Leaders pressed on urban economic policies

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This article was published 08/04/2016 (3779 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Three provincial party leaders were grilled on what their party would do for the Wheat City during a noon-hour debate hosted by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.

“Many Brandonites don’t identify as being a rural constituency,” said chamber president Jordan Ludwig. “Rural economic development initiatives in the past have treated all communities outside the capital region as rural.”

Ludwig asked each leader how he or she would ensure that Brandon receives the “necessary resources to grow and diversify an urban economy.”

NDP Leader Greg Selinger recommitted to building a new school in Brandon to help with the growing population, and praised the potential business school partnership between Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College.

Ludwig followed up by asking for specific strategies the NDP would employ directly for Brandon that are not a broad rural strategy.

“We’ll partner with you on priorities that you identify that will make a difference,” Selinger said, also touting the provincial nominee program to help address labour shortage.

Progressive Conservative Leader Brian Pallister didn’t have specifics, but said a “better tax program” is needed, and reaffirmed his commitment to reducing the PST in the first term of his government.

Ludwig said while tax rates are an important piece of economic development, he doesn’t believe that is the main strategy.

“Can you identify some specifics and priorities for western Manitoba?” he asked.

Pallister responded by saying Ludwig is “wrong” in his observation.

“If you talk to business recruiters around the country and in Manitoba, they’ll tell you the first consideration is the tax climate,” he said. “What we are proposing to do is give Manitobans back the right to have a vote, which was taken away by Mr. Selinger.”

Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari touted the party’s plan to provide one per cent PST to municipalities on a per capita basis, allowing local government to choose what the money should be used for.

“That’s partnership, that’s allowing people to do what they need to do for their own communities,” she said.

Ludwig responded by saying while giving municipalities extra funding is a good thing, it isn’t a strategy.

The debate, held at the Victoria Inn, was moderated by Chuck Davidson, president of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, with a panel consisting of Ludwig and past Brandon chamber presidents Todd Birkhan and Nonny Cancade asking the questions.

The debate had a business focus on topics including economic development, attracting new business, retaining workers, etc.

Candidates exchanged barbs, including one comment from Bokhari calling out Pallister for not participating in debates.

“I feel like we should give Brian a round of applause for showing up for a debate today,” she said.

Pallister had a dig for Selinger, “What’s worse, losing five candidates or five cabinet ministers?”

Bokhari inadvertently drew applause for Pallister when she said to the crowd, “Let’s really think about what a Brian Pallister government looks like.”

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