CBC COVERAGE - August 8, 2008
Manitoba’s NDP government has committed to overhauling the province’s Police Act following recent deaths of civilians in confrontations with Winnipeg police - but the Tories say they’ve heard the same empty promises for years.

The government will outline this fall what changes might be made to the act, which was described as “seriously outdated,” by Manitoba Justice Minister Dave Chomiak. The current act dates back to the 1930s.

The overhaul will spell out the use of external agencies to investigate cases where police are accused of criminal offences, and it will deal with governance issues, such as the relationship between police, municipalities and police commissions, he said.

The province has been working on the matter for about a year, Chomiak said.

“We’ve looked at cross-country comparisons. We want to have the most up-to-date act in the country, and we want to allow the public to have their opportunity to weigh in as well.”  Public consultations will be held on the changes, he said.

“It’s something that First Nations, the general public, police, everyone in the justice community will have a chance to look at,” he said.

“We’ll have a pretty good made-in-Manitoba solution, and something that will be compatible with all the parties involved.”

Chomiak gave word of the review of the Police Act earlier this week, after native groups called on the province to launch a public inquiry into the Winnipeg Police Service in the wake of a police shooting that killed 26-year-old Craig McDougall.

McDougall’s death came less than two weeks after a 17-year-old boy died after being jolted with a Winnipeg police stun gun, and in the shadow of two public examinations of other high-profile civilian deaths involving police officers: the Taman inquiry, looking at the case of a former Winnipeg police officer who killed a woman in a car crash, and the inquest into the death of Matthew Dumas, a teen killed by police gunfire in 2005.

‘Unbelievable’
The opposition Conservatives are skeptical, saying they’ve heard the NDP make the same empty promises to update the act for years.

Justice critic Gerald Hawranik called Chomiak’s announcement “unbelievable,” arguing the government has been talking about overhauling the act since 2002 under former justice minister Gord Mackintosh.

“We’ve been asking for a review of the Police Act for the last four years, every year in the legislature, and all we’ve heard was, ‘Yes, it’s going to be reviewed as soon as practical,’ with no commitment as to a date for when it’s going to be reviewed,” he said. “That’s
irresponsible in my view.”

Chomiak said more details would be outlined in the fall throne speech. New legislation could be introduced in the spring legislative session, he said.

Crime Statistics released today show Manitoba has reclaimed the title of “Murder Capital of Canada”, but Progressive Conservative Justice Critic Gerald Hawranik says the ominous statistics don’t end there.

“In addition to a shocking 58 per cent jump in homicides last year, the report also shows that Manitoba is first in Canada when it comes to robbery, motor vehicle thefts and youth accused of homicides and attempted homicides,” Hawranik said, noting 2007 saw 62 homicides in Manitoba – an all time high since the NDP took office, with 33 accused being youths.  “I don’t know what more proof is needed for the NDP to acknowledge that they’ve got a crime epidemic on their hands.”

Hawranik also pointed to the city’s track record among major metropolitan areas, noting Winnipeg is first in: 

o        Homicide

o        Criminal Code offences

o        Robbery

o        Violent offences

o        Breaking and entering

o        Motor vehicle theft

Hawranik said despite the NDP’s own pre-budget survey highlighting crime is a serious concern for Manitobans, the NDP has failed to produce a plan to crack down on crime in our province.

“A full 95% of Manitobans agree that crime is the same or worse than it was five years ago, but the NDP didn’t even mention this detail in their news release on the survey,” Hawranik said. “Compared to the rest of Canada, our province and capital city are tops in the most dangerous offences, but tough on crime measures taken by this NDP government are non-existent.

“These crime stats should be used to help pinpoint the crime problems in our province, and at the very least, be enough for the Premier and Attorney General to pull their heads out of the sand and acknowledge the problem,” Hawranik said.

By: Geoff Kirbyson
The RCMP were unable to find a smoking gun during their three-year investigation of the Crocus Investment Fund.

But the Mounties did discover plenty of evidence of poor governance, a weak investment management process, lack of internal controls, policies and procedures and poor expense management practices. None of that, however, warranted charges of any kind, said RCMP Sgt. Line Karpish.

“They may have been contributing factors leading to the fund’s demise but they don’t necessarily add up to criminal behaviour.”

Crocus critics were quick to say they weren’t disappointed by the RCMP’s findings as they didn’t expect it to dig up a mountain of evidence leading to numerous arrests.

Bernie Bellan, the disgruntled investor behind a $200-million class action lawsuit, said the results of the RCMP investigation shouldn’t impact any of the fund’s 34,000 unitholders.

“The only thing we should be concerned with is when are we going to see some money,” he said.

Gerald Hawranik, the Tory critic for Crocus, said the party always thought the RCMP investigation was a red herring. He said his party continues to believe there was “negligence and wilful neglect” on the government’s behalf and reiterated its call for a public inquiry.

“If you had no part to play in it, why would you settle for $3 million? It’s clear the role of the government needs to be examined to get at the whole story,” he said.

Hawranik said he has no illusions that the Doer government will open itself up such an exercise.

“That will require a change in government. We are committed to an independent inquiry to examine the province’s role and why it failed to act and protect taxpayers,” he said.

On Tuesday, Crocus’s receiver, Deloitte, said now that the last of the defendants in the class action has settled — tentative agreements are in place for more than $12 million — cheques could arrive in unitholders’ mailboxes by the fall.

Karpish said the RCMP investigation took “thousands of hours” and involved pouring over 60,000 documents and interviews with nearly 100 people. Among the concerns the Mounties found was a discovery that while expenses were required to be approved by the fund’s CEO, not all of them were. She declined to provide names or dollar figures but said an unspecified amount was subsequently reimbursed to the fund.

Bellan said Crocus directors and officers aren’t out of the woods yet and he’s looking forward to Manitoba Securities Commission hearings, which could take place as early as this fall.

“The securities commission is red-faced for what they’ve had to answer for with their lack of proper oversight of the fund. Part of their way of making amends will be to come down hard on the principals in Crocus,” he said.

Bellan noted he has taken down a number of inflammatory statements from his website dedicated to the cause (crocusfundalert.com) in the aftermath of the RCMP announcement. He said the site was dedicated to putting pressure on defendants in the class action and convincing them to settle. Now that it has served its purpose, he said he’s considering winding up the site.

“I’m not getting paid a cent for this. I’m tired of getting phone calls from shareholders asking me when they’re going to get their money back,” he said.

Robert Tapper, the lawyer representing James Umlah, the fund’s long-time chief investment officer who left three months before its shares were frozen in December 2004, said his client felt “relief and vindication” at the RCMP findings.

Killer crown returns to Manitoba

By CHRIS KITCHING, SUN MEDIA

Call us Murdertoba.

In a year when Canada’s overall crime and homicide rates declined, Manitoba reclaimed the murder crown with a record number of slayings in 2007, a Statistics Canada crime report revealed yesterday.

Police and observers say it’s hard to pinpoint a reason for the sharp increase but pointed to gangs, drug trades, substance abuse and youth violence as factors.

“What’s really alarming is in the homicides 33 youths are accused. This points to increased gang activity,” said Tory justice critic Gerald Hawranik.

There are fears Manitoba may retain the title in 2008. As of yesterday, there were at least 28 homicides.

At 5.2 homicides for every 100,000 people in 2007, Manitoba had the highest per-capita rate in Canada. Most provinces saw a decrease.

Saskatchewan was second with a rate of three. The national rate was two.

Manitoba recorded 62 homicides last year, 23 more than 2006.

Twenty-seven occurred in Winnipeg, which tied Saskatoon (seven murders in 2007) for the title of murder capital of Canada with a homicide rate of 3.6.

HIGH-RISK LIFESTYLES

“That’s not a place we want to be. We don’t want to be No. 1 in any of these categories,” said Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen.

It’s the most homicides in Manitoba in one year since record-keeping began in 1961.

Michalyshen said it’s difficult to prevent homicides because many occur in the heat of the moment.

Many victims know their killer or killers and are involved in high-risk lifestyles, he said.

Homicide figures have overshadowed decreases in several crime categories, although Manitoba and Winnipeg remain near the top in most.

In 2007, Winnipeg saw an overall crime reduction of 12.9%, the third-highest decline of any major Canadian city, and Manitoba a 7.2% drop.

Mayor Sam Katz said he wishes people would focus on those figures instead of the homicide numbers.

“If you really want to gauge crime, I don’t know whether homicide is the proper barometer,” Katz said. “It would be nice if everyone just chose to focus on the facts and the facts are crime is down.”

Manitoba and Winnipeg remain No. 1 in auto theft, a category that saw a decrease last year and a significant decline already in 2008.

Those figures may be a bit misleading, however, because attempted thefts are counted.

