NDP denies Tories’ bid for emergency flood session

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This article was published 08/07/2011 (5445 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Progressive Conservative-led push for an emergency Manitoba legislature sitting about the 2011 flood was denied by the governing New Democrats yesterday.

“We have conflicting information and a lack of follow through on issues of compensation and we have major decisions that have to be made that will have impacts on Manitobans for years to come,” said Tory Leader Hugh McFadyen.

“Particularly as (Premier Greg) Selinger has said this is a disaster of very significant proportions, we think it’s important that there be openness, transparency and accountability in the decision-making.

“The best way to do that is to have the house in session where the premier and his ministers are present to answer questions.”

New Democratic Party house leader Jennifer Howard said there was little reason to recall the legislature now, as she said McFadyen’s request was a political stunt to gain headlines.

“The only reason I can tell that Mr. McFadyen would want the legislature to come back is to make this issue, which has been a devastating disaster for some people, into a political football,” Howard said.

Howard said opposition leaders and MLAs have opportunities to ask flood-related questions of Emergency Measures Minister Steve Ashton at the legislature’s emergency committee, and that McFadyen and provincial Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard are invited to a briefing today where flood issues will be addressed.

Howard added there were scheduled “Opposition Days” where the Progressive Conservatives could raise specific issues of interest in the Legislature, and they weren’t used to deal with flood issues.

“I don’t think this is really about raising issues in the legislature or helping people cope with the flood,” Howard said.

“I think this is Hugh McFadyen helping his own political career.”

Howard said she wouldn’t hesitate to recall the legislature to deal with flood-related matters, if it was required. She said while work continues on compensation packages and attempting to find the right flood mitigation strategies to deal with future floods, “None of those things require that the legislature come back.”

Brandon East NDP MLA Drew Caldwell was “flabbergasted” at McFadyen’s request for a special legislature sitting.

“Hugh should be out fighting the flood,” Caldwell said.

“He should actually get out into the province and do some work in Brandon, Souris and Wawanesa and see what’s going on. I think he’s got a little too much time on his hands if he’s writing letters.

“That is so far out of left field it’s beyond belief.”

Caldwell said the last session, which ended about two weeks ago, was four months long and should have given the opposition enough time to ask questions about the government’s response to the flood.

“I know he does like the environment where he can wear a suit and have bombast in the Legislature, but there’s a province that needs attending to,” Caldwell said.

“I have no patience for this. … It sounds like he wouldn’t be capable of running a student council.”

Brandon West Tory MLA Rick Borotsik said McFadyen has in fact toured Westman flood areas, and said he’d also like to see the special legislature session on the flood.

Borotsik said Brandon would benefit from this session as a “substantial amount of infrastructure” work would have to be done on the Assiniboine River watershed.

“These are all very legitimate questions that have to be asked and answered,” Borotsik said. “What about compensation? I’m getting calls from people outside of my constituency … and they aren’t getting any answers. I think it’s a legitimate request.”

A Progressive Conservative press release said the legislature’s spring session lasted for only 54 days, which McFadyen said was far too short.

He said the spring sitting that dealt with the 1997 flood went into July, well after the water had receded.