Manitoba NDP accuses government of using MPI review as "political cover"

The Manitoba New Democrats have accused the Conservative government of using an external review of Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) as political cover for potential rate hikes, according to a report by the Winnipeg Free Press.

During a question period late last week, MPI critic MLA Matt Wiebe called on the government to reassure ratepayers that they won’t see increased costs in the wake of the review.

“Instead of taking accountability, the government is now trying to buy time with a nine-month review, a review that just so happens to be complete after election day,” Wiebe said. “It’s clear the PCs desperately want to buy time and to shift blame.”

The NDP’s comments come after Kelvin Goertzen, the minister responsible for MPI, ordered an external review of the Crown corporation amid concerns about rising costs associated with its technology modernization initiative.

Referred to as Project Nova, the initiative had seen its budget increase from $86 million to $290 million since it was first revealed in 2019.