The Selinger government’s mudslinging, broken promises and secrecy have disappointed many.

If you share those feelings, you have an opportunity to help shape Manitoba politics for the better right now.

Consider that polls have consistently shown the NDP are floundering. The Liberals and Progressive Conservatives are doing a lot better than they were a couple years ago, but they’re still quite thirsty for votes. Both opposition parties are eager to form government so now is the time to put pressure on them to agree to make some good concrete changes if they win.

After all, once in power, parties often resist initiatives like improving transparency, holding their own politicians accountable and making other difficult decisions. Once in power it’s common for governments to avoid releasing information that could embarrass their party. It’s common for governments to take the easy way out instead of making tough decisions.

That’s why it’s crucial to get political parties to make commitments now while they’re in opposition. Should they get elected, we all have to make it hard for them to break their promises.

Ask both opposition parties if they would continue to keep cabinet documents secret for 20 years as the current legislation allows. That rule is how the NDP government has able to keep documents on its research towards an increase of the sales tax to 9 per cent hidden.

If in power, would opposition parties eliminate that 20-year threshold? Would they reduce it? What else would they do to make government more transparent?

Would they tackle the $244 million that Manitoba Hydro has spent and kept completely secret? The expenses involve bills racked up by northern aboriginal reserves. Despite people on northern reserves, and people living off reserve, wanting to see the details, Hydro refuses. Incredibly, the government has let them.

As for the PST increase itself, the NDP promised not to raise the tax during the last election. They also promised to balance the budget by now too, but they also broke that promise. How would Mr. Pallister and Ms. Bokhari ensure voters they would keep their promises?

If you tune into Question Period you’ll see opposition MLAs routinely asking the governing NDP questions only to hear nonsensical, partisan rhetoric in response. Alternatively, you’ll also see the odd governing party MLA ask a softball question to one of his or her colleagues. This is now a common problem in legislatures across the country, but it’s not the purpose of question period. Question period is supposed to be a chance for opposition parties to get answers from ministers and hold the governing party accountable.

What would Mr. Pallister and Ms. Bokhri do to address this problem? Would they do something different like give the speaker’s position real powers to compel government ministers to actually answer questions? Do they have a better idea?

If you don’t think your voice matters in this discussion you’re wrong. Everyone is capable of making a couple calls to each party and convincing a few friends to do the same. The more people that speak out, the more opposition parties recognize the pot of gold in votes that could come from addressing these issues.

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