With a decrease of 7%, Canada’s national crime rate dropped for the third consecutive year and reached its lowest point in 30 years.

Manitoba had the fifth-highest overall crime rate. The Northwest Territories had the highest and Ontario the lowest.

—

WHERE WE SIT

Here’s how Winnipeg (out of 27 Canadian cities with populations of 100,000 or more) and Manitoba ranked in Statistics Canada’s 2007 crime report:

- Total Criminal Code 4th, 5th

- Violent offences 6th, 5th

- Homicide 1st (tie), 1st

- Robbery 2nd, 1st

-Total property offences 5th, 3rd

- Break-and-enter 4th, 2nd

-Auto theft 1st, 1st

Opposition continues to mount against Premier Gary Doer’s proposed west-side route for Manitoba’s third major hydro transmission line, BiPole III, says Progressive Conservative hydro critic Cliff Cullen.

At its general council meeting in Brandon yesterday, Keystone Agricultural Producers delegates passed a resolution opposing Doer’s daffy detour – a longer, more costly c-shaped route that would run from northeastern Manitoba, to almost the Saskatchewan border before cutting back to Winnipeg. KAP instead will join the growing lobby in favour the shorter, more direct, less costly and more environmentally friendly PC endorsed east side route, which would run from the northeast in a straight line down the east side of Lake Winnipeg to the city.

“We commend KAP for taking a stand against the west-side BiPole route because it would waste over $1 billion, 40MW of clean energy and would be far less reliable in emergency circumstances,” Cullen said.

The lobby against  the NDP’s west side route includes former NDP premier Ed Schreyer, former NDP MLA Elijah Harper, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, environmentalist Robert Sopuck, 15 out of 16 east side First Nations chiefs, constitutional expert Bryan Schwartz, the Manitoba Business Council, several prominent engineers and Jim Collinson, a former head of UNESCO.

“It looks Gary Doer and his NDP cabinet stand alone in support of a west-side route,’ Cullen said. “At some point the premier needs to set aside his arrogance, admit he’s wrong and flip-flop on the issue.”

Changes would increase government accountability

Progressive Conservatives have three key amendments to Bill 15 that would strengthen the bill that aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Manitoba.

These amendments would set the bar higher than the NDP have, with emission reduction guidelines identified in Bill 15.

“Progressive Conservatives cannot support the bill as it is – it’s window dressing,” said PC environment critic Heather Stefanson. “If  this government was serious about reducing GHGs they wouldn’t leave all the work until after the next election nor would they set themselves a goal to achieve nothing, which is the case with the carbon-neutral decade ‘goal’ in Bill 15.”

The reality is Manitoba could in fact increase emissions and still achieve the NDP’s carbon-neutral decade goal.

“Progressive Conservatives will not support a bill that aims to accomplish nothing,” Stefanson said.

PCs want Bill 15 amended to include:

Annual emission reduction targets (Bill 15 has no specific targets just a ‘carbon-neutral decade’ goal)
Independent annual reporting (not left to the government to self-monitor every four years)
Penalties for not reaching targets (the current bill has no penalties for government if goals aren’t met)
“We have consistently pointed out how watered-down and toothless this government’s so-called ‘green’ policies are and Bill 15 is a glaring example of giving the semblance of action while accomplishing next to nothing,” said Science, technology, energy and mines critic Cliff Cullen. “They may be master illusionists but the NDP aren’t champions of the environment. Our amendments give some substance to their flash.”

The provincial opposition is encouraging the public to express its concerns over the Manitoba government’s plan to ban hog industry expansion in three regions of the province.

Bill 17, which proposes changes to the provincial environment act that would impose a permanent legislative moratorium on hog industry expansion in 35 Manitoba rural municipalities, is scheduled to go before a legislative committee for final public comment prior to third reading and passage.

So far over 400 groups and individuals have registered to express their views on the bill.

Opposition house leader Gerald Hawranik says the bill is a huge concern and he believes public input during the legislative committee review will be key.

Clip-Gerald Hawranik-PC Party of Manitoba

It’s a critical role in the legislative process because what it does is it allows producers, it allows people in rural Manitoba, in the city of Winnipeg, in Brandon and where ever, all Manitobans to come forward and express their views on Bill 17.

If the government is listening to what Manitobans have to say there’s a possibility of amendment whether it’s a friendly amendment from government itself to change the bill somewhat or whether it’s an amendment from opposition.

Quite often, as opposition, we’re listening when we hear those presentations and if we see that there is a very legitimate concern and the bill can be improved or it can help in terms of its impact on rural Manitoba and including on water quality then the opposition will propose amendments too to that bill so it does have a critical role.

It has a crucial role in the legislative process.

Hawranik describes Bill 17 as an attack on rural Manitoba and he insists there is no absolutely science to support the moratorium.

He says, at this point, the government appears to moving full steam ahead, indicating there will be no amendments, however he stresses that can change at committee and he urges people to come forward and express their views on the bill.

Highest increase among provinces for house arrests

A Statistics Canada report released today shows Manitoba continues to have the fastest growing number of conditional sentences, says Progressive Conservative justice critic Gerald Hawranik, meaning convicted criminals avoid jail for the comfort of home.

According to the 2005/2006 Adult Correctional Services Report, Manitoba was the only province to have a double-digit percentage increase in criminals given conditional sentences. The report shows 1,152 enjoyed this luxury in 2005/2006 – 170 more than in the year previous, while Canada as a whole saw a 1.6% decrease.

“Manitoba saw a staggering 17.3% increase in house arrests while every other province saw either a decrease or nominal increase,” Hawranik said. “It’s a disturbing trend that the number of Manitoba criminals serving their sentences in our communities is rising each year at an alarming rate while other provinces are getting tougher on crime.”

Hawranik said PCs have consistently raised these concerns and this disturbing report confirms at least two conclusions.  

“When the NDP consistently allows criminals to serve their sentences in the community, it means our jails are overcrowded and the Attorney General isn’t providing crown prosecutors with the direction to ask for tougher sentences,” Hawranik said.

“A poorly managed justice system means Manitobans can’t be assured their communities are safe. What is the NDP doing today to ensure criminals serve their time behind bars where they belong?”

Bill 37 defies basic principles of democracy
The NDP has introduced a bill that should shock and outrage every Manitoban. It jeopardizes democracy, infringes on Charter rights and seeks only to keep the ruling party in power ad infinitum. Bill 37 was stealthily introduced on April 30, hidden amid a flurry of other bills and government announcements and done without consulting political parties, experts or Manitobans. The NDP has cynically disguised it as a positive move that simply sets fixed election dates. Within this Trojan horse, Bill 37 is actually an attempt to fix elections for the NDP.

Contrary to the NDP spin, Bill 37 leaves the call of Manitoba’s next election at the whim of the premier. Only after the next provincial election does the bill unreservedly set dates for subsequent elections. We have been calling for set election dates, but the goal of certainty for Manitobans has been lost because Gary Doer refuses to give up his power to call the next election whenever it suits him.

This bill also contains another NDP tax grab. Taxpayers already give political parties $4 million, each and every election, through tax credits and subsidies. The NDP wants to pick your pocket for an additional $500,000 every year — half of which would go directly to the NDP. Progressive Conservatives believe taxpayers already contribute enough to elections and the onus should be on political parties to earn support through voluntary donations — not another tax grab. We believe that money would be better spent on health care, public safety or education.

Just as sinister are the NDP proposals to stifle public debate by gagging communications from opposition parties. In 2001, the NDP brought in legislation that put severe limits on advertising by political parties outside election periods. Bill 37 retains these limits, and adds to them by limiting communications from your elected MLA. It gives the NDP government the power to censor communications from MLAs and decide how much of this mail we send. These extraordinary powers to make and enforce the rules are provided to the Legislative Assembly Management Commission, a committee of MLAs dominated by the NDP. Imagine if the Winnipeg Free Press had to let the Winnipeg Sun edit its content before going to press every day! At the same time, the NDP intends to continue millions of dollars of taxpayer-funded advertising campaigns to bolster their political fortunes right up until a few weeks before the beginning of the next campaign.

These measures are meant to silence opposition parties and keep voters in the dark about what the government is doing, except for what the government itself wants you to know. It’s undemocratic, unconstitutional and puts us on a slippery slope towards a one-party political state.

Finally, Bill 37’s provisions dealing with lobbyists puts the fox in charge of the henhouse by putting the NDP cabinet in charge of monitoring lobbyists. The same dysfunctional model was in place when Adscam happened, and was rejected by the Gomery Commission. Giving a cabinet-appointed watchdog the power to monitor meetings involving individual MLAs — opposition and government alike — will discourage Manitobans from sharing information with their elected representatives.

