WINNIPEG -- Another day at the Manitoba Legislature and still no budget, as the stand-off between the Pallister government and the Manitoba NDP continues.
"In Manitoba's political history and our living history, our living memory, we haven't seen this before," said political scientist Chris Adams.
On Wednesday the Manitoba NDP used delay tactics to prevent the budget speech, which was scheduled to be read Wednesday afternoon. As a result the government did not table the actual budget for release.
On Thursday, Premier Brian Pallister compared the move to the recent rail blockades.
"Blockading the work of the legislature is wrong," said Pallister.
He also criticized the NDP for doing this during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"They're playing on the fears of people who have legitimate fears, they don't need to add illegitimate fears," the Premier said.
NDP leader Wab Kinew offered an olive branch, saying "I also want to acknowledge that overnight the situation with COVID19 has escalated dramatically."
He proposed the legislature suspend normal rules and allow the government to deliver the budget speech and release all related documents, but the NDP would still continue to stall close to 20 bills Kinew said the government is trying to introduce and rush through.
"Nothing that we do today impacts the government's ability to respond to COVID-19," said Kinew.
By the end of Thursday, the two parties couldn't agree on a process and the budget remains in limbo.
Chris Adams, of St. Paul's College, said the government could override the delays and table the budget. He also said the NDP tactics could increase the party's profile, but there is a risk.
"It can cause people who are disaffected from the system to say that they're sick of politics and people not performing efficiently," said Adams.
