MPI CUTTING SERVICES IN RURAL MANITOBA

Press Release- 01/20/2010

NEWS RELEASE

January 20, 2010

For Immediate Release

MPI CUTTING SERVICES IN RURAL MANITOBA

NDP deficit causes testing facilities in rural areas to close: Graydon

Manitoba Public Insurance Services is cutting services in rural Manitoba. Facing a huge NDP deficit, it’s a move Progressive Conservative MPI Critic Cliff Graydon says could be a sign of more cuts to come.

“NDP mismanagement during good economic times has lead to a $600 million deficit,” Graydon said. “Now, we’re in a recession and as a result, Manitoba is facing program cuts like this around the province.”

In rural areas, mobile testing units visit communities once or twice a month to administer road tests. Effective March 1, 2010, MPI is reducing the frequency and the locations of its driver testing services in rural Manitoba.

“In many communities, written tests won’t be available at all, and in some road tests for classes 1 – 3 will be eliminated altogether, forcing many Manitobans to lose an entire day of work to drive to other towns and cities to take the test.”

Graydon said rural Manitoba is paying the price for NDP mismanagement of another Crown corporation.

“We’ve called on the NDP to scrap its unpopular Enhanced Driver’s license program that’s already wasted $14 million, but instead the NDP has opted to cut services in rural areas to fund its pet project,” Graydon said. “Add to that the fact that in 2004, the NDP dumped responsibility for drivers licensing onto MPI’s lap, but only allocates $21 million a year for MPI to administer the program leaving MPI with a $44 million shortfall since 2005. It’s clear that MPI is cutting services to make up for the NDP’s mistakes.

“Should Manitobans – especially those living in rural areas – expect more service cuts so the NDP can balance its budget, or will they do the right thing and scrap the EDL program and restore long-standing services in rural Manitoba?”