With the clock ticking down to hours before election day, Manitoba Progressive Conservative Leader Heather Stefanson unveiled her party’s fully-costed campaign platform.
On Sept. 29, the Manitoba government announced a $270-million surplus in the last fiscal year.
On Monday, the PCs held a media event in north Winnipeg to release their taxation and spending commitments, if they’re re-elected Tuesday to govern.
“What we’re doing is working,” Stefanson said at her first campaign announcement in Winnipeg in more than a week.
RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS “Our Progressive Conservative team is proud of all we have accomplished,” said Premier Heather Stefanson.
The “Fighting for Manitobans” document predicts a $412-million deficit in the first year, with growing surpluses in the following three years of the term, with economic growth revenues doubling to $1 billion by Year 4 from $400 million in the first year.
“Our Progressive Conservative team is proud of all we have accomplished,” said Stefanson, flanked by many Tory candidates at the party’s campaign headquarters on Inkster Boulevard, including cabinet incumbents Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach) and Environment and Climate Minister Kevin Klein (Kirkfield Park).
“In just two years, we have turned our economy around,” said the premier, who narrowly won the party leadership Oct. 30, 2021, after Brian Pallister stepped down. “More Manitobans are working than ever before.”
The public accounts released Sept. 29 show Manitoba had the second-lowest unemployment rate (4.6 per cent) and third-highest GDP growth (3.9 per cent) among the Canadian provinces.
“Progressive Conservatives will grow Manitoba to become one of the fastest-growing economies in the country,” said Stefanson, touting resource development and making the province more competitive by phasing out the payroll tax.
“This progress and Manitoba’s growing industries and economy are under threat with Wab Kinew’s NDP, who want to cancel mining and raise taxes on people and businesses.”
“Progressive Conservatives will grow Manitoba to become one of the fastest-growing economies in the country.”–Premier Heather Stefanson
Kinew has repeatedly denied such claims.
On Monday, Stefanson said her government increased spending on health care and education to record levels. She repeated campaign promises, including: lowering income taxes; eliminating the land transfer tax for first-time homebuyers and the carbon tax from Manitoba Hydro bills; and removing PST from restaurant meals.
“These are significant savings that are under threat from Wab Kinew and the tax-and-spend NDP,” the Tuxedo candidate said. “We are the only party with a plan to pay for the necessary services that Manitobans rely on and the only party with a plan and a vision for growing our economy.”
When asked why the PCs waited until Oct. 2 to make their costed platform public, Stefanson said it’s the culmination of all their campaign announcements.
When asked why she hasn’t been available to answer reporters’ questions at Winnipeg events for more than a week, the premier said she was out campaigning beyond the Perimeter Highway.
“We’re out listening to Manitobans — this document reflects what we’ve been hearing from Manitobans,” she said of the Tory party platform. “We’re very proud of that.”
Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew returned to one of the party’s favourite stops on the campaign trail to make his final commitment of the 28-day run.
RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS “Once on-line, these beds will ensure that you are able to get into an ER and seen quickly, when you need it,” NDP Leader Wab Kinew said.
With the Grace Hospital as a backdrop, the Fort Rouge candidate pledged to add 134 new beds to hospitals with existing emergency rooms in Winnipeg and Brandon in a bid to reduce lengthy wait times for care.
“You are going to hear a lot of numbers over the next 24 hours, but there’s one number in particular I want you to think about before you go and vote: 16,” Kinew said, flanked by spouse Dr. Lisa Monkman and NDP candidates Logan Oxenham, Adrien Sala, Uzoma Asagwara and Nellie Kennedy.
“Sixteen — that’s how many hours people were waiting just yesterday here at the Grace Hospital. That is what health care is like under Heather Stefanson and the PCs.”
Kinew said the 134 additional beds would be added over two years, possibly sooner, if staff can be hired on a faster timeline.
The promise is part of the NDP’s pledge to reopen three emergency departments in Winnipeg, beginning at Victoria General Hospital, and its $500-million health human resources plan.
The new ER at Victoria would not be opened until staff are in place, the NDP said, pledging to hire 300 nurses to work in Winnipeg within two years.
It will take eight years — or two terms in government — to open all three ERs, the party has said.
A Manitoba NDP government would add 60 beds at Health Sciences Centre, 34 at Grace, 30 at St. Boniface Hospital, and 10 at Brandon Regional Health Centre.
“Once on-line, these beds will ensure that you are able to get into an ER and seen quickly, when you need it,” Kinew said.
The Manitoba Liberals, meanwhile, gathered in their leader’s riding, outside the St. Boniface Cathedral, in a last-ditch plea for votes.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Dougald Lamont praised the quality of the Liberal party candidates, and said it has been an honour to serve as St. Boniface MLA.
Party members said they ran the best campaign and electing Liberal MLAs is the only way to hold the next government to account.
“You can make sure that there’s a minority government and you’re free to make it happen by voting Manitoba Liberal,” leader Dougald Lamont said. “You don’t have to hold your nose and vote NDP to get rid of Heather Stefanson and the PCs. You can stop them both by voting Manitoba Liberal.”
The party has 49 candidates in the province’s 57 electoral divisions.
Lamont praised the quality of the Liberal party candidates, and said it has been an honour to serve as St. Boniface MLA. (He is being challenged for the Winnipeg seat by NDP candidate Robert Loiselle.)
The Liberals had three MLAs elected to the legislature in 2019 — one short of the four required for official party status and the resources that come with that designation.
— with files from Danielle Da Silva
Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
After 20 years of reporting on the growing diversity of people calling Manitoba home, Carol moved to the legislature bureau in early 2020.
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