes.  I think the Premier needs to tell us why the NDP missed an opportunity five years ago to upgrade the fleet when the planes were likely available for much less.”

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 For more information, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer

Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

Selinger is dragging Manitoba into four consecutive years of deficit while buying equipment that may not be needed and wasn’t even planned for in his budget: Lamoureux

 Winnipeg – Deputy Liberal Leader and MLA for Inkster, Kevin Lamoureux today called on Premier Selinger to justify his announcement that the province will be spending $126 million on four new water bombers.  Lamoureux called the announcement another ‘Selinger photo-op’ and questioned why the Premier is announcing major equipment purchases when his own budget predicts four-years of consecutive deficits.

 “Premier Selinger is spending Manitoba taxpayer’s money like there is no tomorrow even though he just released a budget that shows we’ll be in a deficit position for the next four years.  I question the timing of this major expense and also why the NDP didn’t mention this in their budget speech,” said Lamoureux. 

 Lamoureux added that because the planes will be built outside Manitoba, there will be little economic benefit in the form of new jobs and this makes the purchase during an economic turndown, even more offensive.

 Premier Selinger argued that his basis for purchasing the new aircraft was an anticipated dry summer, but Lamoureux countered that the first plane will not arrive until late fall.   

 “Manitobans have tightened their wallets because times are tough. Yet this NDP government continues to spend like there’s no limit to what taxpayers can afford.   Selinger is out-of-control with his spending and this latest $126 million announcement is another example of the NDP billing Manitobans for nothing more than a fancy photo-op.”

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For more information, please contact:  Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer

Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

Provincial and Federal Parties Meet Together in Portage La Prairie

 WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Liberal Party and the Liberal Party of Canada (in Manitoba) are meeting in Portage La Prairie this weekend to hold their Annual General Meetings concurrently – alternating discussion between provincial and federal issues.  The theme of the AGM is “Ready To Lead” and both the provincial and federal wings of the party agree that greater co-operation is necessary to make gains in Manitoba.

 The AGM is being held at the Canad Inn Portage La Prairie.  The keynote dinner speaker is federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.   The keynote lunch speaker is Manitoba Liberal Leader Dr. Jon Gerrard, who will be outlining his plans to take Manitoba Liberals forward.

 As part of the AGM, Manitoba Liberals will discuss policy resolutions on Manitoba Hydro and referendums, access to information, justice and substance abuse issues, debt reduction, and rural infrastructure.  A list of policy resolutions will be available to delegates when they register.

 A schedule of the AGM appears on the provincial website at www.manitobaliberals.ca under LINKS in the bottom right corner.

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 For more information please call Dennis Trochim, Executive Director, Manitoba Liberal Party at 988-9380.

This government has failed for ten years to develop even the most basic of plans to reduce emissions in the agriculture industry: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Manitoba Liberal Leader and MLA for River Heights, Jon Gerrard today called on the Premier to clarify whether his government would adjust legislation to accommodate the NDPs failure to meet their own mandated Kyoto targets, which were set in 2007 by former Premier Gary Doer.  Gerrard said the NDP will have to explain to Manitobans why they haven’t been able to control emission outputs in key areas like agriculture. 

 Gerrard challenged Selinger’s claims that the NDP have a solid environmental track record within the agricultural sector.  “The NDP never had even the most basic long-term plan to see agriculture emissions reduced. Their lack of planning  and caused a 34% increase since 1990 in emissions from this specific industry,” he said.

 The Liberal Leader also indicated that the NDP aren’t serious about helping farmers and producers curb their emissions due to a proposed salary cutback in the NDPs latest budget.  “They are planning on reducing salaries within the Agri-Environment department by almost $200,000 for the 2010/2011 budget,” said Gerrard.  “Unless the NDP assist our agricultural industry in making changes to emissions rates, it’s unlikely that we’re going to see a reversal in the 34% increase from 1990 rates.”

 “With Gary Doer’s 2007 Kyoto targets looking more and more like a pipe dream, the NDP have shown Manitobans that they are all talk and no action on environmental issues.” 