The NDP’s goal with Bill 37 is to limit your right to know so they can maintain their hold on power. It’s designed to prevent opposition parties from telling Manitobans about bad decisions the NDP is making — quietly hiking Pharmacare rates to punish the sick and the elderly, breaking promises on hallway medicine, wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on the next hydro transmission line and scrapping balanced budget legislation. These are things the NDP doesn’t want you to know about.

Gary Doer has been in power for so long he thinks he’s entitled to preside over our province like a king, with no accountability to his subjects. You have the ability to hold him to account when Bill 37 goes to committee.

Gary Doer and the NDP have broken another election promise. Bill 38, introduced by the NDP last week, sets the stage for deficits and a massive debt for future generations.

Progressive Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen said scrapping Manitoba’s nation-leading balanced budget law is irresponsible and dangerous in our current economic uncertainty.

In the 1990s, Manitoba was among the first provinces to enact legislation preventing deficits and requiring debt to be repaid. Its strength was heralded across Canada and served as a template for other provinces in the years since.

During the 1999 election campaign, the current NDP government vowed to keep balanced budget legislation.

“If we have the privilege of governing Manitoba after tomorrow, we will be completely accountable to these core commitments,” Doer said of balanced budget legislation in an NDP news release dated Sept. 20, 1999 — the eve of his government taking office.

Under Section 3 (1) of Bill 38, the NDP can overspend and use the net income of Crown corporations like Manitoba Hydro and Manitoba Public Insurance, to give the illusion of balancing the books and are only required to actually have balanced books over a four year average. Watering down fiscal accountability even further, under section 3 (3) (d) of the bill, if another level of government or regulatory body makes a decision that has any impact on government revenue within 30 days of the provincial budget being tabled and “was not anticipated”, the NDP doesn’t have to balance the books at all.

“Bill 38 is nothing more than a series of excuses and loophole the NDP can use to overspend and leave taxpayers in the hole,” said PC finance critic Rick Borotsik.

A Private Members Bill was introduced today by Progressive Conservative Justice critic Gerald Hawranik to ensure auto thieves who are injured or die during the commission of their crime, receive no benefits from Manitoba Public Insurance.

He said Bill 229, Elimination of Benefits For Auto Thieves, if passed, will amend the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act to make sure thieves don’t profit from their crime.

“MPI customers should not have to contribute to a system that gives criminals access to the same accident benefits as law-abiding citizens receive,” Hawranik said, pointing out that absurdly, auto thieves can collect benefits through the insurance policy of the vehicle they steal. “This bill is a no-brainer to Progressive Conservatives and we hope to the NDP as well, as they will need to support the bill in order for the loophole to be eliminated. We hope common sense and the interest of MPI customers prevail over partisan politics and the comfort of criminals.”

Manitoba consistently has among the worst auto theft rates in Canada and the only way to buck this trend is to get tough on thieves, he said.

“Perhaps knowing that if they steal a car and hurt themselves in a crash they won’t be able to collect MPI benefits will make would-be auto thieves think twice about committing the crime,” Hawranik said.

Curiously, only break in deductible increases coincided with election year

Pharmacare deductibles have increased 34% since the NDP took office – a cost Progressive Conservatives say unfairly targets seniors and low-income earners.

The NDP announced another 5% increase to deductibles in their 2008 budget, bringing the top-end increase since 2002 to $384.

Deputy health critic Myrna Driedger said it’s a hike many vulnerable Manitobans simply can’t afford.

“It may seem like pocket change to many, but for many seniors on a fixed income and low-income earners, a $384 increase may be the difference between medicine for what ails them and putting food on the table.”

She said it’s no secret the Manitoba NDP has a spending addiction, but offloading their financial mismanagement onto the backs of seniors is nothing more than a tax grab. 

“At a time of unprecedented handouts from Ottawa, the NDP continues to spend every cent they receive,” Driedger said. “Finding another way to nickel and dime our most vulnerable Manitobans is the wrong way for the NDP to try to cover up its irresponsible spending habits.”

Progressive Conservative critic for seniors, Leanne Rowat pointed out that Pharmacare deductibles have been on the rise each of the last six years – except in 2007 – the election year.

“They NDP is playing politics with the lives of Manitobans on fixed incomes,” Rowat said. “Should seniors brace themselves for similar increases each year before the next election, only to have the NDP make nice in the election year in a pitiful attempt to win over their votes?”

The NDP’s 2008 budget is devoid of any real commitment to rural Manitoba, say Progressive Conservatives, who call it a shameful display of the NDP’s ignorance of rural realities.

“The phrase ‘rural development’ is completely absent from the budget speech,” said Progressive Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen said. “It’s been eight years, but the NDP still has no idea life exists beyond the Perimeter Highway.”

Rural development critic Len Derkach said the NDP’s continued disinterest in devising policies and programs is yet another blow to struggling rural economies.

“Rural Manitoba is an integral piece of our economy,” Derkach said. “When it’s healthy, our province is healthy. It’s unbelievable the NDP thumb their noses at this and I have no doubt we will continue to see private investment leave for greener pastures, while Manitobans continue to pay the penalty for this government’s lack of vision for our rural economy.”

Agriculture critic Ralph Eichler was disappointed but not surprised that Manitoba’s the farm community – the backbone of our economy - got another big goose egg from the NDP.

“The livestock sector is facing some of its toughest challenges in recent memory and the NDP has the gall to say it’s ‘committed to ensuring Manitoba producers receive support to maintain their farm business today’ when there is not a single new announcement aimed at helping the cattle or pork industries weather these challenges,” Eichler said. “They say they’re positioning the livestock sector for ‘future profitability’ but there’s absolutely nothing in this budget to make that happen. The NDP is consistently negligent when it comes to the agriculture sector and it’s an ongoing snub to producers.”

MB PCs endorse federal crackdown while the NDP coddle criminals

Progressive Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen applauds proposed amendments to the Criminal Code unveiled today by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to crack down on auto theft, and hopes NDP Premier Gary Doer finally takes a stand against his own party, which has consistently opposed or watered-down Conservative legislation that targets this plague.

“Manitoba leads Canadian provinces in auto theft. Premier Doer cannot talk out of both sides of his mouth anymore, telling Manitobans one thing and his NDP comrades another,” McFadyen said. “We’re calling on the premier today to clarify his position on the matter: Does he side with his party in opposition of tough auto theft legislation or does he side with Progressive Conservatives and Manitobans in support of it?”

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, auto theft costs Canadians $1.2 billion per year, in addition to being a public safety hazard. Despite that, the NDP refuses to take this crime seriously, voting against or softening legislation in Ottawa to punish these criminals and canceling a bait car program here in Manitoba designed to catch hoodlum joyriders in the act.

“Crime is the Number One concern of Manitobans but it isn’t even on the NDP radar,” said Manitoba PC justice critic Gerald Hawranik. He points to March 29, 2008 as an example of the NDP being out of touch when it comes to crime.

“In the span of a few hours, a Winnipeg cab driver was killed by a stolen SUV and six people were gunned down at a house party by hooded hooligans and the NDP MP for the area where these crimes occurred had nothing to say about either, but rather called for the abolishment of the penny. The NDP MLAs for the same area also said nothing, nor did the justice minister. Manitobans deserve better.”

During this session of the legislature Hawranik plans to introduce a bill that will prohibit car thieves and their families from reaping MPI benefits if they’re hurt or killed during the commission of their crime.

Click here to watch an April 2, 2008 Global TV news report featuring Gerald’s comments on car thieves being covered by Autopac Insurance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuA4sF9n10o

MPI benefits should be null and void for car thieves

One of the first orders of business for Progressive Conservatives when the spring session of the Manitoba legislature begins next week will be to put an end to auto thieves profiting from their crimes.

Under the current NDP government, the driver of a stolen SUV that slammed into and killed a driver of a Winnipeg taxicab on Saturday is eligible for MPI benefits, including medical benefits and income replacement. Progressive Conservative Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) critic Cliff Graydon and justice critic Gerald Hawranik say it’s absurd that law-abiding Manitobans are forced to pay for the dangerous actions of criminals.

“The NDP targets the victims rather than the criminals by forcing car owners to install immobilizers, then allows car thieves to access MPI benefits should they hurt themselves during the commission of their crime,” Graydon points out.

“It’s insulting to victims and MPI ratepayers. This is nothing more than NDP government sanctioned proceeds of crime,” Graydon said.  “The driver of a stolen car should not profit from his crime, while the person he stole it from and the family of the man he killed, foot the bill for MPI premiums to cover a criminal’s personal costs.”

Hawranik agrees and said the moment anyone steals a car they waive their right to the same MPI benefits as a law-abiding citizen. He will introduce a bill this spring to amend this backwards policy to ensure that is the case.

