Discussions

Reggie 2 said "Finance Minister Eric Stephanson and   Premier Gary Filmon nipped here and tucked   there to shave $176 million from the province’s   $5.5-billion budget without touching major   taxes. Some highlights were: property tax   credits chopped for welfare recipients, restricted   for farmers, nursing home residents and   married couples; about 350 government jobs   cut; health department cut $37 million; family   services department cut $10 million; agriculture   cut $12 million; and routine eye exams no   longer paid for by province.     "

but can you Reggie or anyone else give us an idea of the cost of all the spending promises of Selinger or Bokhari?  
 
Anyone?

Johnbisonbear said "    Reggie 2 said "Finance Minister Eric Stephanson and   Premier Gary Filmon nipped here and tucked   there to shave $176 million from the province’s   $5.5-billion budget without touching major   taxes. Some highlights were: property tax   credits chopped for welfare recipients, restricted   for farmers, nursing home residents and   married couples; about 350 government jobs   cut; health department cut $37 million; family   services department cut $10 million; agriculture   cut $12 million; and routine eye exams no   longer paid for by province.     " but can you Reggie or anyone else give us an idea of the cost of all the spending promises of Selinger or Bokhari?     Anyone? "

spending money can stimulate the economy.  
 
can you tell me what services, or jobs Mr Pallister plans on cutting to pay for the decreased spending he promises?  
 
and how e4xactly will that stimulate the economy?

Johnbisonbear said "    Reggie 2 said "Finance Minister Eric Stephanson and   Premier Gary Filmon nipped here and tucked   there to shave $176 million from the province’s   $5.5-billion budget without touching major   taxes. Some highlights were: property tax   credits chopped for welfare recipients, restricted   for farmers, nursing home residents and   married couples; about 350 government jobs   cut; health department cut $37 million; family   services department cut $10 million; agriculture   cut $12 million; and routine eye exams no   longer paid for by province.     " but can you Reggie or anyone else give us an idea of the cost of all the spending promises of Selinger or Bokhari?     Anyone? "

First of all Rana Bokhari is a non issue, this woman sounds like a grade 7 school girl every time she speaks. I can't even believe anyone would even use her as their lawyer, let alone run the province.  
 
I have not been keeping track of the dollars required for Selingers promises. I do realize that he will not be able to keep them when he is first re-elected.  
 
However can you Johnbisonbear tell me how Pallister will be able to maintain the services we presently enjoy with less revenue coming in from rolling back the PST and giving us all an extra $4000 of our income tax back.  
 
So with Pallisters promises we will all step back to the 90's as noted in the Brandon Sun column or he will not be keeping his promises either.  
 
So who do you trust and who will improve our lifestyle the most?  
 
 
Edited by Reggie 2, 2016-04-05 13:56:40

belzebob said "    Johnbisonbear said "    Reggie 2 said "Finance Minister Eric Stephanson and   Premier Gary Filmon nipped here and tucked   there to shave $176 million from the province’s   $5.5-billion budget without touching major   taxes. Some highlights were: property tax   credits chopped for welfare recipients, restricted   for farmers, nursing home residents and   married couples; about 350 government jobs   cut; health department cut $37 million; family   services department cut $10 million; agriculture   cut $12 million; and routine eye exams no   longer paid for by province.     " but can you Reggie or anyone else give us an idea of the cost of all the spending promises of Selinger or Bokhari?     Anyone? " spending money can stimulate the economy.     can you tell me what services, or jobs Mr Pallister plans on cutting to pay for the decreased spending he promises?     and how e4xactly will that stimulate the economy? "

you what Pal is going to do because I'm not privy to that info.  
 
Leaving money in citizen's pockets also stimulates the economy because guess what? Yup, the people can go out and SPEND money!

Reggie 2 said "    Johnbisonbear said "    Reggie 2 said "Finance Minister Eric Stephanson and   Premier Gary Filmon nipped here and tucked   there to shave $176 million from the province’s   $5.5-billion budget without touching major   taxes. Some highlights were: property tax   credits chopped for welfare recipients, restricted   for farmers, nursing home residents and   married couples; about 350 government jobs   cut; health department cut $37 million; family   services department cut $10 million; agriculture   cut $12 million; and routine eye exams no   longer paid for by province.     " but can you Reggie or anyone else give us an idea of the cost of all the spending promises of Selinger or Bokhari?     Anyone? " First of all Rana Bokhari is a non issue, this woman sounds like a grade 7 school girl every time she speaks. I can't even believe anyone would even use her as their lawyer, let alone run the province.     I have not been keeping track of the dollars required for Selingers promises. I do realize that he will not be able to keep them when he is first re-elected.     However can you Johnbisonbear tell me how Pallister will be able to maintain the services we presently enjoy with less revenue coming in from rolling back the PST and giving us all an extra $4000 of our income tax back.     So with Pallisters promises we will all step back to the 90's as noted in the Brandon Sun column or he will not be keeping his promises either.     So who do you trust and who will improve our lifestyle the most?       Edited by Reggie 2, 2016-04-05 13:56:40"

We've always paid our own way, just the way we do things, it's called pride.  
 