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For more information, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer

Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

The Minister of Health has lost control of a disease that could cost Manitoba taxpayers billions of dollars over the next few years: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Manitoba Liberal Party Leader and MLA for River Heights, Dr. Jon Gerrard, today challenged the Minister of Health, Teresa Oswald on her funding cut to the province’s chronic disease management branch.  The branch is responsible for a number of policies and intervention programs including surveillance of Manitoba’s chronic diseases, including diabetes. According to government budget estimates, the branch will see a reduction of $37,000 in funding for 2010-20011.  

 “The most recent Diabetes statistics that I have been able to get from the Minister of Health are four-years old.  That is outrageous,” said Gerrard.  “This disease is now occurring at epidemic rates in our province and yet we do not have the relevant information needed to develop a strategy to combat it.  It is negligent for the Minister of Health to cut the budget of the Chronic Disease Branch while a disease like diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions.”

 Gerrard added: “The way the NDP are dealing with the burgeoning diabetes epidemic can best be compared to an ostrich burying its head in the sand.  Premier Selinger failed to mention diabetes in his November throne speech and there was no mention of diabetes in the recent budget. If the epidemic of diabetes continues to go unchecked by the Minister of Health and the NDP, Manitoba taxpayers will be footing a health care bill which could be billions of dollars within the next few years.”

 The most recent figures from the Department of Health are from 2006, and show the prevalence of age-adjusted diabetes in the province as being 5.5%, double the 1989 rate of 2.8%.  The 2006 statistics also show that the highest prevalence of diabetes in Manitoba is found in First Nations people aged 60 to 79 years, who have a 53% prevalence rate of diabetes.

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The Province’s diabetes report can be found at:  http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/chronicdisease/diabetes/docs/diabetes100.pdf  

For more information, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer ,Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or email at michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca

The NDP’s lack of attention to the urgent issue of broadband access for rural and northern communities is creating a two-tier system of government services in Manitoba: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard, today called for Premier Greg Selinger to provide a detailed plan for bringing broadband access to more than 200 Manitoba communities that still rely on slow dial-up services.  Gerrard noted that without broadband service in all Manitoba communities, the NDP are creating a two-tier level of government service in the province. 

 “This government has done a decent job in putting government information and services online but they have failed to ensure that all Manitobans have equal access to this information.  There was nothing mentioned in their Moving Manitoba Forward budget about the lack of broadband access in more than 200 communities.  These communities will have to make do with slow dial-up service that cannot support efficient use of the government’s website,” said Gerrard.  “What the NDP have done by neglecting this issue for 10 years, is create a two-tiered system of government services.”

 Gerrard added that broadband service is vital to providing current healthcare and educational information to professionals working in isolated communities. 

 “I think that First Nations and rural communities would quickly experience the benefits of broadband access if nurses, doctors, teachers, and community leaders could access government services and industry advances with the same ease that their counterparts in urban centres enjoy.”

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 For more information please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer for Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca .

 Communities which are not connected to broadband access

1. AGHAMING
2. ALBERT RM
3. ALEXANDER RM
4. ALONSA RM
5. ANGUSVILLE
6. ARCHIE RM
7. ARGYLE
8. ARGYLE RM
9. ARMSTRONG RM
10. ARTHUR RM
11. BADEN
12. BARROWS
13. BASSWOOD
14. BERENS RIVER FN
15. BIFROST RM
16. BIG BLACK RIVER
17. BIRDTAIL SIOUX FN
18. BIRTLE RM
19. BISSETT
20. BLANSHARD RM
21. BLUMENFELD/OSTERWICK
22. BRENDA RM
23. BROKENHEAD OJIBWAY FN
24. BROKENHEAD RM
25. BRUNKILD
26. BUFFALO POINT FN
27. CAMERON RM
28. CARTIER RM
29. CLANDEBOYE
30. CLANWILLIAM RM
31. COLDWELL RM
32. CORMORANT
33. CORNWALLIS RM
34. CRANBERRY PORTAGE
35. DAKOTA TIPI FN
36. DALLAS/RED ROSE
37. DALY RM
38. DAUPHIN RM
39. DAWSON BAY
40. DE SALABERRY RM
41. DIVISION NO. 1, UNORGANIZED
42. DIVISION NO. 18, UNORGANIZED
43. DIVISION NO. 19, UNORGANIZED
44. DIVISION NO. 20, UNORGANIZED
45. DIVISION NO. 21, UNORGANIZED
46. DIVISION NO. 22, UNORGANIZED
47. DIVISION NO. 23, UNORGANIZED
48. DOMAIN
49. DUFFERIN RM
50. EAST SELKIRK
51. EDWARD RM
52. EDWIN
53. ELGIN
54. ELLICE RM
55. ELTON RM
56. ERIKSDALE RM
57. ETHELBERT RM
58. FANNYSTELLE
59. FISHER BAY
60. FISHER RM
61. FRANKLIN RM
62. FRASERWOOD
63. GAMBLERS FN
64. GARSON
65. GILBERT PLAINS RM
66. GIMLI RM
67. GLENELLA RM
68. GLENWOOD RM
69. GRAHAMDALE RM
70. GRAND MARAIS
71. GRANDVIEW RM
72. GRAYSVILLE
73. GREAT FALLS
74. GREY RM
75. HAMIOTA RM
76. HANOVER RM
77. HARRISON RM
78. HARWILL
79. HAYWOOD
80. HERB LAKE LANDING
81. HIGH BLUFF
82. HILLSBURG RM
83. HOCHFIELD/REINLAND
84. HOLLOW WATER FN
85. HOMEBROOK
86. INWOOD
87. ISLAND LAKE
88. JACKHEAD FN
89. KELSEY (CARROT VALLEY) RM
90. KELSEY (WANLESS) RM
91. KENVILLE
92. KOLA
93. KOMARNO
94. LAC DU BONNET RM
95. LAKE MANITOBA FN
96. LAKEVIEW RM
97. LANGFORD RM
98. LANGRUTH
99. LANSDOWNE RM
100. LAWRENCE RM
101. LITTLE BLACK RIVER FN
102. LITTLE GRAND RAPIDS
103. LITTLE GRAND RAPIDS FN
104. LONG BODY CREEK
105. LOON STRAITS
106. LORNE RM
107. LOUISE RM
108. LOWE FARM
109. LYLETON
110. MACDONALD
111. MACDONALD RM
112. MAFEKING
113. MANIGOTAGAN
114. MCCREARY RM
115. MINIOTA RM
116. MINITONAS RM
117. MINTO RM
118. MITCHELL
119. MONTCALM RM
120. MOOSEHORN
121. MORRIS RM
122. MORTON RM
123. MOSSEY RIVER RM
124. MOUNTAIN (NORTH) RM
125. MOUNTAIN (SOUTH) RM
126. MYSTERY LAKE LGD
127. NATIONAL MILLS
128. NEUNBERG
129. NEW BOTHWELL
130. NEWTON
131. NINGA
132. NORTH CYPRESS RM
133. NORTH NORFOLK RM
134. OAK POINT
135. OAKLAND RM
136. OCHRE RIVER RM
137. ODANAH RM
138. OPASKWAYAK CREE FN
139. PARK (SOUTH) RM
140. PAUINGASSI FN
141. PELICAN RAPIDS
142. PELICAN RAPIDS FN
143. PEMBINA RM
144. PINE DOCK/LITTLE BULLHEAD
145. PIPESTONE RM
146. POINTE DU BOIS
147. POPLAR POINT
148. POPLARVILLE
149. PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE RM
150. POWELL
151. POWERVIEW
152. PRINCESS HARBOUR
153. RED DEER LAKE
154. REINFELD
155. RHINELAND RM
156. RICHER
157. RIDING MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
158. RITCHOT RM
159. RIVERSIDE RM
160. ROBLIN RM
161. ROCKWOOD RM
162. ROLAND RM
163. ROSEAU RIVER FN
164. ROSEDALE RM
165. ROSENFELD
166. ROSSBURN RM
167. ROSSER RM
168. ROSSER/GROSSE ISLE
169. RUSSELL RM
170. SALT POINT
171. SASKATCHEWAN RM
172. SCHANZENFELD/CHORTITZ
173. SEVEN SISTERS
174. SEVEN SISTERS FALLS
175. SEYMOURVILLE
176. SHELL RIVER RM
177. SHERRIDON
178. SHOAL LAKE RM
179. SIDNEY
180. SIFTON RM
181. SIGLUNES RM
182. SILVER CREEK RM
183. SOUTH NORFOLK RM
184. SPRINGFIELD RM
185. SPRUCEWOODS
186. ST. AMBROISE
187. ST. FRANCOIS XAVIER RM
188. ST. GEORGES
189. ST. LAURENT RM
190. ST. MARTIN
191. STANLEY RM
192. STE. ANNE RM
193. STE. ROSE RM
194. STEAD
195. STEVENSON ISLAND
196. STRATHCLAIR RM
197. STRATHCONA RM
198. STUARTBURN RM
199. SWAN RIVER RM
200. TACHE RM
201. THOMPSON RM
202. TURTLE MOUNTAIN RM
203. VALLEY RIVER FN
204. VASSAR
205. VICTORIA BEACH RM
206. VICTORIA RM
207. WALLACE RM
208. WEST HAWK LAKE
209. WESTBOURNE
210. WESTBOURNE RM
211. WESTGATE
212. WHITEHEAD RM
213. WINCHESTER RM
214. WOODLANDS RM
215. WOODRIDGE
216. WOODWORTH RM
217. WUSKI SIPIHK FN