Because many car thieves have no qualms with risking their own lives and those of citizens and law enforcement, Hawranik said it requires a far more aggressive response from government than what the NDP has employed.

“After a jogger was targeted and ploughed down on Wellington Crescent last spring and again in the 2007 election campaign, we reiterated our pledge to implement an aggressive strategy to crack down on auto theft,” Hawranik said. “Other jurisdictions have implemented bait car programs and used electronic ankle bracelets with much success – both commitments previously made by Manitoba Progressive Conservatives. The NDP has only paid lip service to our ideas, while in the meantime, continues to write cheques to the criminals.

“The NDP has made Winnipeg the reigning auto theft capital of Canada and therefore has a duty to explore new strategies to tackle their problem – even if they have to steal those ideas from the opposition to do so.”

Province tops national news again for violence
Day of Death blared the front page of Sunday’s Winnipeg Sun. 3 dead 3 injured in Winnipeg Shooting cried cbc.ca. Cabbie Killed by Speeding Stolen SUV screamed the Winnipeg Free Press.

Two separate weekend crimes – a shooting at a house party and a high speed crash involving a stolen truck ‑- left four dead and eight seriously injured and put Winnipeg’s crime problem atop national news headlines for the second time this month.

“How many people need to die before this NDP government stops coddling criminals, stops pointing fingers and finally gets tough on crime,” asks Progressive Conservative justice critic Gerald Hawranik.  “Consistently we’ve seen the NDP blame Ottawa for a crime problem that’s flourished under their watch but the reality is the Criminal Code is applied equally throughout the country. Why are we tops in crime? It’s clearly the provincial government’s problem to address.”

Progressive Conservatives have repeatedly pointed out that underfunding has caused backlogs in the court system, stresses on police resources and overcrowding in jails that have resulted in a revolving door justice system. As well, Hawranik points out the abandonment of a bait car program is a signal to auto thieves that their crimes aren’t taken seriously by the NDP government.

“Statistics Canada shows Winnipeg is tops in auto thefts, violent crime, Criminal Code offences, robberies and property crimes. I don’t know what more proof is needed for the NDP to pull their heads out of the sand and acknowledge that they’ve got a crime epidemic on their hands,” Hawranik said. “Manitobans need to ask why the premier and justice minister are M.I.A. as this unfolds.”

Winnipeg was labeled Canada’s 3rd most dangerous city in the March 12 issue of Maclean’s magazine. This weekend’s violence put the city atop national news for the second time including CTV’s and Global’s national newscasts and in newspapers including The Globe and Mail. Edmonton Sun and Victoria Times-Colonist.

“After eight years of this NDP regime, the only thing Manitoba is first at is crime. That’s Gary Doer’s legacy and Manitoba’s embarrassment,” Hawranik said.

The federal government passed tough new crime measures yesterday, introducing new firearms offences and making it more difficult for people accused of violent gun crimes to get bail. The city this week officially introduced an automated license plate recognition system to identify stolen vehicles. Manitoba’s NDP government remains oblivious – even as Winnipeg is gripped by another violent crime spree, says Progressive Conservative Justice Critic Gerald Hawranik.

This morning, three stabbings occurred in Winnipeg in the span of two hours. As the city and federal government take action, the provincial NDP continues to sit idle and silent. 

“Incidents like this and others should prompt a firm and calculated response from the NDP government, but instead, its deafening silence is more proof the NDP has no idea how to tackle the crime problem in Winnipeg,” Hawranik said. “For eight years, this government has cowered from crime so when violence erupts, Winnipeggers are left wondering if they are they are safe in the their communities.”

In the last 9 days, Winnipeg has seen:

·         Feb 29 – 3 stabbings reported in 2 hours

·         Feb 28 – A man shot on Manitoba Avenue

·         Feb 26 – A man and woman arrested for a string of robberies at knifepoint

·         Feb 25 – A police officer fired his gun after two men tried to run him down in a stolen car

·         Feb 24 – A male fired a shot through a window of a house on Furby Street

·         Feb 23 – 13-year-old male shot in upper body on Home Street and succumbed to his injuries

“This is a frightening trend because this string of violent crimes is not a coincidence,” said Hawranik. “Not only is Winnipeg leading the country in violent crime, but police are also saying there seems to be a increasing disregard for human life – and it’s becoming more alarming each day.”

Hawranik said if the problem is going to be addressed, the NDP should learn from Conservatives – both federal and provincial – because it’s going to take real reform of the justice system and a new way of looking at how we combat crime for the long-term.

The NDP’s failure to cut through the court backlog has resulted in an accused murderer being set loose while his case languishes in the justice system.

David Knot, 25, was charged in connection with a gang war on the Garden Hill First Nation that left an 18-year-old dead and three others seriously wounded on Feb. 14, 2007.

Due to an over-worked, under-resourced court system, the next available date for a preliminary hearing is September 2008 – 19 months after the crime occurred.

Even though Justice Albert Clearwater said “the violence was extreme” in the matter and Knot has a criminal record for breaching court-imposed release conditions, he set the accused free on bail deeming the amount of pre-trial time Knot would have to spend behind bars due to the backlogged system, unreasonable.

“The decision to release someone back into the community while awaiting trial should be based on merits of the case — not that the matter can’t progress in a timely manner through the court system,” said Progressive Conservative Justice Critic Gerald Hawranik.

“The NDP’s refusal to get tough on crime is forcing the hand of judges far too often in Manitoba and putting Manitobans at risk. It’s not fair to our judges and prosecutors, it’s not fair to victims and their families, it’s not fair to our over-worked police and it’s not fair to Manitobans whose safety is in jeopardy because of the revolving door,” Hawranik said. “The only ones who win with the NDP’s lack of a crime plan are criminals.”

Yet more grim proof that the NDP and Attorney General Dave Chomiak have brutally mismanaged law and order is that just days into the New Year, Manitoba was already Canada’s murder capital, Hawranik points out.

“In eight years with this NDP government the only thing Manitoba is first at is crime.”

The year has only just begun, but the NDP’s failure to get tough on crime has already been demonstrated with two homicides in as many days and shockingly, Premier Gary Doer refuses to see crime as an issue that needs his attention.

In the early hours of January 1, 2008, a 16-year-old boy was stabbed at a house party in Selkirk and just this morning, shots were fired in the 600 block of Magnus Avenue, killing a woman.

Progressive Conservative Justice Critic Gerald Hawranik says Manitoba’s crime problem is getting worse, not better under the NDP.

“It’s scary that just two days into 2008, we’ve already seen two homicides, but the premier has proven time and time again that crime isn’t an issue worthy of his attention,” Hawranik said. 

Just last week, a poll found more than one in three Manitobans think crime is the most important issue facing our province, Hawranik said.

“Crime continues to be top of mind for Manitobans, but doesn’t even register on Gary Doer’s list of NDP priorities for 2008,” Hawranik said, noting that on a local radio show this morning, the premier highlighted the NDP’s priorities for the upcoming year – but tackling crime wasn’t on his list. “Manitobans are right to be concerned because the NDP hasn’t made crime a priority for eight years, and they don’t intend to.”

Hawranik said while many Manitobans make New Year’s resolutions to improve themselves and their lives, apparently Gary Doer didn’t think any new initiatives to crack down on crime were necessary for Manitoba.

“Increasing our population is great, but when people are getting caught in gunfire on the streets, it’s unlikely many people are going to be flocking to move to our province and quite likely, will cause people to leave for greener – and safer – pastures.”

The NDP has broken their promise to make the results of two recent justice reviews public. 

Progressive Conservative Justice Critic Gerald Hawranik says when the NDP announced an operational review of the East St. Paul Police Department and a review of the province’s policy on appointing independent prosecutors, they indicated the results would be made public, “upon their completion”.

But in a release yesterday, Justice Minister Dave Chomiak flip-flopped, indicating instead the results won’t be made public for a “few weeks”.

Hawranik said conducting reviews into what went wrong is pointless unless the NDP is prepared to share with the public exactly what went wrong and why.

“This case was marred with mistakes and secrecy,” Hawranik said. “Manitobans deserve the know the full and unadulterated results of these reviews into what went wrong. It will give them a clear picture of the severe problems that exist in the NDP’s justice system.”

Hawranik said it’s important in order to begin to restore confidence in the justice system.

“It’s not surprising the NDP is putting their own image before the public’s right to know the whole truth,” Hawranik said. “Failing to release the results immediately as originally promised proves the NDP are more concerned with covering their tracks than with admitting their many shortcomings to Manitobans and planning to move past them.”

Seven computers and two Blackberries were stolen from Manitoba Justice
offices in two separate break-ins in the last two months.

