Stefanson sits down with Sun: full interview

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This article was published 26/09/2023 (768 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As part of her visit to Brandon, Progressive Conservative Leader Heather Stefanson joined the Brandon Sun editorial board for a meeting on Wednesday afternoon. What follows below is part of her conversation with managing editor Matt Goerzen, and political reporter Colin Slark. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. A shorter version of this article was published in today’s print edition.

MG — Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett has promoted the idea of Brandon being a second city during the municipal elections. His idea is that the city has not yet lived up to that potential. Should you be re-elected, what would your priorities be for Brandon?

HS — Well, I think it’s growing the economy here in Brandon, but right across the province. And we’ve been very clear, we’re the only ones with a plan to grow our economy. I can tell you that, you know, through our venture capital fund that we have announced, the Manitoba First Fund, that is providing companies in the Brandon area and all over Manitoba with the access to capital that they did not have before. And so often, those businesses would look to expand in Saskatchewan or Alberta or south of the border. And now they’ve got an opportunity to expand right here in Manitoba and Westman that will have a chance to, to take advantage of that. So lots of businesses out there looking to grow. This access to capital is going to be huge. And that’s where we want to work with … I know there’s the sort of grow program here in Brandon. We’re looking to grow Brandon, and we want to work very closely with Mayor Fawcett, with economic development here and making sure that we’re giving them the tools that they need to stay here …

MG — I’m talking more specifically about spending priorities because we’ve seen a lot of money going to downtown Winnipeg. We’ve watched from Brandon, as millions are poured into trying to save Winnipeg’s downtown. We’ve witnessed downtown’s deterioration. I’ve been here for 18 years of watching it crumble … I guess, my point is, if you’re re-elected, what kind of investments are you going to make, specifically in Brandon, that will help not only our downtown, but you know, Brandon as a whole?

HS — Well, I’m not sure what you’re referring to. But I certainly do know that we’ve been investing millions of dollars into to Brandon in a way of a sobering centre. We’ve also invested in Samaritan House making it, you know, a 24-7 facility for those who are homeless. We just announced today the Downtown Community Safety partnership, $2.2 million for that, and we’ll continue to make those investments in Brandon to make sure that we have the supports for people here that need it. We’ve supported housing initiatives, we’ve supported all sorts of things. I will get you the list.

MG — But we’re comparing apples and oranges. Because what happened in Winnipeg was millions for various business ventures that are trying to make it more of a downtown destination in Winnipeg. Adding money to (community) mobilization or putting money into housing or putting money into various supports isn’t making Brandon’s downtown repaired. It’s trying to prop up a system that is trying to deal with trauma. There’s a difference. So the business community I’m sure will be asking this to you tomorrow. What are you going to try to do to make sure that more money is shovelled here?

HS — These programs that I’m talking about are available to all Manitoba businesses, not just in Winnipeg. This is available in Brandon as well. The venture capital funds. This is going to be significant to grow. But we also need to make sure that Manitoba is competitive with other provinces. We can’t afford to be losing our young people to other provinces. And so it’s making sure we’re retaining those people here, through immigration, making sure that we’re getting our fair share from the feds, but making sure that, that we’re training those individuals to the jobs that are needed here. Brandon is looking to expand and grow in so many different ways here. Agriculture is the backbone of our province, and Brandon is going to grow significantly as a result of that. These are all sorts of things that we’re doing to help grow the economy here.

MG — Well, let me give you a more specific example. Seven years ago, when Brian Pallister came into power in 2016, he stopped a number of programs, including a movement at ACC to try to overhaul the Parkland building, which was going to become part of their 50-year master plan. That building still is sitting there, it’s deteriorating seven years later. I know that the province has invested in ACC , there’s an announcement tomorrow and agricultural new agricultural program. But that building’s still deteriorating. And it’s a massive landmark on our North Hill that hasn’t been touched by anyone, even though I’m sure ACC would love to do something with it. That’s one example where I think the province could have invested in but hasn’t.