If the PST is rolled back I will have more cash in my pocket. That's a start for me.

Lets go back 20 years . Wonder why provinces had to tighten their belts ?  
Finance Minister Paul Martin's Budget 1996 ( some excerpts ) Between 1996 and 1999 Ottawa will cut 80 billion from federal spending , transfers to Provinces for healthcare and education will be cut by 6.5 billion annually , all federal spending on departmental programs with the exception of Indian Affairs will be cut by 24.4 % .  
Some facts from long ago from Maclean's magazine

Caldwell was talking about some program that the Conservatives CUT 17 years ago!  
 
So the question to Drew was "did the NDP re-install the cut program". Well no but maybe this will be the year. Come on!

One of the biggest problems we have in this country is having a (lifestyle) provided to us by government. Everyone wants a better lifestyle but I don't care what a persons political stripes are, when it comes to personal financial responsibility most people are pretty good, and all the parties are terrible but some go to extremes.

Johnbisonbear said "Caldwell was talking about some program that the Conservatives CUT 17 years ago!     So the question to Drew was "did the NDP re-install the cut program". Well no but maybe this will be the year. Come on! "

Did the speNDP reinstate the cut program?  
 
The speNDP have had 17 years to fix all the damage done by the Cons. Have they?

Johnbisonbear said "    Reggie 2 said "    Johnbisonbear said "    Reggie 2 said "Finance Minister Eric Stephanson and   Premier Gary Filmon nipped here and tucked   there to shave $176 million from the province’s   $5.5-billion budget without touching major   taxes. Some highlights were: property tax   credits chopped for welfare recipients, restricted   for farmers, nursing home residents and   married couples; about 350 government jobs   cut; health department cut $37 million; family   services department cut $10 million; agriculture   cut $12 million; and routine eye exams no   longer paid for by province.     " but can you Reggie or anyone else give us an idea of the cost of all the spending promises of Selinger or Bokhari?     Anyone? " First of all Rana Bokhari is a non issue, this woman sounds like a grade 7 school girl every time she speaks. I can't even believe anyone would even use her as their lawyer, let alone run the province.     I have not been keeping track of the dollars required for Selingers promises. I do realize that he will not be able to keep them when he is first re-elected.     However can you Johnbisonbear tell me how Pallister will be able to maintain the services we presently enjoy with less revenue coming in from rolling back the PST and giving us all an extra $4000 of our income tax back.     So with Pallisters promises we will all step back to the 90's as noted in the Brandon Sun column or he will not be keeping his promises either.     So who do you trust and who will improve our lifestyle the most?       Edited by Reggie 2, 2016-04-05 13:56:40" We've always paid our own way, just the way we do things, it's called pride.     If the PST is rolled back I will have more cash in my pocket. That's a start for me. "

so let me make sure I have this straight.  
 
a rollback of 1% of the pst is good for the economy. not sure how you figure that is going to put much money back in your hands.  
 
but all cutbacks need to be paid for.  
 
so laying off nurses and the $5 an hour that building service workers wages dropped from being government employees to working for contractors.....  
 
is good for the economy?  
 
that is some new math you are using there.

ZachT said "    Johnbisonbear said "Caldwell was talking about some program that the Conservatives CUT 17 years ago!     So the question to Drew was "did the NDP re-install the cut program". Well no but maybe this will be the year. Come on! " Did the speNDP reinstate the cut program?     The speNDP have had 17 years to fix all the damage done by the Cons. Have they? "

Drew never said that the NDP reinstated the program so.....

since the gov't in power has made ANY cuts at all no wonder our provincial ship is drowning in debt!  
 
I for one am willing to change my vote, except for one other time I have always voted for the NDP.  
 
