Lynne Fernandez

With the beginning of investment in maintenance trades staff and Winnipeg's bus fleet, there's reason to be cautiously optimistic that Winnipeg Transit's fortunes are slowly changing.

Although the fiscal update is much shorter on detail than a full budget would be, there are enough broad strokes to give us an economic picture. And that picture generated no shortage of criticism.

The results of the federal election indicate that most Canadians understand the value of publicly provided services. Hopefully this is a lesson all the political parties in Manitoba have absorbed.

A new report from the Errol Black Chair in Labour Issues examines how the Prairie region is being affected by Conservative government cuts and recommends how funding and programs be restored.

A new Errol Black Chair paper explains how a combination of governmental policies and initiatives in Manitoba allows social enterprises to reduce carbon emissions while employing inner city workers.

Could the Manitoba government do more? Absolutely. Is there room for criticism? No doubt. But let's play fair.

If governments would recognize the advantages of partnering with social enterprises, more people would get the training and experience they need to meet Manitoba's future labour market demands.

No government should shy away from running responsible deficits when strategic investment will lead to improved physical and social infrastructure that will allow our economy to grow.

Rather than showing their fiscal responsibility by creating good jobs and investing in citizens, the Harper government has secured the position of Canada's richest.

Imagine what kind of a public transit system we could have if we increased the resources going to transit. Now imagine how that sort of public transit system could transform Winnipeg.