Everyone will agree that the best way and the only way to manage is through long term planning. Set your objectives for the long term, and then slowly but surely take real concrete steps to realize those objectives. Waiting until there is a crisis and then trying to fix the problem at that point is not a solution, because it will then cost more and will not be fixed for the long term. 

The NDP is clearly in crisis management mode. Our roads are deteriorating badly – this does not come as news to anyone! The roads in this Province have been crumbling and have not been properly maintained for years. Our government needed to address this 5, 6, even 7 years earlier – instead it chose to ignore the problem. No matter whom I speak to across the Province, the issue that keeps coming up time and again is “crumbling roads.” If there had been proper management and long term planning, the NDP would have ensured that road maintenance and road re-construction would have occurred on an orderly basis. If this would have happened, our roads would not be in the poor condition they are today. Instead, the NDP chose to ignore what was very obvious to the rest of us. 

A recent poll of Manitobans indicated that the biggest concern of Manitobans was our crumbling roads. What is the immediate reaction of the NDP? The Premier announces that he will take $100 Million out of the Rainy Day Fund for roads. He is now in crisis management mode. Instead of planning for a long term fix to the problem, he attempts to fix the problem for the short term by taking money out of the Province’s savings account. We don’t need a short term fix – what Manitobans want is a long term solution to the problem. What Manitobans want is a sure footed strategic approach and one which will guarantee a long term solution to our crumbling roads. 

It’s estimated by the Manitoba Heavy Construction industry that Manitoba needs to spend more than $3 Billion over the next 10 years to renew our provincial road system and to address the problem of crumbling roads and bridges. The one-time knee jerk reaction by the NDP will not do it. The reaction by the NDP begs the question – where has the NDP been for the last 7 years? Why didn’t they see this coming?