With just 9% support, Liberals are hanging on in Manitoba by their fingernails..That abysmal showing has a lot to do with a long history of provincial voters rejecting the red. But rejection of Justin Trudeau was profound when 36% of Manitobans rated him as the worst prime minister in Canadian history in a July Research Co. survey..Manitobans are headed to the polls October 3. Yes, it is a provincial election, but one that could find Trudeau entering through the back door to enforce his unpopular and harmful edicts on federal/provincial matters with abandon — if he’ll be unchallenged..Count on that if Wab Kinew’s NDP, leading by 3% to 6% depending on the poll and the day, are elected..If disillusioned Liberal voters go orange, the PCs are toast.. Heather StefansonManitoba Premier Heather Stefanson .And if an NDP victory comes to pass, Manitobans will suffer a prolonged and severe case of buyer’s remorse..How many times must it be pointed out Kinew’s ‘boss,’ federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, has repeatedly betrayed the party faithful and propped up the unpopular Trudeau’s unpopular policies?.Manitoba needs a strong leader — such as Alberta’s Danielle Smith, Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe, and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs — who have shown the stamina to stand up to Trudeau and also to the unpopular Singh..Include PC incumbent Heather Stefanson on that list..Stefanson joined Smith and Moe to demand an answer from Trudeau on whether the federal government was “considering stripping resource rights away from the three prairie provinces” — a move that would destroy her vision and realistic goal of turning Manitoba from a “have not” into a “have” province..Kinew did make a campaign promise to enhance the mining sector by boosting critical mineral development. In the past, his NDP adamantly opposed this. Which one would it be?. Dougald LamontManitoba Liberal leader Dougald Lamont .Would Kinew, whom the Globe and Mail aptly said has run his campaign trying to exude “folksy charm,” have the grit to stand up for Manitobans against the feds?.Would he even want to oppose anything like-minded socialist comrade federal leaders heap on unwilling Manitobans?.Kinew is personable. But Manitobans shouldn’t be swayed by folky charm. It could get them nowhere fast as they struggle pay the bills, walk safer streets, or have health care needs met..Health, crime and affordability are the main concerns of Manitobans..Kinew has made many promises in these areas that on the surface sound solid, offer hope..He has promised no new taxes..He also promised many magnificent things, in a $3.3 billion spending plan, that he’ll be unable to deliver without hiking taxes. That’ll add to the unbearable weight of inflation and Trudeau’s carbon tax justified only by climate-change fearmongering..Kinew talks tough on crime and public safety. But is he, for example, giving Manitobans, fed up with being targeted by criminals who aren’t properly held accountable, false hope with a promise to reform bail at the provincial level within 100 days if elected?.Kinew said he’d direct the justice department to implement stronger conditions on bail “to keep you safe in your community.” Sounds great..The problem with that is changes to criminal law on bail reform fall under federal jurisdiction. Provincial prosecutors can’t be ordered by a province to brush aside.Supreme Court rulings that affect these decisions. Is this a promise without merit?.Trudeau’s policies have demoralized and denied Canada’s Armed Forces members, including thousands suffering disabilities left to languish for years waiting for benefits..There are 1,400 serving members and about 450 civilian personnel serving at CFB Shilo, 35 km east of Brandon. There are hundreds of service-injured and vaccine-injured personnel in Manitoba..Stefanson promised to help veterans with housing for the homeless and accessing federal and provincial resources they’re entitled to..Kinew? Nothing. If military personnel vote NDP, they’ll likely get more of nothing..Parents, guardians and clear-thinking Canadians took to the streets across Canada to fight for parental rights last month to proclaim “Hands Off Our Kids” in protest of age-inappropriate sexual content and (sexual minority) content in schools and libraries..Stefanson heard them and promised to codify into law parental rights..The magnitude of parents demanding rights to their children escaped Kinew..Did he reach out to parents to assure them? No. He mocked the PCs for calling them parental rights and dismissed this as a “wedge issue,” merely a ploy to distract from important issues..What’s more important than children Mr. Kinew?.Under a Kinew government, the NDP will shut parents out and doggedly pursue the premise woke educators should control what children’s minds are poisoned with — including pornographic material. If you doubt, check it out..During the leadership debate, Kinew levelled a cheap shot against the PCs accusing them of being “hard on the people living in bus shelters but soft on the people supplying them drugs.”.He vowed to go after drug traffickers — whose cases fall under federal court jurisdiction..But whatever..Let’s examine the socialist approach to supporting — feeding — drug addictions that keep people caught in the grips of addiction. Is it compassionate?.The PCs pledge to spend $8.7 million over two years to build 1,600 treatment spaces. Stefanson said she will not waver on refusing to bring in safe injection sites that don’t help addicts and cause grief to area residents across Canada..A host of crimes — including break and enter, theft, assault — are committed by offenders to feed their drug addictions..Kinew has supported these sites. In 2019, former premier Brian Pallister accused Kinew of being “consumed by the idea” that injection sites would help people..Recently, PC candidate Kevin Klein, running for re-election in Winnipeg’s Kirkfield Park riding, noted the PCs built rapid-access addictions clinics while in office since defeating the NDP in 2016..“The NDP had 17 years to do something to help those struggling with addictions and what did they do? Nothing but raise taxes 14 times,” said Klein..Now Kinew has promised a broad middle-class tax cut. And to temporarily suspend the provincial fuel tax until inflation is reduced and place a one-year freeze on hydroelectric rates. Even if he keeps his promise, what happens after that? The NDP runs governments on tax hikes. Can he be trusted to break with tradition?.But back to the drug problem..Over in BC, New Democrat Premier David Eby promised new measures to increase public safety across the province when he stepped into office in 2021..Where have his lax drug laws got the province? In 2022 the possession of up to 2.5 grams of hard drugs was decriminalized and safe injection sites increased..But in July, the BC Coroners Service reported the drug overdose death toll rose to 1,455 from January to July. Last year 2,383 deaths were reported bringing the number of drug overdoses over the past seven years to 12,739..What will Kinew do?.What do Manitobans want?.Free drugs to keep addicts in a state of suffering...or Stefanson’s plan to increase treatment spaces to get them well and whole and back to their families?.These are but a few issues Manitobans must carefully weigh when they cast their votes in an election where so much is at stake..In 2019 the PCs won a 36-seat majority. The NDP won 18 and the Liberals three. One seat remained vacant in the 57-seat legislature..The PCs hope to win a third consecutive term. The NDP hope to make a comeback after being ousted in 2016 ending a 17-year reign..Voters would do well to remember why they gave them the boot.