You know the saying "change is good"

Johnbisonbear said "since the gov't in power has made ANY cuts at all no wonder our provincial ship is drowning in debt!     I for one am willing to change my vote, except for one other time I have always voted for the NDP.     You know the saying "change is good" "

the fact that the NDP has not made any cuts is not the cause of most of Manitoba"s debt.  
 
the 2 major floods had a serious impact on finances.  
 
any government in power at the time would of faced the same costs, unless they decided to not protect the low lying areas.  
 
many decisions by local governments have had a cause in some of the debt.  
 
one has to look no farther than the decision made in Brandon to build the Corral Centre on a flood plain.  
 
how many millions has that cost and the meter is still running on it.

there is one thing that Mr Pallister and I agree on. the economy should be a major decision for voters in this election.  
 
there is no doubt that the Canadian economy has been faced with some very hard times.  
 
it is my belief that in cases such as this, cutbacks are counter productive.  
 
to give cuts some services will have to be cut or privatized.  
 
that effects citizens in 2 ways. you may now have less available services, or there may be a increased cost involved.  
 
there is also and economic cost. the people that provided the service are now making less money.  
 
any privatized service is now following a business model that is focused on profit. not service.  
 
cost are controlled by charging more or paying workers less.  
 
great for a recovering economy

The federal gov. paid for 80% of the flood costs so no excuses for you there and really, do you think 2 floods put us 36 billion in the hole?

stonepicker said "The federal gov. paid for 80% of the flood costs so no excuses for you there and really, do you think 2 floods put us 36 billion in the hole? "

do you have a link to that information?  
 
that is much higher than any compensation I heard that we recieved

another little fact.  
 
Mr Pallister has stated in election adds that the 1% increase in the PST is the largest tax increase in Manitoba's history.  
 
In fact the PST was introduced by Walter Weir in 1968. a conservative government.  
 
Duff Roblin introduced the bill and it was enacted under the Weir government.

The Ndp wont even consider controling expenses. Their formula is quite simple. Spend like a drunken *ailor and raise taxes accordingly. If you are on the receiving end of this spending (unions, welfare etc) no harm no foul. If you are on the paying end you get a pay decrease and the public sector gets a pay increase. This is why Winnipeg, Brandon and the North vote Ndp because they want a pay increase financed by the rest of us

Ayb Rand said "The PST came into effect on June 1, 1967. It was brought in by the Roblin government. It was a 5.00% tax that was to supposed to fund education. When the NDP came to power it was soon increased to 7.00 % & the money raised dumped into general revenue. Every NDP government since has increased the tax collected by making more good & services subject to PST. It should be noted that Mr. Roblin switched to federal politics & was defeated in the 1968 election. Many blamed his defeat on the unpopular PST. However, he is still considered the best Premier the province ever had. "

we could argue forever about who has been Manitoba's best premier.  
 
I was pointing out that Mr. Pallister either does not know his own parties history....  
 
or,  
 
he is blowing smoke at the electors.  
 
a 5% pst increase from 0, has to be one of the largest tax increases this province has ever seen.  
 
Manitoba voters voted out the conservatives in 1970 because of the pst  
 
the same way we voted out Mr. Filmon after the privatization of MTS.  
 
How much money have those 2 decisions cost taxpayers?

It is rather obvious which side you are on. Perhaps the 1 percent increase by ndp is the largest increase in dollars? A spin but most likely true.  
 
Do you know how much money mts makes? Part b is the profit per year enough to cover 3% interest on 36 billion debt? (hint: not even close)  
Do you believe mts would have even close to the same profit government run?(not a chance)  
 
The only reason mpi and mb hydro make money is because they are the only game in town. Life is good when you are a monopoly. If mts was still government run and had to compete with private cell companies they would get roasted.  
 
All the ndp love to blame any issue on the pc's that have been out of power for 25 years and the flood of course. The ndp has run this province into the ground.

Woody94 said "It is rather obvious which side you are on. Perhaps the 1 percent increase by ndp is the largest increase in dollars? A spin but most likely true.     Do you know how much money mts makes? Part b is the profit per year enough to cover 3% interest on 36 billion debt? (hint: not even close)   Do you believe mts would have even close to the same profit government run?(not a chance)     The only reason mpi and mb hydro make money is because they are the only game in town. Life is good when you are a monopoly. If mts was still government run and had to compete with private cell companies they would get roasted.     All the ndp love to blame any issue on the pc's that have been out of power for 25 years and the flood of course. The ndp has run this province into the ground. "

in one of my first posts I stated that Mr. Sellinger should of resigned.  
 