Attorney General Dave Chomiak said he would never rule out organized
crime being involved but said it appears the break-in was a “thug”
looking to score the equipment itself, not the information contained on
it.

Chomiak said security is being reviewed. He said anyone whose
information was on the computers, who may be impacted by the theft, has
been informed.

The break-ins occurred in October and November in Manitoba Justice
offices in the Woodsworth Building on Broadway.

Tory Justice Critic Gerald Hawranik said the government has prematurely
dismissed this as not being related to organized crime and said Justice
computers would contain information about witnesses and Justice staff
that gang members would love to get their hands on.

Hawranik said one break-in might be dismissed as a “thug” but two
break-ins so close together of Justice offices is concerning.

Not only does the NDP charge a farmland tax while Progressive Conservatives are committed to abolish it altogether, but they’re also gouging farmers excessive administrative fees to collect it.  

“It’s a tax on a tax,” Progressive Conservative agriculture critic Ralph Eichler said, who was shocked to discover the hidden cash grab. “Over the past four years, the NDP has charged $1.5 million to administer the Farmland School Tax Rebate program and the NDP agriculture minister congratulates herself for it? She should have mentioned the NDP is gauging farmers twice – first with the tax and again to rebate a small portion of that tax.”

Eichler said the NDP government already overtaxes Manitobans and to further gouge farmers by charging three percent on an already small rebate only adds insult to injury.

What is more ironic, Eichler said, is the NDP has introduced payday loan legislation to protect consumers from excessive charges. 

“Payday loan companies charge three percent to cash a cheque and the NDP felt it necessary to regulate their practices,” Eichler said. “But at the same time, the NDP charges almost the same amount to rebate farmers money to which they are entitled.” 

“It’s a trademark NDP tax policies,” Eichler said. “Excessive, disrespectful and pointless.”

1.5 million light bulbs must be changed to make up for NDP power loss

Manitobans will need to replace 1.5 million incandescent light bulbs with fluorescents ones to make up for the electricity lost by the NDP’s ill-conceived plan to build a hydro transmission line down the western side of the province, says Progressive Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen, who along with energy experts and many environmentalists, supports a shorter, more cost- and energy-efficient eastern route for the line.

Doer’s Daffy Detour through the west is 400 kilometres longer than an eastern route. Experts say conservatively, even if this loss is only 28MW (or 245,280 MW hours of energy per year) of electricity,    t­his is equal to replacing 1.5 million 60-watt incandescent bulbs with fluorescent ones.

In addition, that power – if not wasted through line loss – could be used to offset coal production by our export customers. The same 245,280 MW hours is equal to 245,280 tonnes of coal-produced carbon dioxide emissions, or the greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) produced by 20,000 Hummer H3s.

McFadyen said the numbers speak for themselves and show just how “dim” the NDP’s west side plan is.

“The joke used to be how many NDP ministers does it take to change a light bulb,” McFadyen said. “Now the question is how many light bulbs does it take for the NDP minister to change.”

As well, he said it’s hypocritical for the NDP government to promise today to roll out GHG emission legislation later this fall, and to stand shoulder-to-shoulder at a conference with environmental standouts like British Columbia and Arizona promoting North America’s “green future”, when the NDP’s own hydro line plan is so environmentally-unfriendly.

• Western route is 400 km longer than an eastern route and wastes more power
• More trees will be cut down than would be on the eastern route because of the greater distance
• Lost opportunity to prevent 245,280 GHG emissions per year
   

“It’s not too late for the NDP to make the right decisions and build the hydro transmission line down the eastern side of Manitoba to avoid environmental destruction and a half billion dollars in debt for future generations,” McFadyen said.

Winnipeg has already seen 10 victims of shootings this month and October isn’t over yet.

Another shooting this weekend – this time inside a downtown bar – is more proof the NDP government has failed to make getting illegal guns off the streets a priority, says Progressive Conservative justice critic Gerald Hawranik.

He said the NDP’s recent gun amnesty program is a smoke screen aimed at making Manitobans think it’s getting tough on crime.

“The NDP just finished patting itself on the back for a focus-on-the-victim gun amnesty program, taking the guns out of the hands of normal, law-abiding citizens,” Hawranik said. “But can the Justice Minister tell Manitobans how many of those guns were dropped off by a Hells Angel or another known criminal?”

The NDP doesn’t have a plan that focuses on getting the guns out of the hands of criminals, said Hawranik, calling on the Justice Minister to fund a full-time joint firearm enforcement unit to combat gun smuggling from the United States and other provinces.

“The NDP has shown no willingness to make tough decisions on crime and the results are obvious in a rash of guns and violence on the streets of Winnipeg,” Hawranik said. “Innocent bystanders are caught in the crossfire. This NDP government needs to do something today before another person gets hurts – or worse.”

A new StatsCan report that shows Manitoba youth are charged with the most murders in Canada, combined with a new Probe research poll naming crime as the top concern here and more violent headlines proves yet again the NDP has failed to take crime seriously, say Official Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen and PC Justice Critic Gerald Hawranik.

Manitoba had the highest rate in Canada – more than double that of the next closest province, with 18 youths aged 12 –17 accused of homicide in 2006.

McFadyen said the federal Conservative government just introduced a Throne Speech chalked full of get tough on crime initiatives, but the federal NDP has indicated they will vote against it.

“The NDP – including its federal counterpart – continues to pay nothing but lip service when it comes to actually cracking down,” McFadyen said.

Hawranik said crime is the No.1 concern of Manitobans and Winnipeggers – fear that has flourished because of the NDP’s failure to get tough on criminals.

“Just two years ago infrastructure was the top issue on the minds of Manitobans,” Hawranik said, referencing the Probe poll. “Today, 35 percent of Manitobans – up from 25 percent in 2006 – report crime as their top concern, while 44 percent of Winnipeggers – up a shocking from 21% since 2005 – report the same.”

Why has Bait Car program been put on ice when BC has benefited from its success?

A Bait Car program announced in 2001 to lure and trap auto thieves isn’t up and running while the NDP is moving full speed ahead to put the onus on the victims of auto theft rather than the criminals, said Progressive Conservative Justice critic, Gerald Hawranik.

“The NDP is quick to punish the victims, forcing them to install mandatory immobilizers, but they have failed to target auto thieves with a proactive crime-fighting program that has shown huge success in other provinces,” Hawranik said. “It’s another example of NDP mismanagement.”

Premier Doer and Justice Minister Dave Chomiak point the finger at only Ottawa when they know there are initiatives they can do right here in Manitoba to combat auto theft, Hawranik said.

“The Federal Conservative government has pledged to do its part by changing its legislation to increase penalties for auto theft, but it can’t be done unless Jack Layton and the NDP support the legislation through Parliament. In Manitoba, we need this NDP government to take responsibility for its role to combat auto theft and look for best practices in other provinces that have been extremely successful in reducing auto theft.” 

British Columbia implemented an effective Bait Car program in 2004 and auto theft numbers dropped by 35%, but in Manitoba, Hawranik said this initiative has been parked in the garage.

“This government could immobilize auto thieves but they’d rather immobilize the victims,” Hawranik said. “Mr. Chomiak should look at his own role in combating auto theft – rather than continuing to point the finger at the federal government.”

Illegal blockade raises liability concerns

Manitoba cottage owners are concerned they may be on the hook for property damage resulting from a three-week-old blockade near Hollow Water that has prevented them from accessing their property to prepare it for winter, said Progressive Conservative Justice Critic, Gerald Hawranik.

Last week in the Legislature when Hawranik asked how long people would have to wait to access their property, Justice Minister Dave Chomiak responded with a flippant answer, completely failing to address the concerns of cottagers.

“If the Justice Minister – the person ultimately responsible to enforce and uphold the laws in our province – won’t stand up today and to enforce the law, he must at least tell residents and cottagers in the area exactly who will pay to repair their damaged plumbing and burst pipes,” Hawranik said.

When cottage owners called for help to access their property to winterize it, Hawranik said, all an NDP spokesperson had to say was, ‘We are asking for people’s patience.’ 

“Many Manitobans already lost out in the NDP’s bungled cottage lot draw and now cottagers can’t even access their own property,” Hawranik said. “Law-abiding citizens shouldn’t have to be patient. This blockade is illegal and is just another example of the NDP victimizing the victim.”

Pine Falls, Manitoba, October 10, 2007 – Tembec announced today that it has received Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for its forestry practices on Forest Management License 1 (FML 1), a 900,000-hectare public forest license in eastern Manitoba. This is the first forest in the province of Manitoba to be audited and certified in accordance with the FSC National Boreal Standard.

With the inclusion of FML 1 at Pine Falls, the network of FSC certified forests under management by Tembec and its partners has grown to 9.7 million hectares in Canada.

