Manitoba's Opposition leader is calling the NDP's commitment to end the use of hotels as emergency placements for children in the care of C.F.S. a "Powerful sense of de ja vu." Brian Pallister says this is the same broken promise made by the government in 2007. "They continue to make promises, but the problem is they don't follow through and keep their word. This is a government that has failed to keep it's promises in virtually every file." He adds now the NDP has said that it will partially keep that promise by keeping Winnipeg kids out of hotels. "But rural and northern kids are going to be second class and they're going to be going into hotels." Pallister says the worst part is that statistics aren't even being compiled in this area which means government can't be measured or held accountable.  He notes the quality of Manitoba's social services matters and when the system doesn't function well to protect children, everyone feels like they're failing.

Pallister adds other front-line services in Manitoba are being threatened by the NDP. He explains late last year 122 non-profit organizations were given two weeks to claw back their budgets to a total of $566,000. "This a textbook example of what happens when you have a wasteful government."

He explains these non-profits are a cost-effective way to provide important social services to Manitobans and this claw back is an attempt by the NDP to hide the mismanagement of public funds. Some of the agencies affected provide employment counselling, support for seniors, rehabilitation for substance abuse, priority placements for pregnant women, and transition counselling for individuals living independently. other agencies provide support for youth, persons with disabilities and aboriginals.