Photo Radar: The NDP have messed up and Manitoba's Tories forget the safety of children

Gary Doer, Dave Chomiak and the NDP in the province have messed up over photo radar. The NDP brought in legislation to allow the use of photo radar in Manitoba at traffic lights, near schools and at construction sites. But, the shortcomings in the NDP approach have been exposed in the last two weeks as it has become increasingly apparent that it was a mistake to use photo radar cameras in construction zones when there are no workers present, and that this is clearly an NDP cash grab not a safety measure when there are no workers around.

In response the provincial Tories have overeacted by suggesting that photo radar cameras at construction sites and near school should be eliminated. The Conservatives are willing to consider putting the safety of children near schools and of workers at construction sites at risk. This is inappropriate as well as risky for people.

While we were sceptical of elements of the photo radar legislation when it was introduced, and see the need for improvement, we should not abandon safety. Let us take a careful look at how best to use photo radar when construction activity is present, and when children are coming to and going home from school, rather than having photo radar used in these areas at times when there are no safety concerns.