Jeff Browaty: Stop having news conferences and read the news


Councillor Jeff Browaty held a news conference yesterday.  He was advocating the release of a report on the feasability of re-opening Portage and Main to pedestrians.  For the record, he is opposed to doing this as he thinks it would cost too much.  He is right, however, the deeper question is why does he create so many opportunities to create media coverage for himself.

The same day he was calling for a report that he had no interest in, the Government of Manitoba introduced 7 Bills into the Legislature that were actually significant to his constituents.

Bill #1.  A call for a 2 year wage freeze on public-sector workers.  These are our Nurses, Physicians, and Teachers.  A 3/4 percent increase the third year and a 1 percent increase in the fourth year.  Regardless of what you think about this, this opens the Province up to lawsuits and effectively destroys mutually respectful relationships with the bargaining units.  This has major implications for all Manitobans.

Bill #2.  Permission for Universities to raise tuition of 5% on top of an inflation increase.  This will not only limit the affordability of post-secondary education but also ensure that are new graduates will have a higher student debt load when they finish school.  This has potential to have a lot of ripple effects and affect Manitobans greatly.

Bill #3.  A bill for marijuana to be illegal while driving a vehicle.  That's kind of a gimme.  No one can argue that one.   One for the Tories !

Bill #4.  Raising the limit on donations to political parties.  I wonder who will see any benefit from this?

Bill #5.  Bill to tighten identification requirements at polling stations.   I guess that is alright, but it likely takes the voice out of Manitoba's increasing marginalized populations.

Bill #6.  Allowing Uber into the province.  I don't know if this is positive or negative but they have this in Toronto, so it must be good.

Bill #7.  A bill to dramatically reduce the amount of bargaining units in the Health Sector.  This is pretty dramatic and basically signals a war on Labour Unions.  This will end up having major implications to all Manitobans.

In addition to all of this, we are still hearing from the Transit Union that they feel at fear for their own safety while on the job.  It seems to me that a Winnipeg Councilor could actually have some input into this one.

So, Jeff Browaty, stop having news conferences that are of no effect other than blatant self-promotion.  Please actually read the news and find out what is happening.  Your constituents are counting on your strong representation.

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