The Auditor General's review of the Workers Compensation Board

The Auditor General's report into the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) again confirms a consistent pattern of NDP mismanagement of the Government of Manitoba and its affairs. The WCB is an agency that is a part of our provincial government. In 2001, Pat Jacobsen, the CEO of WCB, wrote to the then NDP Minister Responsible for the WCB, Becky Barrett. In her letter, Ms. Jacobsen (a person with excellent credentials and a known high level of integrity) wrote about her concerns with the way investment decisions were being made at WCB, and with the links between individuals involved with the Crocus Investment Fund and the WCB. Those concerns included the Chair of the WCB, which is why Ms. Jacobsen asked the Minister (Becky Barrett) to review the situation.

Appallingly, the NDP's way of dealing with these concerns was to refer the letter to the Chair of the WCB - the very individual about whom Ms. Jacobsen raised concerns! As the Auditor General (AG) makes clear, the right thing to do would have been to launch an independent review of the WCB. The AG says: "when the concerns are respecting the actions of a government appointed Chair, we believe that is it incumbent on the Minister to take a proactive role in ensuring an independent review is conducted."

Because of the links between the Crocus Investment Fund and the WCB, it is quite possible that an independent review conducted at that time would have unearthed some of the problems at the Crocus Investment Fund and perhaps prevented the major losses that eventually hit investors in Crocus. The NDP are clearly responsible for blocking this review, and their actions may thus have had dire consequences for Manitobans who invested in Crocus and for Manitoba taxpayers who subsidized Crocus.

Moreover, the links revealled between the Crocus Investment Fund and the Workers Compensation Board provide additional compelling reasons for an immediate Public Inquiry into the Crocus scandal in order to clear the air and to find ways to make sure scandals like this do not occur in the future.

The current NDP Minister Responsible for the Workers Compensation Board, Nancy Allan, is just wrong in her approach to the whole scandal. She has actually said that former NDP Minister Becky Barrett 'did the right thing' and 'acted within the law' when she ratted-out Pat Jacobsen to WCB Chair Wally Fox-Decent for being a whistleblower. I agree with the Auditor General that former Minister Barrett's action was just plain wrong and that an independent review should have been called in 2001. For NDP Minister Nancy Allan to say that Ms. Barrett was correct indicates that Minister Allan has not got the message. There is no doubt we need to remove the present NDP government because of its mismanagment, its continuing mistakes, and its inability to understand right from wrong.

If you want to read the AG's report, you can access it online (html and pdf) at: http://www.oag.mb.ca/reports/reports_fr.htm

Anita Neville

For the last five years, I have had the opportunity to work with Anita Neville as the Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre and to watch her as she helps others in the area and works for improvements in the life of Canadians.

She has brought forward new ideas to help those with disabilities. She has worked closely with Ken Dryden to bring in the national early learning and child care program. She has helped bring infrastructure funding for the Reh-Fit Centre and the Winnipeg Humane Society. She has worked to bring forward ideas to better help post-secondary education students with financing their education. She has been a tireless advocate for her constituents.

Her campaign to be re-elected as the Member of Parliament is now in its final stages. She has been an excellent Member of Parliament and I am sure, if elected again, she will continue to serve people in Winnipeg South Centre well. If you would like to help in the last few days, please call her campaign office at 988-9160.

Let's bring more conferences and conventions to Winnipeg

With the facilities we have in Winnipeg, the large array of cultural opportunities and the tourism opportunities in the rest of Manitoba, we need to make a major effort to bring more conferences and conventions to Winnipeg.

This was the focus of a gathering today at the Convention Centre.

Many Manitobans are connected to organizations across the country or in the United States or indeed around the world. Winnipeg is a wonderful place for people to come to - for a conference or a convention. Consider suggesting to your group or organization that they have a future conference or convention in Winnipeg.

And, if you need help I have the names of people who can give you all sorts of help in promoting Winnipeg to your organization. These include Klaus Lahr who is shown with me in the top photo. To reach Klaus simply call 204-957-4501 or email him at klausl@wcc.mb.ca He can assist you himself or direct you to someone who can.

