'Tens of thousands' of projects to be reviewed, says Pallister
'We've inherited a fiscal mess," says Premier
Tens of thousands of current and proposed projects initiated by the NDP—some in varying stages of completion— could come under review by the new PC government, according to Premier Brian Pallister who added the total costs exceed Manitoba's ability to pay.
Pallister was responding to questions from the NDP about specific projects already in the pipeline.
"In response to each of these tens of thousands of projects," said Pallister, "we need to take a look at this and make sure we do the right thing and select the best projects and give the best value to Manitobans in the future," Pallister told reporters today after Question Period.
Pallister and Finance Minister Cameron Friesen were in Toronto this week selling Manitoba's budget and the PC financial agenda to credit rating agencies. Pallister says the project reviews are necessary because of years of deficit spending under the New Democrats.
"What happens is you get into situations where you have to make urgent trips to Toronto to do your best to shore up a credit rating that was down-graded just last year - we've inherited a fiscal mess," Pallister said.
The provincial budget tabled on Tuesday posted an $890 million deficit, a drop of $120 million from an actual deficit that was expected by the NDP.
Opposition critics asked the government if it was reviewing the plan to move Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries downtown. They also questioned whether the expansion of Tec Voc High School was going ahead as planned.
In April 2015, the previous NDP government committed funding for a new aerospace shop at the vocational school in Winnipeg's west end.
Today in the Legislature, Education Minister Ian Wishart said the Tec Voc project was under review.
"We are always reviewing whether our investments are in the right place, at the right time, and in particular for education. We are trying to get the best results for Manitobans from the investment dollars. So we are certainly reviewing and that one in particular is in process," Wishart said.
However, shortly after Question Period, a spokesperson for Wishart confirmed the funding was in place for the aerospace project at Tec Voc. A construction date has yet to be confirmed.