Winnipeg – Last night, members of the Liberal constituency association in St. Norbert met to nominate Marcel Laurendeau to run in the next general election.  Over the past year, the membership in St Norbert has more than tripled from 40 to over 135 members.

 At last night’s meeting, Mr. Laurendeau, a former Tory MLA for St. Norbert and a past city councilor from the area, addressed why he wanted to run as a Liberal.    “The vision I wanted for Manitoba was not with the Tories.  The Manitoba Liberal Party is an alternative for Manitoba more in line for what people want and for what I believe.”

            Dr. Jon Gerrard later added increasingly people are telling him that they are losing faith with the NDP and that Hugh McFayden continues to alienate people rather than build support.  He welcomed Mr. Laurendeau as an example of the sort of consensus building he can bring to the Legislature.

  At the nomination meeting, both Mr. Laurendeau and Dr. Gerrard expressed an interest in promoting education and opportunity for Winnipeg, and publicly declared support for a new football stadium at the University of Manitoba, although both agree that there are far too many questions about the funding agreement in place.  Both said that it is irresponsible for the provincial government to keep people in the dark on a stadium where so many Manitobans want to see it built properly.   Dr. Gerrard said, “Manitoba Liberals want to build it, but build it right.”

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For more information, please contact:

Dennis Trochim, Executive Director – Manitoba Liberal Party

(204-988-9380)

The Premier can’t grasp basic management principals and this stadium announcement is the latest example: Gerrard

Winnipeg – Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party today called Premier Selinger’s management skills amateur and touted the bungling of the new stadium announcement as only the latest example of a government with no leader.

“Premier Selinger totally botched the announcement of what is really a great infrastructure project for Manitoba. His lack of knowledge about the stadium plan reeks of a rush job and has left Manitobans with a lot of doubt,” said Gerrard.

“Being in opposition to the NDP for 10 years has taught me that when Minister Selinger brings forward an initiative we need to look very closely at the details and the perfect example of this is the Crocus scheme. In true NDP fashion we’re left scrambling for details on this stadium project and resorting to local media reports and blogs for information. That’s a novice way to run government and not the way to loan out $90 million.”

Gerrard also noted that Manitobans can’t depend on Hugh McFadyen’s Tories to provide balanced opposition to the NDP. “The Tories will say white to the NDP’s black whether it’s in the best interest of Manitobans or not. Our opposition leader is easily swayed by his mish-mash of advisors and this is one of the reasons the NDP has been allowed to drive Manitoba into the ground with debt. A good official opposition party would have been able to protect Manitobans from 10 years of bad financial operations.”

Gerrard added that the NDP need to issue a fully detailed outline of the plan including scenarios that accommodate the actual costs to Manitobans should David Asper not be able to launch his retail outlet and that this detailed plan should be issued prior to groundbreaking.

The Manitoba Liberal Party supports the construction of a new stadium and believes that the University of Manitoba location will maximize the benefits of the province’s investment.

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For more information, please call Michelle Nyoff, Media Communications for Liberal  Caucus at 771-2513