HS — We’ve invested actually $10 million in that to develop a plan to redevelop that. So the province has invested $10 million so far. And I know that they’ll come up with a capital plan. And we will very much be at the table when it comes to that. But there is no plan. Right now we have again, given the money, the $10 million towards developing that plan. So we’re looking forward to working with them to see the redevelopment of that for ACC. We know there’s a need here, and the agriculture community. And so we’re looking forward to working with them (on) various programming.

CS — You’ve sort of recommitted to fighting the federal carbon tax. But I also know that your government in the last few years has committed to repairing infrastructure that deals with the effects of climate change, like the Rivers dam is being rehabilitated, the Wawanesa dam, I believe is being replaced. You’re spending money on things that will deal with the effects of climate change. But you know, is your party and your government doing enough to try and mitigate climate change before it happens or slow it down?

HS — Yeah, certainly through efficiency, Manitoba. We’re looking at, I mean, businesses are wanting to come to Manitoba because of our clean green hydroelectric power in Manitoba. We’re already 97 per cent clean green energy. And we’re, you know, number two in the country, just behind Quebec. But what’s happening is the federal government is, is they’re providing a penalty to Manitobans on their hydro bills. And we think that that’s wrong, and that’s why we’re going to fight them on that. There’s no question we’ve received, you know, a legal opinion to the, you know, we’re moving in the right direction there, and that this could actually be something that we could win, because that is provincial jurisdiction. The carbon tax is the, you know, they’re charging Manitobans in the way of a carbon tax that isn’t fair. We should be recognized because of our clean green energy.

MG — This is a very familiar argument, one that I remember your predecessor making. And he lost that court case. Why do you think you’d win one now?

HS — It’s a different, it’s, it’s different, very different than what he was talking about. This is about the federal government imposing a tax on hydro electric power, when we are the cleanest, greenest province outside of Quebec, in the country.

MG — That was his argument, though. It’s exactly his argument.

HS — No, it’s no, it’s, it’s very different because this is talking about people’s hydroelectric power bills or selling …

MG — I can get you the quote. I remember him saying it.

HS — Well, I really disagree … We’ve received, you know, an opinion that says that we would — that this is something that we could fight the feds on, and we could potentially win this. And so it’s very different. I’m not going to get into all the legality and all of that, but we’re fighting for this, because we believe like, that’s upwards of 110, I think million dollars — we’ll get you the exact figure — of the carbon tax that’s charged on Manitobans, right now, that could be back in their pockets.

CS — Is there an opportunity here then to, if you’re pursuing another court case, to work with other provinces on something so that, you know, Manitoba isn’t footing the entire legal cost itself?

HS — I think that … Manitobans, should not be penalized because we’re the cleanest, greenest energy, you know, source in the country. Again, right now they’re being charged upwards of $110 million on their bills. And we think that that’s not right.

MG — So when the former premier had decided that Manitoba would have its own carbon tax and enacted one, was he causing you the same angst?

HS — So what he came up with at the time was was a proposal that was rejected by the federal government. Yes, went to court, but it was, you know, it was rejected again. And so I decided we’re not going to pursue that anymore. They (feds) impose their carbon tax on Manitobans. So right now … it’s escalating. And it’s very significant. At a time when affordability is the number one issue out there right now, certainly during this campaign. It’s very important that Manitobans know that’s the federal government that’s imposing that. That does not make life more affordable for Manitoba.

MG — Last week, there were marches all over the country regarding the million person march for parenting rights. We have heard your arguments about the reasons for bringing in more parental rights. One thing that has been asked, and I don’t know if you’ve clarified it, but I haven’t seen it. So I’m going to ask you to clarify what you mean by “behavioural changes.” It’s written directly into the list of things that were going to be added to the parental rights act.

HS — From bullying, people can get, you know, they can get depression, That’s what we want to make sure that parents are informed if there’s any kind of a change there at all. Because what we don’t want is — what if something happens to a child where they commit suicide and the parent isn’t informed that something was going on, and that there was a change in, in behaviour because of bullying or because of something along those lines. I believe parents should know best and they should be informed of what is going on with their kids and schools.

