Hell yeah I say! Win Win Win. Do it Doer.
It's a good thing Premier Gary Doer made it crystal clear at the party's annual convention over the weekend that his government intends to spend, spend, spend.
With smilin' Jack Layton in attendance, Doer promised Manitoba's NDP government won't sit on its hands while watching the economic crisis get worse and worse.
"We know that if we invest in the programs of the future ... we not only will stay strong during these economic times, but I guarantee you, Manitoba will come out better and stronger than other provinces," he told party faithful.
He's following the lead of the Harper Conservatives who are handing out goodies from coast to coast. He's likely also reacting to news that our province might be in better shape than most to spend more this year.
It's good news all around Mr. Doer because we know where you can start delivering the dough. Programs? Nope -- infrastructure.
The Manitoba Youth Centre has more guests than ever before and is becoming a budget nightmare. It's jammed with bad apples -- staying put longer -- and will grossly exceed its $11.3-million operating budget by a whopping $4.4 million when the fiscal year ends later this month.
The biggest reason for the ballooning costs to operate the facility is more staff and more staff training because the facility is home to more young offenders then ever -- not because more are being arrested -- but because of backed-up courts and strict supervision under the province's auto theft suppression strategy.
"You have more kids in there, you need more guards. There's a direct correlation between getting tough on auto theft and staffing at the youth centre," a Manitoba Justice spokeswoman told the Winnipeg Sun.
Most Winnipeggers are thrilled this place is getting full because it's keeping teenage criminals off the streets.
But they are concerned about the swelling costs -- costs that are bound to get worse -- since more youth will get arrested and more guards will be needed. The NDP needs to include a new or expanded facility in its spending spree.
They should crunch the numbers and find out how much a brand new youth detention facility will cost. Or at the very least, spend for some additional space -- whatever form it takes. There's no better time to put people to work while at the same time preparing Manitoba for the decades ahead with a larger, better facility to house our youth criminals.
Spending has suddenly become politically acceptable but only if it's done prudently.
Don't spend it all on left-wing, socialist programs. Build the facilities Manitoba needs.
paul.rutherford@sunmedia.ca
