PCs Denounce NDP’s Slow Response to Blizzard
WINNIPEG — La Vérendrye MLA Konrad Narth, PC Critic for Transportation, expressed his disappointment and dismay at the NDP government’s slow response to the blizzard and treacherous driving conditions throughout Manitoba on Friday.
“The response from Minister Lisa Naylor and the Kinew government to this morning’s whiteout conditions is appalling,” said Narth. “Dangerous accidents and pile-ups started early this morning yet the province didn’t issue an emergency alert until the afternoon warning drivers to stay off the road. This notification needed to be sent out first thing this morning when whiteout conditions had already started to impact morning commutes, not hours after dozens of crashes already took place.”
“Emergency alerts need to be issued sooner to prevent injuries and the loss of life. This government needs to get its act together to protect Manitobans.”
At least 30 collisions have been reported so far on highways in southern Manitoba according to the RCMP. The province sent an emergency alert via cell phone shortly after noon, urging drivers to avoid travel on southern Manitoba roads.
“We know of cases in southeast Manitoba where school children were picked up only to be turned around because of poor communication about Manitoba highways,” said Selkirk MLA Richard Perchotte. “This storm has been in the forecast for the last 48 hours, and the province needs to do a better job of getting vital highway information to schools before storms hit. The lives of our children should not be put at risk because of the slow response from government.”
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