COLUMN: Report from the Legislature – Looking forward to summer

As the summer season officially kicks off, I am looking forward to all of the community events that will be taking place over the upcoming months. I already had the pleasure of attending the Landmark Pancake Breakfast, hosted by the Landmark Fire Department, and the Dawson Trail Museum Market in Richer. I also had the opportunity to help out with the Active Aging 55+ Games bowling competition that was held at Steinbach Bowling Alley & Bistro. It’s nice to see so many people out and about at these different events, and seeing the way the community comes together. I’m excited for all the fun activities and events that are going to be happening over the next few months.

I am proud to say that Manitoba commemorated it’s first official Men’s Mental Health Awareness Week. In the spring of last year, I brought forward Bill 217, which would recognize the week leading up to Father’s Day as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Week. The purpose of this week is to reduce stigma, challenge harmful and outdated assumptions, and show boys and men that it is okay to not be okay and that they do not need to suffer in silence. The bill received royal assent on Nov. 7, marking this past week as the very first Men’s Mental Health Awareness Week in our province. I am glad that my colleagues recognized the importance and need for shining a light on this issue. I hope this week helps open the door for safe, honest, and non-judgemental conversations around men’s mental health.

On a final, more political note, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation recently published a report ranking Canada’s provincial finance ministers. I am incredibly disappointed to say that our province’s finance minister received an overall grade of “F.” This poor grade is a result of the NDPs never-ending tax hikes and skyrocketing debt. Despite the NDPs promising to make life more affordable for Manitobans, their actions continue to show otherwise. Manitobans deserve a government that works to better their lives, not one that puts them in financial risk.

For more updates and information, visit my website at boblagasse.com. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact my constituency office at ca.lagasse@outlook.com or 204-807-4663.