Manitoba Election Debate contributes to Global Warming!

The campaign may be heating up but it is mainly due to the increase in hot air from all parties. Manitoba does not really have the same natural resource reserves especially of gas and oil that Alberta and to a lesser extent Sask. have. It is not surprising that it is not developing as fast. However, some of the pundits seem to think that economic growth is necessarily good but in many cases the external costs are not even factored in. The crime focus is a red herring or maybe a blue herring!

Accusations fly during Manitoba radio debate
STEVE LAMBERT

Canadian Press

May 14, 2007 at 6:41 PM EDT

The leaders of Manitoba's two opposition parties used a live radio debate Monday to suggest Premier Gary Doer is forcing young people to seek jobs elsewhere by letting the province's economy falter.



Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen and Liberal Jon Gerrard also took it to the NDP leader over crime and health care.

“We've had 35,000 people leave Manitoba in the past eight years under his watch,” Mr. McFadyen told the audience.

“That's not true,” countered Mr. Doer, who accused Mr. McFadyen of making “reckless” promises that would leave the government with less money for health care and other key services.

Mr. McFadyen has promised to cut taxes for large and small businesses to stimulate job growth if he wins the May 22 provincial election.

“I look forward to the Tories if, God forbid, they are ever re-elected, firing unionized nurses all across Manitoba,” Mr. Doer said.

“We're not going to do that,” Mr. McFadyen replied.

Mr. Gerrard, who has promised to boost job growth by wiping out the province's payroll tax on large corporations, at times struggled to be heard above the fray.

While none of the leaders landed any knockout punches, the problem of Manitoba's sluggish economy was brought home by a caller identified as Justin, a university architecture student, who is looking at leaving the province.

“I'm looking at leaving because seven of my friends have left and there are two left here,” he said.

“We're (looking) for wages. People have debts. They want cars. It's about wages.”