Northern Manitoba - and its huge potential

Today I am in Leaf Rapids. It is one of several communities I have visited in northern Manitoba in the last two weeks - including Flin Flon, The Pas, Snow Lake Wabowden and Thompson. And you can add to this list Garden Hill, Wasagamack and St Theresa Point where I was toward the end of June. All told, this week and next week, I will be in 35 communities - in an effort to connect with ordinary Manitobans all over our province.

Northern Manitoba has incredible beauty, and incredible potential. But it also has, under the NDP, a lot of major problems. Leaf Rapids, where I am now, is no exception. Their main community centre has a leaking roof. They have lots of plans and ideas, but have had little support from the NDP in addressing the pressing issues they face in areas like housing, crime, the need for improved activities for young poeple, and I could go on and on. I should add that the road into Leaf Rapids could certainly be better, and that the people here have some incredible stories.

Tomorrow, I will be in Thompson at their Rotary lunch, meeting and learning more about the potential and the issues in the amazing northern parts of our province.

While in Leaf Rapids we enjoyed our stay at the Dreamcatcher Bed and Breakfast operated by David Lepage and Christie Spence. For more about the bed and breakfast go to: http://www.ourbis.com/958946-dreamcatcher-b-b-leaf-rapids