COLUMN: Report from the Legislature – An eventful start to the fall session

It has certainly been an eventful month since my last column. A lot has happened and a lot has changed.

The biggest change… I’m the new leader of the PC Party and Manitoba’s Official Opposition.

Back on Sept. 28, Obby Khan resigned as leader. I want to thank Obby for his service and wish him all the best.

I was deeply honoured to be unanimously supported by our PC Caucus, and grateful to the many Manitobans, including constituents, who have reached out with messages of support. Most of all, I am grateful to my family for supporting me.

I will serve as interim leader until such a time as the party holds a leadership election.

My goal for my time as leader is to build the infrastructure we need as a party to win government again, as well as advancing compassionate and common-sense conservative policies to better the lives of Manitoba families.

To that end, our PC team has put forward three significant policy proposals.

The first one we announced back in the spring. A PC government would double the basic personal income tax exemption to $30,000. That’s not a tax credit. That’s money that stays on your cheque. The average family would save roughly $3,000 a year in taxes.

One of the big concerns I’ve been hearing about from La Vérendrye residents is the ongoing issue of rural crime. Too often, property crime goes unaddressed, leaving families and businesses not only out of pocket but feeling unsafe in their homes and businesses. That’s why, earlier this month we announced a PC Government would create an office of Crown Prosecutors dedicated to property crime.

Another concern I hear about regularly is how difficult it is to access health care. Earlier this week, PCs announced our plan to increase the scope of pharmacists to be able to treat minor conditions and prescribe medications. This will not only free up doctors but it also creates greater capacity in our overloaded system, and will save people taking time off work for an appointment, improving affordability.

In each of these cases, we have also tabled bills in the legislature so Wab Kinew and his NDP government could make these common-sense things happen faster for Manitobans. In every case, they voted against them.

The fall legislative session is now well underway. I have been deeply disturbed by what I have seen from this premier and the NDP.

Not only have they voted down our common-sense ideas, this premier and his government have also voted against our legislation to provide equal supports for children with autism who live outside the city.

They also voted against a public inquiry into the deaths of multiple children in CFS care under the failed Minister of Families, Nahanni Fontaine.

Some issues should not be political. It was truly shocking behaviour to see this government taking victory laps when we were raising the alarm about children dying in their care or the need for better supports for kids with special needs. However, for those who have watched this premier and his team the past three years, this is, sadly, just par for the course.

Manitoba families deserve better than what they have seen in the Manitoba legislature so far this fall, and over the past three years.

As long as I am PC Leader and your MLA, I will strive to stand up for La Vérendrye values and be a voice for compassion and common sense.

I remain committed to serving the people of La Vérendrye. As always, you can feel free to reach out to me with your concerns to info@konradnarth.ca