All Canadians, including myself, want to see restrictions that have been placed on our lives reduced and then eliminated.
As I have said many times, the goal of the restrictions was and is, to prevent overwhelming our health care system. As of Tuesday, Feb. 8, we had 698 COVID cases in the hospital. We had 105 Manitobans in the ICUs, with 42 of these hospitalized with COVID-19. The number of cases is trending down on a daily basis.
Premier Stefanson made it clear to Manitobans in January, that we will need to learn to live with COVID as it becomes endemic. New reduced restrictions went into place this week and are in effect until Feb. 22, when it is expected they will be further reduced.
The goal of our government - and in fact every provincial government in Canada - is to eliminate restrictions and vaccine passports. These were never intended to be permanent measures.
I understand the frustration of my constituents as we come to the two-year mark of this pandemic. I believe there is light at the end of tunnel and ask for your patience.
On a personal note, many of you will have read a story in the daily newspapers revealing that I travelled to Mexico in December. This was never a secret with my family, friends and colleagues.
I flew out of Winnipeg prior to the federal government’s travel advisory, and also before Premier Stefanson asked MLAs to pause any international travel.
The resort I stayed at in Puerto Vallarta had every precaution in place, including masking when not eating or drinking, and temperature checks at the restaurants.
Despite being double vaccinated and having a booster shot, I still tested positive for COVID-19 while away, suffering mild symptoms like a headache and cough.
While it has been observed that symptoms tend to be less severe, Omicron can still cause severe symptoms that can lead to hospitalization. Omicron is also more contagious than other variants which means it’s easier to infect others - many of whom could be at higher risk of severe outcomes.
Based on recent data in Manitoba, people who are unvaccinated are 139 times more likely to end up in ICU than those who have received their third dose. https://protectmb.ca/covid-19-vaccine/qa/
I congratulate my neighbouring MLAs on their appointments to the Executive Council. Agassiz MLA Eileen Clarke was appointed as the Minister of Municipal Relations; Spruce Woods MLA Cliff Cullen was named Deputy Premier and the Minister of Economic Development, Investment and Trade; and Turtle Mountain MLA Doyle Piwniuk was named the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation.
I thank Premier Stefanson for reappointing me as Chair of the Progressive Conservative Caucus, and naming me to the Public Sector Compensation Committee, the Legislation and Regulations Committee, the Legislative Assembly Management Commission and Vice-Chair of the Public Accounts Committee.
The Manitoba Legislature will open one day earlier than planned.
Members of the Legislative Assembly will return to Winnipeg on Tuesday, March 1 with the day set aside for condolence motions for MLAs who have passed.
Most of the day is expected to be taken up with MLAs speaking about Thompson MLA Danielle Adams, who died in a motor vehicle accident on Thursday, Dec. 9 on Highway 6 south of Thompson.
In the fall session of the Legislature, I sat in front of Danielle in the House and had to the opportunity to get to know her a little bit better as a person, rather than just as a member of the Opposition.
My sincere condolences to her husband and two children.
The first budget under Premier Heather Stefanson’s watch is expected sometime in March.
The exact date that Finance Minister Cameron Friesen will deliver the budget in the Manitoba Legislature won’t be announced until early next month.
There are a number of infrastructure projects either underway or planned in the Riding Mountain constituency this year.
Work is being done on the bridge in the Assiniboine Valley on Provincial Road 259 between Lenore and Virden.
The bridge on Provincial Road 257 over Gopher Creek near Virden will be demolished by the end of March, and tenders for a new structure will be later this fall. Construction is planned over the fall/winter, with the bridge opening in the spring of 2023.
Highway 10 from Minnedosa to Riding Mountain National Park will get some much-needed upgrades starting this summer. Reconstruction of a portion of the highway, together with a thin overlay of other sections, will make for a smoother ride.
Just a reminder that if you are sending an email to our office, please include your full name, phone number and the community in which you live.
Email or phone is also our preferred means of communication. We will not respond to any communications over Facebook Messenger.
Greg Nesbitt is the Member of Legislative Assembly for the Riding Mountain constituency. He can be reached at 204-759-3313, toll-free 1-844-877-7767 or by email at [email protected].
