NDP Must Explain Financial U-Turn at MPI
WINNIPEG — Today, the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Caucus called on NDP justice minister Matt Wiebe, minister responsible for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation, to recall the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations so that it can address serious financial declines at the provincial auto insurer.
“In March, MPI presented its annual report to legislators and said it was on track to deliver another rebate for Manitobans in line with the near-$500 million that had been rebated under PCs over the past couple of years,” said Turtle Mountain MLA Doyle Piwniuk, PC Critic for MPI. “Now, we’ve learned that’s not the case. Not only is there no rebate coming, but the Public Utilities Board has been asked to approve a 3% rate hike, combined with a $10 premium.”
“Somehow, over the last six months, Wab Kinew’s NDP have turned a surplus at MPI into a $130-million loss. This sudden shift raises all kinds of red flags for Manitobans who have questions and deserve answers.”
Last December, the PUB rejected MPI’s rate application and instead applied a 5% rate reduction because of the health of MPI’s finances. However, since taking office, Wab Kinew has appointed a new CEO at MPI and replaced most of MPI’s board.
“Manitobans are paying the price for NDP interference,” said Piwniuk. “The NDP minister responsible, Matt Wiebe, must immediately reconvene hearings so that officials from MPI can publicly address the two different realities that they’ve presented to Manitobans in just six short months and explain why such a dramatic shift in fortunes has occurred.”
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