“This certification represents a well-deserved recognition of the efforts of our team over the past few years,“ said James Lopez, Tembec President and CEO. “Certification of our operations in Manitoba is indeed a great accomplishment, particularly when we consider the complexity of the requirements and the significant number of interests that must be considered.”

The Forest Stewardship Council is recognized worldwide for its unique regional, multi-stakeholder approach to the development of standards for well-managed forests. “Achieving FSC certification is not an end in itself, but a checkpoint on the path of improving forest management performance“, noted Michael Martel, Tembec Senior Vice President, Forest Resource Management Group. “Achieving certification represents a commitment to innovation, partnership and engagement going forward.”

Tembec received its certification from the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program, a Forest Stewardship Council accredited certifier, following an in-depth audit process that found that the Company’s forest management practices comply with FSC’s rigorous standards for environmentally and socially responsible forestry practices.

Founded in 1993, the Forest Stewardship Council is an international non-governmental organization that has developed the only forest certification system recognized worldwide by native peoples, environmental groups, labour organizations and industry. The certification system requires consultations with all forest users and stakeholders, and guarantees the independent evaluation of forest management practices used by companies.

Tembec is a large, diversified and integrated forest products company. With operations principally located in North America and in France, the Company employs approximately 9,000 people. Tembec’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TBC.

Illegal blockade allowed to remain, no negotiations on the horizon

It’s been two weeks since the barricades went up near Hollow Water – preventing residents and cottagers from freely coming and going in the area – but the NDP has failed to act, sending a message to Manitobans that the law is not applied fairly and equally to all, said Progressive Conservative Justice Critic, Gerald Hawranik and Conservation Critic, Heather Stefanson.

“Conservation Minister Stan Struthers says he isn’t in a position to enforce the law, refusing to negotiate until the barricades are removed. Justice Minister Dave Chomiak doesn’t have the courage to enforce the law, allowing those involved to rise above the justice system,” Hawranik said. “If Struthers says he can’t and Chomiak won’t, who can Manitobans expect to deal with this illegal blockade?”

According to Section 423 of the Criminal Code, it is illegal to block or obstruct a highway.

“The barricades erected at Hollow Water are clearly illegal – both the Conservation Minister and RCMP Sergeant Doug Ashton agree,” Hawranik said. “Not only is it unfair to put the requests of one group ahead of the rights of another, but it also sends a message to Manitobans that the law can be broken without any consequences. After a summer riddled with violent crimes against people, that’s definitely not the message the NDP should be sending.

“Why is the Justice Minister – the person ultimately responsible to enforce and uphold the laws in our province – failing to stand up today and to enforce the law?”

Stefanson said several residents in the Ayer’s Cove cottage development have expressed concern that they may not be able to access their cottages to winterize them before freeze-up. She said the NDP’s failure to manage the situation has left many Manitoba cottagers without any answers. 

“If they can’t access their own property, cottage owners could face costly expenses due to frozen plumbing and a spokesman for the Conservation Minister has the gall to say, ‘We are asking for people’s patience’,” Stefanson said. “It’s already been two weeks. How many more days, weeks or months does this Minister think is appropriate for these people to be barred from accessing their own property?”

Matt Goerzen - Brandon Sun

New sexual assault charges have been levelled against a 19-year-old Brandon man who is scheduled to appear in court this week for a similar offence.

A 20-year-old woman was taken to the Brandon hospital last weekend following a sexual assault in her residence in the 1200-block of Rosser Avenue.

Brandon police say the suspect, who was known to the victim, broke into her home early Saturday morning.

“This was a full blown sexual assault,” Brandon Police Service spokesman Sgt. Rick Semler said yesterday. “She contacted police right away.”

The suspect was arrested at his residence shortly after the assault, and charged with sexual assault, choking to overcome resistance, breach of recognizance and breach of probation.

Semler said the suspect was already facing earlier, unrelated sexual assault charges stemming from an Aug. 4 incident. He had been released by the court after his initial arrest.

“He was on a court order as a result of the previous charges,” Semler said. “The circumstances were similar. A break and enter occurred.”

The suspect’s name will not be published in order to protect the identity of the victims. He was remanded in court yesterday to appear on Thursday and remains in police custody.

Domestic violence counsellor Kim Iwasiuk with the Women’s Resource Centre in Brandon said it’s all too common for a suspect charged with sexual assault to re-offend, if given the chance.

“Do men re-offend? Yes,” Iwasiuk said. “Unless there is some intervention. That can include jail time, counselling and supports in the community for them. Those are three really important factors.”

The fact that the suspect was given the chance to commit another sexual offence greatly concerned Iwasiuk, who meets with many women who have been victims of physical and sexual abuse.

“That’s where that intervention comes in. What happened after that first assault?”

Repeat offenses could be prevented if the provincial government would take these kinds of incidents more seriously said Progressive Conservative Justice Critic Gerald Hawranik.

“We need to have more protection for the victim and a little less for the criminal,” Hawranik told the Sun yesterday. “(Manitoba Justice Minister Dave Chomiak) has to give Crown attorneys more direction.”

In the case of a serious criminal offense, Hawranik said Crown attorney’s should be directed to oppose bail for a suspect, even in the event of a first offense. And if bail has been granted, prosecutors should automatically appeal the suspect’s release.

“While the appeal continues, that person would remain in custody. We would then have a second chance to make representation to keep that person in jail, and perhaps this wouldn’t happen.”

Such a directive from the government would not interfere in the provincial judicial system Hawranik said. It would merely give the system some much needed consistency.

“Sometimes Crown attorneys make decisions based on expediency. They have a tremendous amount of criminal cases. They really need policy direction to make sure there’s consistency.”

About 51 per cent of Canadian women report experiencing at least one incident of physical violence since the age of 16, according to Statistics Canada.

Citizen Crime-Busters Step Up Because NDP Has Backed Down 
WINNIPEG – Another weekend of murders, shootings, stabbings and beatings in Winnipeg and rural Manitoba has prompted a volunteer crime squad to offer aid to Manitobans in the absence of a crime-fighting plan from the NDP government, said Progressive Conservative Justice critic Gerald Hawranik.

“Manitobans’ sense of safety and security has been eroded,” Hawranik said. “The Guardian Angels – a respectable citizen patrol group – sees the seriousness of the situation and has offered to intervene in hopes of restoring order to our streets. The NDP, meanwhile, sit idle and point the finger of blame everywhere but at themselves.”

Hawranik said in the past eight years, the NDP has failed to develop and implement meaningful crime prevention strategies, programs to address the root causes of crime, such as child poverty and addiction, and has made no tangible progress to address backlogs in provincial courts and over-crowding in provincial jails.

“Under this NDP government, Manitoba has the second highest child poverty rate in Canada – a factor experts agree has a significant influence on the crime rate,” Hawranik said. “We need more police officers on the streets, more prosecutors to cut through the court backlog, more jail space. The NDP wants Manitobans to believe that crime is a federal matter. The reality is the Criminal Code is but one link in the criminal justice chain.”

PC Leader Hugh McFadyen is to be part of a Manitoba delegation to Ottawa on Thursday along with Premier Gary Doer, Manitoba Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard and Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz and others. They’re to meet with federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson to press for the federal government to do its part and toughen laws for crimes that plague the city and province.

“With the minority that exists in Parliament, everyone has to be part of the solution. The federal Tories can’t do it alone,” McFadyen said. “The soft approach clearly hasn’t worked and I hope Premier Doer and Mr. Gerrard impress upon their federal counterparts the need to work together before violent crime claims more lives.”

The thick smoke that blanketed the City of Winnipeg last night and this morning and the motor vehicle accident that occurred as a result, could have been prevented, said Leader of the Official Opposition, Hugh McFadyen, placing blame squarely on the shoulders of the NDP government.

“After one farmer broke the rules and burned stubble without a permit, the NDP panicked with an across-the-board-ban,” said McFadyen. “When complaints came in from producers, they panicked again and lifted the ban, creating the rush to burn that led to the heavy smoke last night and this morning.”

McFadyen said the NDP has failed Manitobans – both rural and urban – with their incompetent mismanagement of a simple issue.

“It’s trademark NDP to impose heavy-handed regulations without consultations and then flip-flop days later,” said McFadyen. “The consequences of this incompetence for people with respiratory problems, producers and motorists are serious.”

CATTLE TAX REFUND DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING   

Progressive Conservative Agriculture Critic Ralph Eichler today acted to ensure Manitoba’s cattle ranchers are aware of the September 1, 2007 deadline for applications to be submitted for refunds of money collected under the NDP government’s $2.00 per head tax on all cattle sales.

“The NDP did almost nothing to advertise the March 1st refund application deadline,” Eichler said. “Most ranchers were not aware of it, and missed their opportunity to get their money back.”