I also stated my opposition to the plans for bi-pole 2 and other things.  
 
it is not that I am a rabid NDP supporter, but I do believe they are better for Manitoba than conservatives.  
 
as for your statements about MTS, we will never know how competitive they may of been against private service. but we do know that phone rates rose 37%.  
 
all that was required to keep MTS competitive was more cell towers and computer equipment.  
 
Crown corporations are there to provide service not profit.  
 
that is why we enjoyed affordable MTS rates and why we still enjoy affordable hydro rates.  
 

Manitoba hydro would never have built Bipole III . they were forced into by govt interference. This will cost Billions in lost power due to line loss and maintenance. This was a purely political decision to keep the East Side first Nations Happy. Instead of running the line through wilderness they elected to run it thru prime farmland.

Woody94 said "It is rather obvious which side you are on. Perhaps the 1 percent increase by ndp is the largest increase in dollars? A spin but most likely true.     Do you know how much money mts makes? Part b is the profit per year enough to cover 3% interest on 36 billion debt? (hint: not even close)   Do you believe mts would have even close to the same profit government run?(not a chance)     The only reason mpi and mb hydro make money is because they are the only game in town. Life is good when you are a monopoly. If mts was still government run and had to compete with private cell companies they would get roasted.     All the ndp love to blame any issue on the pc's that have been out of power for 25 years and the flood of course. The ndp has run this province into the ground. "

Sasktel doesn't get roasted by the private cell companies, why would MTS?

belzebob said "    Woody94 said "It is rather obvious which side you are on. Perhaps the 1 percent increase by ndp is the largest increase in dollars? A spin but most likely true.     Do you know how much money mts makes? Part b is the profit per year enough to cover 3% interest on 36 billion debt? (hint: not even close)   Do you believe mts would have even close to the same profit government run?(not a chance)     The only reason mpi and mb hydro make money is because they are the only game in town. Life is good when you are a monopoly. If mts was still government run and had to compete with private cell companies they would get roasted.     All the ndp love to blame any issue on the pc's that have been out of power for 25 years and the flood of course. The ndp has run this province into the ground. " in one of my first posts I stated that Mr. Sellinger should of resigned.     I also stated my opposition to the plans for bi-pole 2 and other things.     it is not that I am a rabid NDP supporter, but I do believe they are better for Manitoba than conservatives.     as for your statements about MTS, we will never know how competitive they may of been against private service. but we do know that phone rates rose 37%.     all that was required to keep MTS competitive was more cell towers and computer equipment.     Crown corporations are there to provide service not profit.     that is why we enjoyed affordable MTS rates and why we still enjoy affordable hydro rates.     "

Comparing two telecoms, what a blunder selling MTS and Filmon sits on board of directors.  
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/a-cautionary-tale-of-two-telcos-307287071.html

if there has ever been a better example of a conflict of intrest, than Mr. Filmon sitting on the MTS board, I do not know what it is.  
 
Since Mr. Pallister was the finance minister at the time......  
 
is anyone, beside myself, concerned that since he has been shown an example of how to get away with it......that he will not try the same kind of stunt?

I wrote this in October but never posted it:  
 
A devil we can't know and a devil we won't be able to know, this is the choice Manitobans currently have in the upcoming April 2016 provincial election. let me explain.  
In 1997, under the majority PC government of Gary Filmon The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/f175e.php was passed to allow any person a right of access to records in the custody or under the control of public bodies and to provide for an independent review of the decisions of public bodies as long as said records did not infringe on the privacy or safety of others. The act contained one glaring exeption. All records of the Executive Council, the provincial cabinet, and its subcommittees are off limits for 30 years, unless the premier at the time of said record's creation allows their release. Reports as to the state of any cabinet department can be withheld from the public and noone outside of the cabinet would be the wiser.  
In 2008 under the majority NDP government of Gary Doer this glaring deliberate ommission of transparency was reduced to a 20 year exeption for cabinet and is the current state of legislation, http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/2008/c04008e.php#6. 5 years is too long. How can the electorate make an informed decision voting for MLA's if they can't legally access records of the most powerful incumbents among them at the premiers discretion.  
Current polling suggests the PC opposition leader Brian Pallister will become the next premier of Manitoba. In a recent Winnipeg Free Press article by Bruce Owen regarding pay hikes of Hydro executives, Mr. Pallister is quoted. “What I aspire to do is build a government that has a better tone at the top when it comes to transparency and integrity,” Pallister said. “If we set that example, then we have the right to call Hydro, in this example, to call Hydro senior executives to account.” Setting a tone or example is not good enough. Commit to change the legislation to somewhere between a one and five year exemption and the PC will have earned my vote.  
 