MG — It seems to have been difficult for you to to come out and say that earlier. So this has kind of left the … I guess the definition wide open to at least some people in the LGBTQ community who feel that this is an attack on them. What do you say to this?

HS — This is not. This is about making sure that parents are informed of what is going on with their kids in schools. And so we believe that parents have a right to be informed. And that’s because I think you know … parents love their kids, they want what’s best for their kid. I’m a mom, we want what’s best for our kids. So we shouldn’t be excluding parents from getting the information that they should be getting.

MG — So what happens if a kid goes to a teacher instead of a parent because he’s afraid of what the parents are going to say? And he wants to be called a girl instead of a boy? Should the parents know?

HS — So I would say in that sense that parents have a right to be informed. OK? Because they know what’s best for their kids. They want to be involved.

MG — There are parents out there, who (don’t). They don’t always have what’s best for their child in mind.

HS — But I think everyone should come together unless there’s something that we’re not aware of. And again, we’re getting into hypotheticals here. But unless there’s a dangerous situation where the police have to get involved or Child Family Services, there should be a discussion with the parents.

MG — One of the main priorities of Brian Pallister’s administration, at least, as he explained it, during a similar sitdown that I had with him, was education reform. His his point was to improve student outcomes during his term. And yet, seven years on … the last information to come out of PISA, which tests students internationally, Manitoba came dead last in (math and science) and second last in (reading), compared to our Canadian peers. Now, Bill 64 was meant to try to address some of this that failed, it wasn’t popular. Why should Manitobans give you another four years to figure this out?

HS — Well, I think because we recognized that it was a failure, and that we couldn’t move forward with it the way it was. And so now we’re in the process. I mean … I’ve only been, I’ve been (in) less than less than two years, you know, and I think there’s a lot of work to do, to make sure that our education system is not failing our kids, but it’s there for our kids to make sure they’re excelling. And that we’re preparing them for the jobs for the future in Manitoba. I’m very excited about taking this on, and very excited about providing a better education system for our kids. But it’s going to take some time to do so. And it’s going to take a lot of consultation with those that are working in the fields, but as well as parents. We need to hear from parents. What else do they want to see from our education system? And how can we look at best practices from elsewhere so that we can we don’t have to reinvent the wheel necessarily. If things are working elsewhere, how do we bring those things to Manitoba?

MG — I know you’re saying not to … search the (Winnipeg) landfill (for the bodies of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran) for safety reasons. I understand your stated position on this, but I will ask this: What does that say to the next serial killer who looks at this and says, “All I’ve got to do is dump a body in the dumpster and it’s just going to end up in the landfill and the province will never look.” What does that say to people who are out there to harm other people and can now find a way to hide?

HS — Well, this is why we have integrated units that have been set up to make sure that we get violent criminals off the streets, that the federal government bail policy is a catch-and-release policy that is not keeping those criminals behind bars where they should be. They’re out on bail, and they’re committing more crimes. That’s why we have taken several steps, set up integrated units. And we’re working right across the province between our police associations to make sure that we get violent criminals off the street. So that would be … absolutely paramount.

MG — But you’ve got to catch them first.

HS — Pardon me?

MG — Because I start a life of crime tomorrow, and you didn’t know I was a criminal.

HS — We’re looking at warrants, we’re looking at other mechanisms, too, if they’re violent sex offenders, if they’re out on bail … we’ll monitor them to see, is there another way that if there are other warrants out there, we’ll find our own ways to make sure that they get back behind bars.

MG — Sure, but you’ve got to keep them there … Once you find evidence in a place like this.

HS — We’ve got to keep them there. The only way we’re going to keep them there is through bail reform at the federal government level.

MG — You keep them there by proving that they’re guilty. Don’t you prove that they’re guilty first?

HS – Yeah, well, right now, you know, if there’s enough evidence for violent sex offenders … when they’re led out on bail to then reoffend — which is what’s happening — OK. It’s best if you keep them behind bars and not let them out on bail.

» mgoerzen@brandonsun.com

» cslark@brandonsun.com