Liberal leader gives birth to boy
TYNDALL PARK MLA Cindy Lamoureux added a new title to her role as Manitoba Liberal leader and its only MLA: mother.
She gave birth to her first child Monday.
Lamoureux and her husband welcomed baby boy Hudson Louis-Lamoureux Burns, a spokesperson for her office said Monday.
“Mom and son are healthy and resting.”
Lamoureux said earlier that her husband plans to take parental leave and she doesn’t plan to take off much time. She said she would participate in house proceedings remotely but planned to return to the legislative assembly as quickly as possible.
“As a fellow parent, I know that there are going to be sleepless nights and a lot of learning experiences to come, but the love that you now feel for your little one is such a remarkable gift,” Premier Wab Kinew said. “I really want to wish you well and tell you that we’re all so very happy for you and wish you nothing but the best.”
Planning bill introduced
THE NDP government introduced a bill to give elected municipal officials more planning autonomy but doesn’t expect it to pass this session.
Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Ian Bushie on Monday introduced Bill 42 — the Planning Amendment Act, to give municipalities the option not to join Plan 20-50 for the Winnipeg metropolitan region. The long-term planning strategy for the City of Winnipeg and 17 adjacent municipalities was mandated by the previous Tory government’s Planning Amendment and City of Winnipeg Charter Amendment Act.
The minister told the house the bill was introduced “to reaffirm our government’s commitment to listen to local leadership and respect the autonomy of local government.” The bill has no chance of becoming law this session, which is set to conclude Thursday.
After question period, Bushie said the bill’s introduction lets the public know what the government plans to do. “When we reintroduce it later on, everyone is aware of what’s going on.”
Tories demand province fight carbon tax on home heating
THE Progressive Conservatives called on the NDP government Monday to join Alberta in fighting the federal carbon tax on home heating fuel.
Tory finance critic Lauren Stone (Midland) said during question period that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is standing up to the federal government, which has exempted Canadians who heat their homes with oil from paying the carbon tax, and that the province should do the same for Manitobans, most of whom heat their homes with natural gas.
On Oct. 29, Alberta filed a federal court challenge to Ottawa’s carbon tax exemption for home heating oil, arguing it is unconstitutional and unlawful.
Stone told the house that removing the federal carbon tax on home heating would save the average Manitoba household $318 a year.
Finance Minister Adrien Sala said the NDP government is saving the average Manitoba family $500 a year with its 14-cent per litre fuel tax holiday — which the PCs could have done but chose not to, he said.
— Carol Sanders