Otherwise they're just the lesser of two evils, maybe.  

RobertMarks said "I wrote this in October but never posted it:     A devil we can't know and a devil we won't be able to know, this is the choice Manitobans currently have in the upcoming April 2016 provincial election. let me explain.   In 1997, under the majority PC government of Gary Filmon The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/f175e.php was passed to allow any person a right of access to records in the custody or under the control of public bodies and to provide for an independent review of the decisions of public bodies as long as said records did not infringe on the privacy or safety of others. The act contained one glaring exeption. All records of the Executive Council, the provincial cabinet, and its subcommittees are off limits for 30 years, unless the premier at the time of said record's creation allows their release. Reports as to the state of any cabinet department can be withheld from the public and noone outside of the cabinet would be the wiser.   In 2008 under the majority NDP government of Gary Doer this glaring deliberate ommission of transparency was reduced to a 20 year exeption for cabinet and is the current state of legislation, http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/2008/c04008e.php#6. 5 years is too long. How can the electorate make an informed decision voting for MLA's if they can't legally access records of the most powerful incumbents among them at the premiers discretion.   Current polling suggests the PC opposition leader Brian Pallister will become the next premier of Manitoba. In a recent Winnipeg Free Press article by Bruce Owen regarding pay hikes of Hydro executives, Mr. Pallister is quoted. “What I aspire to do is build a government that has a better tone at the top when it comes to transparency and integrity,” Pallister said. “If we set that example, then we have the right to call Hydro, in this example, to call Hydro senior executives to account.” Setting a tone or example is not good enough. Commit to change the legislation to somewhere between a one and five year exemption and the PC will have earned my vote.     Otherwise they're just the lesser of two evils, maybe.   "

What I know is we have the lowest hydro rates in North America and if the conservatives get in I can see pallister selling hydro and sitting on the board of directors and when the CEOs makes ten times what the ceo makes now he won't care.

would the province have to pay someone to take Hydro off its hands? Given the way the NDP have treated Hydro as a bank, I suspect their finances and operations are submarginal at best. I wasn't able to find it, but I read an article online a year ago or so, listing out the reasons why Manitoba Hydro isn't a prime target for privatization. Reasons such as: capital debt, future market growth, future of non-hydro competition, etc. It would be nice for legislation to prevent crown corporations from being used as back-door sources of financing for government programs - keep the money in the asset, and let the professional managers run the company. Bipole 3, anyone?

Your article?: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/who-would-buy-manitoba-hydro-241422161.html  
 
It's pretty unlikely that anyone other than Brian Pallister will become the next Premier of Manitoba. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/multimedia/poll-tracker-2016-manitoba-provincial-election-1.3464068 The choice between the PC and the NDP is one between a rock and a hard place, but I'm inclined to vote PC. I've never voted PC in any election. My reservations concerning the PC are.  
Claimed efficiencies to be found in government operations will not equal reductions of revenue through tax cuts. Borrowing levels of the NDP will be maintained by the Future PC. This has been a legacy of "conservative governments" throughout North America since the eighties.  
 
Mr Pallister's constantly claims of Mr. Selinger's actions benefitting his friends. Mr. Pallister has his own group of friends who will benefit from his being elected.  
 
Mr. Pallister constantly claims he will set a more transparent tone. This is poli speak. It should and can be remedied with legislation. That won't happen.  
 
Nonetheless, I am hopeful on average taxpayers will get better value for monies spent, especially those in the private sector. It's time for a change.  

Farmers Feed the World said "Big whoop they privatized MTS. Back the we has bellow poor service. We had a party line with the neighbors and there was no way we were getting private lines anytime soon. However that year we went to visit my aunts cabin up at grindstone and they were installing private lines into the cottages. If MTS was actually serving the citizens with superb service at great prices then I would be upset to see that sold off but MTS was far from that. "

not sure what kind of remote area of the province you live in. but I would be very surprised to hear there were still party lines in the late 90's.  
 
but that is really beside the point.  
 
I do not believe that ANY government has the right to sell a crown corporation that has taken generations of taxpayer funding to construct, just because they were elected to a 4 year term.  
 
the way it was done is also quite shady.  
 
up until the day the writ was dropped in our legislature, Mr. Filmon was assuring us it would not be sold.  
 
that is why I do not trust ANY of the words that come out of Mr. Pallister's mouth.