There were many who were there at Winnipeg's Inner Circle event. Among them were Lisa Lewis, a conference co-ordinator and Ian Robertson, with CentreVentre Development Corporation, who are shown with me in the bottom photo.

Important contacts if you are considering a conference or a convention in Winnipeg include:

Chantal Sturk-Nadeau - with Destination Winnipeg - 204-954-1987 or chantal@destinationwinnipeg.ca

David Chizda, Director of Sales and Marketing, Winnipeg Convention Centre - 204-957-4529 or email at davidc@wcc.mb.ca

Please note due to technical problems the photos are not yet up, but will be on the blog soon.

Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King was born January 15, 1929. Today members of the black community in Winnipeg got together at Julianna's Cafe in memory of Martin Luther King and his efforts to bring better human rights.

I grew up during the turbulent times of the mid 1960s, and Martin Luther King was one of the people who influenced me to get involved in politics to try to improve conditions for others. This afternoon was an opportunity to get together with others who remember Martin Luther King, his words and his achievement.

In the top photo, I am with Wade Williams who was instumental in organizing today's event. In the second photo, I am with Nardia Leslie (one of the members of the organizing committee for Black History Month) and Gerry McKoy. The bottom photo shows Bill and Marrian Polsom, our hosts at Julianna's Pizza Place.

Terry Duguid should be a Member of Parliament

I have known Terry Duguid for many years, and I have watched him in action many times. He is effective. He knows his stuff. He has the credentials. He has served for a time on Winnipeg City Council. He has chaired the Clean Envirionment Commission. He has chaired a Task Force on Climate Change. He has co-chaired a Task Force on Lake Winnipeg and he has served as President and CEO of the International Centre for Infectious Diseases, and in the process brought this activity and much else to Winnipeg. Terry would make an exceptional Member of Parliament. If you have the opportunity to help Terry in his campaign or by voting for him, I recommend you do so.

The top photo was taken at an event just before Christmas. The bottom photo was taken last summer at the Phillipine Pavillion during folklorama.

Chinese New Year Celebrations

The Chinese New Year starts January 29, but celebrations are already under way. Last night, Tom and I attended the celebration pageant for the Chinese New Year at Pantages Theatre. It was put on by the Manitoba Great Wall Performing Arts Group.

Above are scenes from the excellent performances.

In the bottom photo, Vivian Qiu is singing Good Fortune to all as the colourful dancers surround her. This year is the Year of the Dog. To all a good fortune.

The African Forum

Yesterday, at the African Forum, Michael Muyen spoke (photo above) about gangs in Winnipeg and he quoted an African proverb "When two elephants fight, it is the ground that suffers".

Sergeant Ron Johansson, with the Winnipeg Police Service, spoke next to emphasize that this is an issue for all of us. He also emphasized that gangs are a very, very small part of the population of Winnipeg. The large majority of people in all communities are law-abiding citizens. Ron Johannson is sitting at the left end of the table in the top photo.

The third speaker was Sally Wai of the Sierra Leone community. Sally, second from the left in the top photo, is with the Faculty of Social Work. She emphasized that many who have come from Sierra Leone as refugees were traumatized during the civil war there and need assistance in adjusting to life in Canada. She emphasized in particular the need for ongoing social support. She spoke of the need for adequate mental health services for those with post-traumatic stress disorder. She spoke of the important role of Community Groups and associations. Members of the Sierra Leone community understand the difficulties people have been through and are very important in helping new arrivals with the transition to life in Canada. Governments need to better recognize the role of community members and associations. Lastly she spoke of the need for personal responsibility and accountability of the community leadership.

In the bottom photo, my son Tom is with Alex Bockarie, the President of the Sierra Leone Nationals Association of Manitoba who was involved in organizing the event.

Selina Beiber-Sapong who was also at the event reminded me that the concept "It takes a village to raise a child" is an Ashanti proverb. The Ashanti are from Ghana, which is Selina's home country.