Eichler added that the lack of advertisement and the timing of the refund deadline in the spring led to an artificial appearance of support for the check off.

“The NDP set the spring deadline during calving season when most ranchers were in the field,” Eichler said. “Combine that with a distinct lack of advertising for the deadline and it’s no wonder 75% of producers weren’t paid back.”

Eichler noted members of the PC Caucus have taken out advertisements is rural papers in an effort to ensure more ranchers are aware of the approaching deadline.

He wonders how much longer the Minister of Agriculture, Rosann Wowchuk and her allies on the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council intend to undermine farm families in the province.

“Our Caucus won’t let another deadline go by without producers being aware of it,” Eichler said. “Mark your calendars: September 1, 2007.”

Manitobans now paying $2.5 million everyday in interest on net debt: Hawranik

In times of unprecedented handouts from the federal government, Premier Gary Doer is mortgaging the future of our children and grandchildren to support his misguided spending habits, says Progressive Conservative Finance Critic Gerald Hawranik. 
“Since Gary Doer and his NDP government took power in 1999, Manitoba’s net debt has grown at an alarming rate, threatening the future financial strength and prosperity of our province,” said Hawranik, noting the net debt has increased by $56 million over 2006.  “His government has done nothing to pay  down the net debt, dragging our economy further behind and driving more than 35,000 people out of Manitoba.”
Hawranik praised Manitoba’s business community for taking a leadership role by addressing the issue of our young people leaving for other provinces.
“The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce/Meyers Norris Penny Leadercon ‘07 theme of “Keeping Young People in Manitoba” is a step in the right direction,” he said. “This is innovative thinking – something that is completely lacking from the NDP government. I commend the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce for working towards solutions to address the exodus of our best and brightest.”
Hawranik noted Manitobans pay nearly $2.5 million every day for interest on the net debt.
“The financial burden being left to our children and our grandchildren is irresponsible,” said Hawranik, adding that the total cost of servicing the net debt in 2007 will be $860 million dollars. “Imagine how many doctors, police officers and Crown Attorneys that could be hired with that amount of money.”
He said the NDP government treats tax dollars as though it has a credit card with no spending limit.
“There are consequences of not living within our means,” said Hawranik. “As a result of almost eight years of NDP fiscal mismanagement, young Manitobans have yet another reason to flee our province – to avoid paying the debt that the NDP government has forced upon them.”

While Gary Doer and his Finance Minister Greg Selinger claim their paltry tax cuts are making Manitoba more competitive, the NDP has implemented a variety of user fees hitting Manitobans in the wallet in other ways, says Leader of the Official Opposition, Hugh McFadyen. 

“The Finance Minister boasts to Manitobans that since coming into power eight years ago, the NDP has taken strides to reduce taxes in our province,” said McFadyen.  “Unfortunately, he is only telling one side of the story.  On one hand, the NDP is creating the illusion that taxes are going down, while on the other hand, it has charged Manitobans user fees in excess of $450 million - cancelling out any tax relief.”

He said unbeknownst to Manitobans, our overall tax load of has not gone down.

“Every possible permit, fee and license has increased under the NDP,” said McFadyen, citing the expansion of the PST to things such as plumbing and legal services to a $10 increase in marriage licenses this year. 

McFadyen said even with an unprecedented amount of transfers from the federal government, the NDP government still can’t live within its means.

“In Budget 2007 alone “fees and other revenues” went up by $19.2 million or 4.8%. While Saskatchewan has cut its PST by 2% and is doubling us in terms of job growth, it concerns me that at a time when we’re losing our young people left, right and centre, NDP would prefer to hide the truth from Manitobans, rather than address problem in an open and transparent manner.”

McFadyen said Manitoba needs real tax relief to become competitive with our neighbours to the west. 

“Imaginary tax cuts and sneaky back door user fees will only cause Manitoba to fall further behind and will do nothing to stem the tide of young people leaving in search of better opportunities and a better quality of life.” 

Where did the money go? Eichler

NDP Minister of Agriculture Rosann Wowchuk’s claim that producers support the government’s cattle levy is greatly exaggerated, says PC Agriculture Critic Ralph Eichler. He said in fact, producers are telling him the low percentage of refund requests has more to do with poor communication by the NDP government.

“The Minister’s confidence is completely unfounded,” said Eichler.  “She claims the levy is supported by farmers because 75% did not file for a refund, when in reality, cattle producers were in the dark about the refund deadline.”

He said producers should have been kept in the loop about new procedures and important deadlines.

“The NDP thinks it’s okay to spend millions of tax dollars on pre-election government advertising,” said Eichler, “yet all they did to communicate the levy information to producers is plunk it onto a website and hope they would find it.”

Eichler also said the levy has raised an estimated $450,000 since its inception in September 2006, but has yet to fund a single project in Manitoba.  

“Since the BSE crisis in 2003, the NDP government has wasted nearly four years doing nothing to increase Manitoba’s slaughter capacity,” he said. “Between imposing a non-refundable levy without consultation and then back tracking when it realized its mistake, time and time again, the Minister and the NDP have horribly mismanaged Manitoba’s cattle industry.”

“No matter how much proof the Minister thinks she has that the NDP was ‘right’, we still have no slaughter capacity in Manitoba.”

Selinger has lost all credibility; we need a new Finance Minister: McFadyen and Gerrard
Hugh McFadyen, Leader of the Official Opposition and Dr. Jon Gerrard, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party, released new information today that Premier Gary Doer and Finance Minister Greg Selinger withheld the critical November 2000 Cabinet warning from the Auditor General.  They are demanding immediate action by the Premier to show leadership and move Manitoba beyond the Crocus crisis. 

Leaked Cabinet documents have revealed the Premier, Finance Minister and members of the NDP Cabinet knew about the looming Crocus crisis as early as November 2000, but did nothing to protect Manitobans.

“In order to stop further losses to nearly 34,000 Crocus shareholders and to avoid wasting millions more in taxpayer dollars fighting a Crocus shareholders lawsuit, the Premier must restore faith in our venture capital markets,” said McFadyen.  “He has run out of time and excuses.  The Premier must call an inquiry and insist that his Finance Minister resign immediately.”  

“The document was authored and signed by Selinger,” said McFadyen.  “Not only did he know about financial problems at Crocus and failed to warn Manitobans, but he withheld critical information in the course of the Auditor General’s probe into Crocus.”

Gerrard said if Manitobans knew what the government knew in November 2000, they would never have invested in Crocus.  

“The NDP government promoted Crocus as a sound investment; perfect for the average Manitoban to entrust their savings in,” said Gerrard.  “When the NDP learned about problems at Crocus, rather than re-examine the fund and alert Manitobans of the concerns, what was their course of action? Sell more!  It’s absolutely disgraceful the government abused its authority in this way.”

“Manitobans have rightfully lost all confidence and faith in Greg Selinger to manage their tax dollars,” charged McFadyen.  “He failed to protect Manitobans and for that reason, he must be replaced immediately.”

Let’s benefit from Alberta’s hot economy and keep young people in Manitoba: McFadyen

Hugh McFadyen, Leader of the Official Opposition, says a Progressive Conservative government would seek immediate entry into the BC/Alberta free trade agreement known as the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA).  It would be a step toward the creation of a western Canadian free trade zone and add momentum to the Canada-wide initiative to reduce inter-provincial trade barriers.

“This will make it easier for Manitoba business to supply goods and services to the red hot Alberta marketplace, so that we can prosper without exporting jobs and wealth,” he said.

McFadyen noted that Saskatchewan has expressed a desire to enter the TILMA, but to date the Manitoba NDP has shown no interest and no energy on this issue.

“We can’t afford to sit by and once again be left in the dust by Saskatchewan and our western neighbours,” he said.  “With over 40,000 people having left under the NDP, roughly the population of Brandon, we have a problem we can no longer afford to ignore.”

McFadyen pointed to the benefits being touted for the people of BC through its participation in the TILMA.  By eliminating unnecessary barriers in its labour force, BC’s real GDP is estimated to grow by $4.8 billion and up to 78,000 jobs could be added to its economy.

He also pointed out that more inter-provincial trade means a stronger Canada.

“We remember some of the arguments that free trade with the US could weaken Canada,” said McFadyen.  “Now we have a chance at fewer trade restrictions within our great country.  More opportunities for young Manitobans and a stronger Canada is a win-win.  I don’t know what the NDP is waiting for – let’s get moving!”

“We already have two strikes against us: high NDP taxes and excessive NDP red tape.  If we fail to move forward on trade, this will be strike three.  It’s time for fresh energy and new ideas to keep young people in our great province,” concluded McFadyen.

