A cabinet revolt underway in Manitoba has seen five senior members of Premier Greg Selinger’s cabinet, including the finance and justice ministers, resign.
The revolt is centred around the premier’s decision to impose a one per cent boost in the provincial sales tax, after specifically promising not to do so in the last provincial election. While the five cabinet ministers all went along with the plan at first, they now say the premier is not listening to their advice, as the NDP government remains far behind the opposition Progressive Conservatives in the polls.
In addition to breaking its promise not to raise the PST, the Manitoba government violated the Balanced Budget, Fiscal Management and Taxpayer Accountability Act, by refusing to hold a referendum on the increase. This has stung residents to a fury.
Governments simply do not learn lessons that should be obvious from the mistakes of others. Selinger should have looked to what happened in B.C. when Premier Gordon Campbell imposed the HST on British Columbians, less than two months after an election when the government said bringing in the HST was “not on the radar.”
He and his government did not listen to opposition from citizens and some business groups (others supported the HST) for months.
It took the successful passage of an initiative, which despite a very cumbersome law was certified and put to a vote, to finish off the HST. Even before the people voted against the HST, Campbell’s goose was cooked. He had the good sense to resign and let others pick up the wreckage, but the damage done to his party and his reputation as a shrewd leader was enormous.
Manitoba does not have a similar public process such as initiative or recall, which allow the public to react to such cavalier attitudes and actions.
It appears that the ministers who have resigned (none have left the party yet) simply want to try and get Selinger to quit, and he is refusing to do so. It’s a standoff, but it is likely the premier will have to go eventually.
A similar thing happened in Alberta when details of Premier Alison Redford’s penchant for private jet travel and luxurious hotel suites became public knowledge.
Members of her cabinet and caucus revolted, with some leaving the party. She was in the midst of a revolt, and it didn’t take her long to see the writing on the wall and resign.
Governments at all levels — municipal, provincial and federal— need to learn the obvious. It is not a wise move to lie to the public during an election campaign. In this day of cellphone video and social media, anything that you say will be dredged out as a reminder, should you stray from promises given.
Here in Langley, this should serve as an important lesson to both voters and politicians seeking seats on the two councils and the board of education. Politicians — tell the truth, and if you have a hidden agenda, don’t promise to do the opposite. Stand up for what you believe in — don’t waffle or obfuscate.
As for voters, they need to carefully scrutinize what politicians are saying, and their past deeds, if they are seeking re-election.
If they take a 180-degree turn after the election, hold them to account. Given that we are now electing these people for four-year terms, the more intense pressure put on them before the election, and the more watchfulness afterwards, the better.
