Where are the results?

Aug. 26 marks one-year since the voters of Spruce Woods headed to the polls to elect their member of the Legislative Assembly. One year has passed since these Westman residents were inundated with promises of cash flow from the province into our corner of the province.

Unfortunately, residents of Spruce Woods have yet to see anything from this NDP government. While the government has had a year to act, many of the issues residents raised during the byelection remain unresolved. Roads, water infrastructure, housing, child care and support for seniors continue to be major concerns.

At the same time, I have spent the past year travelling throughout the constituency, attending community and municipal meetings, listening to residents and advocating directly to government ministers on the issues they have asked me to raise.

Highway 2 is worse than ever. The NDP promised $115 million in funding to get the ever-crumbling highway fixed up, but we have yet to see work even begin, never mind get close to completion. Despite being named the worst road in Manitoba for two years in a row, the province has yet to start work on Highway 34. I have heard from residents of Spruce Woods, as well as our neighbours in other constituencies, how this road is downright dangerous — and I agree.

The Spruce Woods Housing Corporation provides an important service to low-income residents, but the facility needs significant upgrades and proper ongoing maintenance.

During the byelection, $500,000 was announced for the housing corporation. While that funding was welcome, the actual need was in the millions. Important work, including window replacement and necessary upkeep, remains a major concern.

Now residents are also facing the consequences of a $17,000 property-tax increase under the NDP government.

For a housing corporation already struggling to maintain its properties, the concern is obvious: will those additional costs eventually mean higher rents for residents or cutbacks to maintenance? I have created a petition on behalf of the residents to ensure their concerns are heard.

Senior housing in Spruce Woods remains a concern despite the minister of housing, addictions and homelessness, on multiple occasions, saying “we are committed to ensuring that our housing is safe and affordable.” Unfortunately, this is not the experience of far too many in Spruce Woods, including those living in 55+ housing in Souris. I have raised the issue of unsafe housing in the legislature time and time again. Our team won’t stop until we get an answer as to why seniors’ safety is being jeopardized.

It hasn’t been all bad news, however. Our Progressive Conservative team is fighting hard for Manitoban families, seniors and businesses. We are working toward increasing the basic personal exemption to $30,000, which gives thousands of dollars back to hard-working families. Our PC team has also introduced legislation to make our highways safer, increase accountability and oversight during the provincial budget process, increase transparency in our health-care system and make changes to our tax system so personal care homes can better handle financial pressures. And we are just getting started.

One year after the Spruce Woods byelection, the message from rural Manitoba is clear.

People want their roads fixed. They want reliable water infrastructure. They want affordable and properly maintained housing. They want access to child care. They want seniors to feel safe. They want government to listen to rural communities rather than make it harder for them to solve their own problems.

I will continue to travel the constituency, attend municipal meetings, meet with residents, raise their concerns with ministers and advocate for the projects and services our communities need.

A year is long enough to ask a simple question: Where are the results?

The people of Spruce Woods deserve answers, and they deserve action.

COLLEEN ROBBINS

Spruce Woods MLA