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More Than Just News!
August 2014
PST Money Working for Dawson Trail Recently, the Manitoba Courts ruled that the PCs of Manitoba has no case when they falsely claimed the onecent on a dollar PST increase was unconstitutional. What this court case is really about is Mr. Pallister’s attempt to cancel Manitoba’s $5.5-billion investment in core infrastructure. It’s also about trying to convince Manitobans that we don’t need to invest in roads, bridges and flood protection to keep our economy growing. While the PCs have spent the last year playing political games, our government has been improving roads and bridges and expanding on existing flood protection. This year alone the Manitoba government is investing over $28 million in repairs and upgrades along highway 12 south of the Trans-Canada which includes rehabilitating the Seine River Diversion Bridge just South of Ste Anne. Other work being done in my own constituency this year includes rebuilding a 16-kilometre section of Highway 75’s northbound lanes after the province spent millions last year on the southbound side. The province will also continue paving sections of Dawson Road through the town of Ste. Anne, a continuation of a project, which began last year. Your Provincial Government has created partnerships with local councils to share the cost of improving municipal roads. In the RM of Ritchot - $277,500 has been approved for 4 roads (Kosman Blvd, D’Auteuil Drive, Keweriga Road and Arnould Road). In the RM of Ste. Anne - $50,000 approved for 2 roads (Old #12 Highway and Road 30E), Town of Ste. Anne - $36,600 approved for 2 roads (Laverendrye Ave. and L’Eglise Road) and in the RM of Taché - $243,000 has been approved for 4 roads (1st Ave. North, Rheault Ave., Prefontaine Road, and Road 53N. Those critical investments in infrastructure wouldn’t be fiscally prudent without the one-cent on a dollar PST increase and that’s what the PCs and Brian Pallister want to cancel.
The Conference Board of Canada says our five-year infrastructure plan will boost Manitoba’s economy by $6.3 billion, increase exports by $5.4 billion, and improve retail sales by $1.4 billion. They also estimate more than 58,000 jobs will be created by the NDP five-year plan. While the PCs continue to call for the same tired ideas of the past when they cancelled road repairs and ignored necessary flood protection, our government is, getting to work investing in the core infrastructure that Manitoba families want to see built. As always, I appreciate hearing your comments and thoughts on these and other provincial initiatives. I encourage you to contact me by e-mail ron.lemieux@yourmanitoba.ca, by phone 204-878-4644, or by mail at Box 517, Lorette, MB R0A 0Y0. Together we can continue to move Dawson Trail and Manitoba forward.
Serving the communities along the historic Dawson Trail and beyond.
The Dawson Trail Dispatch is a monthly newspaper distributed free of charge to 50 Southeastern Manitoba communities. Published by: One One Consultants Inc. Box 308, Richer, MB R0E 1S0 Phone: (204) 422-8548 Fax: (204) 422-9768 Dan Guetre, Managing Editor One One Consultants Inc., Publisher News Writers: Marianne Curtis and Dan Guetre Columnists: Lee Guetre, Peter Friesen, Anni Markmann, Peter Martens, Dave Millar Production/Design: Dan Guetre, Myriam Dyck, Monica Guetre and Wilma Priebe Advertising: Karen Jorgenson and Dan Guetre
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Dawson Trail Dispatch
Commemorating the War to End All Wars - WW1 This was the war to end all wars, none of us was alive then, history has a bad habit of fading as more, and more time fogs the pages of yesterdays. The dead are forgotten and the lessons remain ignored. This was a war, which created casualties of dead, wounded and missing worldwide that numbered a staggering 37,466,904. The whole world participated in this gory excess. This was the last of the Imperial wars. The main participants were trying to maintain their economic sphere and were not averse to increasing their area of influence if conditions allowed. It was fought mostly in trenches with the real estate gain and loss measured in feet, adding insult to the participant’s misery. To put this into perspective all of the British Commonwealth participated because we Canadians were part of an economic empire and basically, because we were subservient to an Imperial power, we ‘volunteered’. The devastation it caused in Canada in 1914 with a population of 7.8 million was the horror of 66,900 dead and 149,732 wounded; this was approximately 3.2 percent of the population. All Canadians were affected by this calamity. What have we learnt, nothing apparently. Adding all the wars since WW1 is an insult to civilization. I would venture to say, I doubt we are not civilized. Maybe my standards are different but when animals seem to have better instincts, well I feel we should be embarrassed by unlearned lessons. Attempting to commemorate the sacrifice of deceased WW1 veterans through our behaviour since then could be construed as an insult to our forefathers. The only thing that has changed is what the world says we are fighting for. The forces of imperialism made way for ideology, such as communism and fascism. When this became dated, just plain survival fuelled by religion and culture or corruption, or all of the above. It would appear that progress of peace has been delayed by the ego of many a petty tyrant. Let us take a sample of problem places and reasons, South Sudan, culture and corruption. North Nigeria’s Boka Horam, religion and culture, Libya, corruption, religion and culture, Israel and Gaza, religion and culture, Ukraine, corruption by Russia at an industrial level. I could go on and on but depression will set in. How would one go about mediating these raging excesses without calling a spade a spade? The Americans do not want to play world cop anymore and who could blame them. The UN is hampered by vetoes and does not have the tools, the ability or the mandate to cut through and act on the bullshit. There are no easy or short-term fixes, but more economic democracy, more liberal education that Canadians should consider exporting, may help and social media leading the way may be an answer. Anybody got a bit of free time on their hands.
Cell Phone Infrastructure Not a Provincial Priority Cell phones have become an essential component of daily living for many Manitobans. Not only do they make communicating with others faster, they allow people to be connected instantly. In many urban areas, landlines are becoming outdated and cell phone use is taking over as the preferred method of communication. Although the number of cell phone users is on the rise, cellular reception is lacking in significant areas of the province. Since cell phone usage has become the norm rather than the exception, unreliable cell phone reception is now a safety hazard for Manitobans. With the declining use of landlines whenever natural disasters such as fires and floods occur, lack of cell phone service makes it difficult to contact affected individuals in times of emergency. Cell phone service also plays an important role in rural development. Not many people are willing to move from an area with cellular coverage to one that does not. As cell phone usage becomes a way of life for many, Government should be working to make cell phone service available to all Manitobans in an equitable fashion. They should be working with the Federal Government and communication’s industry to initiate change. Despite conversations with Premier Selinger on multiple occasions, the only response that I receive on the topic of cell phone reception is that the provincial NDP Government will not put any money into cell phone towers. I look forward to hearing from you with any questions or concerns and I can be reached at my constituency office at 204-424-5406, my legislative office at 204-945-4339, or at dennis.smook@leg.gov.mb.ca.