NDP refuses access to affordable milk, home care for aboriginal children in remote communities
WINNIPEG – While Manitoba Liberals re-introduced legislation today to ensure northern and remote communities have access to milk at affordable prices, the Doer NDP spent Question Period explaining why it refuses to provide needed home care to aboriginal kids.
The Milk Prices Review Amendment Act, introduced by Liberal Deputy Leader Kevin Lamoureux, establishes a single fixed price for milk sold throughout Manitoba to allow low income families in remote communities to choose healthy milk over less healthy alternatives for their kids.
“During our time on the Healthy Kids: Healthy Futures Task Force in 2005, we found that in places like the Manto Sipi First Nation, a 4-litre jug of milk was being sold for as high as $10.39,” Lamoureux said. “In another community, we were told a 4-litre jug of 2% milk was being sold for $6.29 while the same jug was being sold for $3.29 in Winnipeg. These prices are far beyond what is affordable for too many families. If the province can ensure through law that the price of beer is the same throughout all of Manitoba, surely we can do the same for the price of milk.”
Rather than offer support for the Liberal bill, the Doer NDP instead spent Question Period avoiding questions as to why it continues to keep aboriginal children from remote communities stuck in Winnipeg hospitals, unable to return home because of the NDP’s refusal to pay for home care. The failure of the Doer NDP to stop this practice represents blatant disregard for the External Review into Child and Family Services, which has demanded the government provide the needed home care.
“The external review was absolutely clear: immediately implement Jordan’s Principle that the needs of the child will take precedence in Manitoba over any jurisdictional dispute between levels of government,” Liberal Leader Dr. Jon Gerrard said. “Right now, there are children in Winnipeg who can’t go home to their mom and dad in their own communities all because this government won’t pay for home care it thinks should be paid by the federal government. This is wrong. The provincial government has overriding constitutional responsibility in this case and it should immediate provide the necessary home care and figure out how to split the bills with the federal government later.”
The Milk Prices Review Amendment Act, introduced by Liberal Deputy Leader Kevin Lamoureux, establishes a single fixed price for milk sold throughout Manitoba to allow low income families in remote communities to choose healthy milk over less healthy alternatives for their kids.
“During our time on the Healthy Kids: Healthy Futures Task Force in 2005, we found that in places like the Manto Sipi First Nation, a 4-litre jug of milk was being sold for as high as $10.39,” Lamoureux said. “In another community, we were told a 4-litre jug of 2% milk was being sold for $6.29 while the same jug was being sold for $3.29 in Winnipeg. These prices are far beyond what is affordable for too many families. If the province can ensure through law that the price of beer is the same throughout all of Manitoba, surely we can do the same for the price of milk.”
Rather than offer support for the Liberal bill, the Doer NDP instead spent Question Period avoiding questions as to why it continues to keep aboriginal children from remote communities stuck in Winnipeg hospitals, unable to return home because of the NDP’s refusal to pay for home care. The failure of the Doer NDP to stop this practice represents blatant disregard for the External Review into Child and Family Services, which has demanded the government provide the needed home care.
“The external review was absolutely clear: immediately implement Jordan’s Principle that the needs of the child will take precedence in Manitoba over any jurisdictional dispute between levels of government,” Liberal Leader Dr. Jon Gerrard said. “Right now, there are children in Winnipeg who can’t go home to their mom and dad in their own communities all because this government won’t pay for home care it thinks should be paid by the federal government. This is wrong. The provincial government has overriding constitutional responsibility in this case and it should immediate provide the necessary home care and figure out how to split the bills with the federal government later.”
