Social issues focus of BNRC debate

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This article was published 06/04/2016 (3715 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon West’s Progressive Conservative candidate accuses his NDP opponents of fear mongering over his party’s intentions.

Reg Helwer says, if it comes to power in the upcoming provincial election, his party can reduce taxes without damaging front-line services.

“Despite the fear and the threats that you’re hearing from the Selinger NDP,” Helwer said during a debate on Tuesday.

“Those are protected, and they will be protected.”

However, Helwer’s NDP Brandon West challenger, Linda Ross, was skeptical about Tory claims they can deliver on tax promises without cutting services that would hurt the working poor.

“It appears my PC colleagues have miraculous powers,” Ross responded to claps and laughter from some of the crowd that numbered about 50 people.

All six of Brandon’s provincial election candidates attended the debate hosted at The Town Centre by Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corp.

The focus of the debate was social issues such as economic development, affordable housing and the funding of social programs.

Brandon East NDP incumbent Drew Caldwell sounded alarms over the PC pledge for a fiscal review if elected.

“I think we just heard the code for you’re going to be cut,” Caldwell said.

But Brandon East Tory candidate Len Isleifson said his party is committed to poverty reduction through smarter funding.

“Yeah, we’re going to cut, we’re going to cut NDP waste that is going out there,” Isleifson said. “We’re going to take the savings that we can find in that waste and redirect it into programs.”

Caldwell and Ross both touted the NDP record, which they said includes the creation of hundreds of affordable housing units in Brandon. The NDP will continue to expand affordable housing if elected, they said.

The party has also committed to building a new school that will house a child-care centre, and to raising the minimum wage.

“There’s no silver bullet for reducing poverty and social exclusion,” Ross said. “We will continue to take a strategic approach.”

Together, Helwer and Isleifson promoted job creation and increased economic opportunity as the way to reduce poverty.

That, and dropping the provincial sales tax to seven per cent, lowering the basic personal exemption on income tax and indexing tax brackets.

“All of this will allow Manitobans to keep more of their hard-earned money and choose how to spend it themselves, rather than the Selinger NDP taking it from them,” Helwer said.

Brandon East Liberal candidate Vanessa Hamilton promised stability for social services while balancing the budget.

She said the Liberals would limit increases to health, education and other departments, services and programs.

“We plan to gradually balance the budget in five to six years,” Hamilton said. “We won’t balance at the risk of jobs or existing programs.”

Brandon West Liberal candidate Billy Moore said he wouldn’t comment much on the issues at this time. If elected, he said, he’ll focus on tackling them then.

“I will be working with my government in harmony and in love so that we can give you a happy life in Manitoba,” Moore said.

Moore said, if elected, he’ll look at such issues as high taxes, the cost of bureaucracy and at ways to reduce rental rates.

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