DAUPHIN, Man. – “How are they going to pay for it?” asked Dauphin MLA Stan Struthers about Tory and Liberal tax cut promises as he officially opened his campaign headquarters here.
“Are they going to cut it from health care, or sell off Manitoba Hydro to do it?”
Struthers was echoing the message being broadcast across the province by NDP premier Gary Doer, who hasn’t made any big promises to farmers or rural Manitoba since the election campaign began. The NDP premier has been visiting communities to point out positive developments he says his government has caused.
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Doer has highlighted the NDP’s commitment to enact laws that will create the basis for a province-wide ethanol industry, one he says could create jobs and big economic spinoffs in more than a dozen rural communities.
Doer’s cautious election strategy follows a cautious budget that was passed one day before the election was called. His election motto is: “Much accomplished. More to do.”
Struthers is happy with that approach, even if it doesn’t give him matching tax promises to take to farmers.
“I don’t think people will believe that these parties can keep these promises without hurting the province,” said Struthers.
“We’re helping farmers and everyone in little chunks as we’re able, not making any big promises we can’t keep.”
Struthers said he is proud to be able to take the government’s ethanol plans to farmers and rural people because he thinks his government is proving that it can work with rural Manitoba to diversify its economy.
