October 6, 2021

Treaty 1 and Dakota Territory, Homeland of the Métis Nation, Winnipeg MB—On the first day of of the Fall Legislative session, Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew stood with parents, teachers, hydro workers and representatives from MGEU, IBEW 2034 and the Manitoba Federation of Labour to throw the Pallister PC agenda in the trash.

“Today is a victory for Manitobans who fought back against the Pallister PC’s agenda of cuts and won,” said Kinew. “Together we forced the PCs to back down from their plans to cause chaos in classrooms, raise hydro rates and make life harder for working families and communities. The fact these bills will officially die today is proof New Democrats are a strong and effective opposition to the PCs in Manitoba.”

Last spring the Manitoba NDP used their power as the Official Opposition to delay the five most harmful PC bills so Manitobans had time to learn about the PCs’ plan and fight back.

The NDP led the charge on a province-wide campaign against these bills, including a hugely successful lawn sign campaign against Bill 64.

By delaying the bills, the NDP protected Manitoba families from the PCs plan during the worst waves of the pandemic. The NDP stopped the PCs from raising Hydro bills for a second time in December and families struggled to make ends meet, they stopped the PCs from weakening labour rights at a moment of great uncertainty for workers, and they preserved public funding for addictions treatment as the pandemic exacerbated the addictions crisis.

“Today Manitobans get to throw these bills in the trash,” said Kinew. “Now the PC leadership candidates need to publicly commit to never bringing them back.”