COLUMN: Report from the Legislature – Standing up for Dawson Trail

Now that the spring session of the Manitoba legislature has come to an end, I want to provide residents of Dawson Trail with an update on the work I have done on their behalf at the Manitoba legislative assembly.

Throughout this session, my focus has remained on ensuring that the voices of Dawson Trail constituents are heard, and that the concerns raised by our communities are brought directly to the provincial government.

Since becoming an independent MLA, I have had the opportunity to work directly with government ministers and members from all sides of the legislature to advance the priorities of Dawson Trail. Being an independent allows me to focus solely on what is best for our communities, advocate for local concerns without partisan restrictions, and build support wherever it exists to achieve results for constituents.

During this past legislative session, I had the privilege of advocating for Dawson Trail constituents in a number of ways. Firstly, I brought forward a private members resolution regarding the rights of an independent member of the legislative assembly. While my experience as an independent MLA has been very positive and I have been able to actively advance the priorities of Dawson Trail residents, that hasn’t always been the case for every independent member. Unfortunately, there has been instances where independent members have not been granted equal privileges, access to resources, and procedural opportunities that other members have been afforded. This resolution ensures that all independent MLAs are receiving the same fairness, transparency, and consistency as any other member, so that we may continue to best represent and serve our constituents.

I was also able to bring forth questions regarding the Sio Silica project and the speed limits on the highway between Landmark and Lorette, specifically how there is no limited speed for passing cars and there also isn’t a set pathway for pedestrians, so residents have taken to walking in the ditch. I also raised questions about the social media ban and how it will affect those with disabilities who rely on AI and ChatGPT tools.

Additionally, I sent a number of letters to different government officials regarding the concerns of Dawson Trail residents. These include a letter to the environment and climate change minister regarding Sio Silica, a letter to the health minister regarding the working group proposal of achieving a regional designation for Hôpital Ste-Anne Hospital, and a letter to the government house leader and Opposition house leader asking to bring the resolution about fairness and equality for independent members to the standing committee.

I also took the time to sit down and meet with individuals regarding different constituent concerns. In particular, I had multiple meetings with Jack Winram from Sio Silica and Tangi Bell from Our Line in the Sand, a local group who has opposed the mining project for numerous years. I also met with the education minister to discuss when construction will begin on the new vocational high school in Ste. Anne, as well as the Canadian Parents for French Manitoba to hear more about their efforts in furthering bilingualism in our province.

In addition to advocating for the residents of Dawson Trail, I also had the opportunity to deliver a private member statement highlighting Mike Ledarney, a long-term employee of the provincial government. Mike has worked for the government for 28 years. His longstanding dedication to democracy and furthering our province is truly admirable. I am proud to not only be able to call Mike a colleague, but a friend as well.

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.