McFadyen Progressive Conservatives call for tax relief to help working families and keep young people at home

Leader of the Official Opposition, Hugh McFadyen, and PC Finance Critic, Gerald Hawranik, say the need for change in Manitoba has become even more evident now that British Columbia’s government has introduced a budget that includes a 10% cut in personal income tax rates for residents earning less than $100,000.

“When you look at our tax rates in comparison to the rest of the west, Manitoba doesn’t even come close,” said McFadyen, noting that in 5 out of 6 tax categories Manitoba ranks dead last in western Canada. “High NDP taxes aren’t getting results and our neighbours to the west continue to plough forward with positive tax relief for working people.”

“A Progressive Conservative government’s plan for Manitoba’s future will make tax relief for working families a priority,” he continued.  “With new and innovative ideas, we will accomplish our goals to make Manitoba a place where young people want to live, work and raise a family.”

Millions of taxpayer’s dollars spent with nothing to show for it: Eichler

Agriculture Critic Ralph Eichler today expressed serious disappointment over the NDP government’s mismanagement of the soon-to-be defunct Ranchers Choice Beef Co-op in Dauphin. The NDP withdrew it support in December 2006, signaling the end of any government effort to increase slaughter capacity.

“Rather than take responsibility for its failures,” Eichler said, “the NDP chose instead to wash its hands of the issue and blame the co-op for not attracting more investors.”

Eichler said unfortunately, the NDP set the plant up to fail right from the very beginning. “The cooperative structure of Ranchers Choice was far too restrictive,” he said. “Investors would have to hand financial control over to the NDP. It’s not surprising no one was interested.”

Eichler added that a Progressive Conservative government would have provided a more investor-friendly business structure. “The role of government should be to create opportunity for investment and let the industry develop.”

Eichler said the NDP government wasted three years by doing nothing to increase Manitoba’s slaughter capacity, and ultimately missed the opportunity to improve the situation for cattle ranchers.

“The NDP handed over a $4.5 million subsidy, a $7 million loan and part of a $10.9 million commitment to wastewater treatment upgrades,” Eichler said. “Most of that money is gone, Ranchers Choice is no more and taxpayers are on the hook for another failed NDP project.”

Manitoba needs new energy, fresh ideas: McFadyen

Leader of the Official Opposition, Hugh McFadyen, said labour statistics released today prove once again that while the NDP spends taxpayer dollars trying to paint a rosy picture of our economic performance, Manitoba continues to fall further behind all other western provinces.  

“Alberta experienced its largest growth rate in 26 years, while Saskatchewan and British Columbia also finished 2006 with employment growth rates well above the national average,” he said.  “Meanwhile, Manitoba continued to lag miserably behind, posting a growth rate of only 0.7% - a rate more than 8 times less than that of Alberta and well below the national average.  This is simply unacceptable.” 

Between December 2005 and December 2006, Alberta’s economy created 108,500 jobs, British Columbia’s economy created 51,300 and Saskatchewan’s economy created 23,000.  In Manitoba, only 3,900 jobs were created.

“Saskatchewan has managed to create almost 6 times more jobs than Manitoba,” said McFadyen.  “To see that growth happen next door, while Manitoba flounders, is of great concern to us.”

McFadyen said the difference is that Saskatchewan’s government addressed the challenge head on with aggressive measures designed to stem out migration.

“It’s the provincial government’s job to instill confidence in its business community, showing them they can get positive returns on their investment,” he said.  “After over seven years and seven provincial budgets, Manitoba’s NDP government has yet to understand there is a direct connection between job growth and tax cuts, and has failed miserably at creating incentives to make businesses want to grow and expand here.” 

“A Progressive Conservative government,” he continued, “would make meaningful tax cuts, address the labour shortage and work to provide opportunities for young people right here in Manitoba.” 

“More than 35,000 Manitobans have left since the NDP took office in 1999, which equals the population of Brandon.  We have a serious problem that can no longer be ignored.” 

McFadyen concluded, “The NDP government has clearly demonstrated it has no idea how to make Manitoba competitive with its neighbours to the west or it would have taken action seven years ago.  This problem is not going away any time soon.  Manitoba needs a government that can address it with energy and new ideas.”

MLA for Ste. Rose, Glen Cummings, today said the NDP government’s abandonment of Ranchers Choice Beef Co-op is the final result of its mishandling of the beef industry over the past three and a half years.

“From the BSE crisis onward, this government hasn’t been able to put a plan in place to help Manitoba’s beef industry,” he said. “While other provinces quickly took the initiative to develop greater processing capacity, the NDP in Manitoba continually dragged its feet with no idea how to move forward.”

Cummings said the business structure employed by the NDP effectively prevented the co-op from securing additional funding partners.

“If the NDP had worked aggressively with Ranchers Choice when the BSE crisis first struck Manitoba, it could have encouraged additional investment and support, and taken advantage of the demand that existed in the marketplace at the time,” he said.  “As a result of the government’s failure to do so, rural jobs have not been created, ranchers must continue to disperse their herds to other provinces and Manitoba still hasn’t increased its slaughter capacity, as other jurisdictions have.”    

Cummings said the “cut and run” tactics of the NDP on this issue clearly indicates its lack of commitment to rural Manitoba. “We are facing severe economic challenges throughout rural Manitoba,” he said. “Our residents should be very worried that the NDP government has no idea how to address the problems facing rural Manitoba.”

Progressive Conservative Finance Critic, Gerald Hawranik, says the NDP needs to stop raiding the Rainy Day Fund to cover up for seven years of continual mismanagement and overspending.

The Fiscal Stabilization Fund, otherwise known as the Rainy Day Fund, is supposed to be used only in emergency circumstances, not for ongoing expenses, he said.

“The Minister of Finance, Greg Selinger, is knowingly misleading Manitobans by painting a rosy picture of our province’s financial status,” said Hawranik.  “When the 2006 budget predicts a $2.5 million surplus, but the NDP draws more than $146 million from the Rainy Day Fund, it’s clear that routine expenses like health care expenses and infrastructure improvements haven’t been properly planned for.” 

He said Progressive Conservatives would instead create a sound comprehensive budget for Manitoba.

“Tossing millions of tax dollars at problems for short-term gain or simply devising stop-gap solutions that fail to address core issues will not fix any of Manitoba’s problems – no matter how big or small,” said Hawranik.  “Our goal is to provide Manitobans with multi-year planning in areas such as infrastructure, instead of making splashy multi-million dollar announcements on the fly.”

Hawranik said this isn’t the first time the NDP has used the Rainy Day Fund to cover its expenses.

“After seven years, the NDP government still doesn’t seem to grasp the concept of controlling expenses, overspending its budgets by a combined total of $862 million,” said Hawranik.  “Despite benefiting from an unprecedented level of federal transfer payments now totaling 35% of Manitoba’s annual revenue, this NDP government still can’t keep its hands out of the cookie jar.  Year after year, it spends every new dollar it receives and then some, not to mention going over budget.”

Hawranik said Manitobans deserve better.

“As a result of the NDP’s improper financial planning and an uncontrollable appetite for spending, Manitoba’s highways and bridges have been ignored, our child welfare system has been routinely mismanaged and promise after promise about fixing our health care system have been broken,” he continued.  “We can’t afford another four years NDP mismanagement.  It’s time to get Manitoba and its finances back on track.”  

NDP allows provincial economy to lag behind Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC: McFadyen

Leader of the Official Opposition, Hugh McFadyen, said a Canada West Foundation (CWF) report released today provides further evidence that the NDP government is not taking the economic performance of our province seriously.

“The Premier and his government continually try to mislead Manitobans by saying everything is just fine, yet report after report from reputable organizations tell a completely different story,” said McFadyen.  “We are experiencing the weakest growth among the four western provinces because of high taxes and low wage rates, and yet instead of actually doing something about it the government chooses to spin its own numbers, adhere to a ‘steady as she goes’ philosophy, and deny that it has a serious issue on its hands.”

According to the CWF, Manitoba is not only experiencing high taxes and low wages, we’re also dealing with a labour shortage, something provincial business leaders have expressed great concerned about. More than 9,000 Manitobans left for Alberta in the last 12 months, while approximately 5,000 and 4,000 left for Ontario and British Columbia respectively during the same time.

“Manitoba has some serious catching up to do,” said McFadyen.  “While Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia all show positive gains across the board, the NDP has failed to put us in a position to compete,“ McFadyen said.

The Canada West Foundation analysis follows a recently released Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce survey that showed 93% of business leaders feel the NDP government has failed to created opportunities for young people.

“Manitoba needs a government that is serious about cutting taxes, which in turn will give businesses the ability to offer better paying jobs that would spur economic growth by not only keeping our young people here, but also attracting even more to the province.”