There is no doubt that many roads and bridges in the province of Manitoba are in rough shape.

However, the infrastructure deficit should not be addressed through higher taxes, but rather through greater accountability.

Yes, it’s a radical and provocative notion as of late, but it’s time for politicians at all three levels of government to be accountable for the tax dollars we send them.

Take a moment and think about all the taxes you currently pay; federal income taxes, provincial income taxes, federal sales taxes, provincial sales taxes, federal gas taxes, provincial gas taxes, municipal property taxes, school property taxes, hotel taxes, tobacco taxes, alcohol taxes, excise taxes, entertainment taxes, electricity taxes, capital gains taxes, duties and all kinds of other levies and fees.

According to the Fraser Institute, the average Manitoba family gives over 40 per cent of their income to the government each year in one form or another. Families with higher incomes would pay an even larger percentage.

That’s why it’s irresponsible to talk about raising taxes. There’s more than enough money in the system.

The problem is that governments have gone from providing core services like health care, education, street repair and policing to just about everything under the sun.

As a result, road repair has suffered.

Back in 1998, the federal government only put 2 per cent of the revenue it collected in fuel taxes back into road construction and repair. Incredibly, fuel tax dollars have been used for unrelated things such as funding bocce ball courts and canoe museums.

Fortunately, after more than a decade of urging the government to put fuel tax dollars back into road work, the federal government has listened to some our concerns. Nation-wide, about 100 per cent of the funds collected at the pumps are now put back into road repair.

However, borrowed “stimulus” dollars inflate the number somewhat; but there can be no denying progress has been made. That’s why the Canadian Taxpayers Federation drafted legislation that would require all federal fuel tax dollars be put back into road work annually. It’s time for the feds to pass it.

The second accountability measure is for municipalities province-wide to demonstrate they are lean mean operating machines before simply asking other levels of government for more money. On that note, having the City of Winnipeg lead the charge for revenue sharing is questionable as its inefficiencies are well documented.

Third, many municipal politicians need to push back on their bureaucracies and get a list outlining items that comprise the infrastructure deficit. You see, anyone that has ever worked in government will tell you that bureaucracies often slide in things that aren’t necessary when making financial asks to their political masters.

Fourth, our politicians need to get back to focussing on the basics. They need to go through a true period of austerity and say “no” to businesses and special interest groups that seek government funding and “no” to union bosses and employees that grind taxpayers for more than generous salaries and benefits.

And just as importantly, politicians need to lead by example by cutting back on non-essential travel, legacy projects and small things like taxpayer-funded propaganda.

There is more than enough money in the system for fixing roads and bridges in Manitoba. What we need is more accountability.