Little known fact - the PCs recently took Manitoba Hydro owned fibre optic infrastructure and gave control of it to a private company.

The results of this back door privatization scheme have been disastrous for northern communities, small businesses, and Hydro ratepayers. /1 Prior to the handover of this infrastructure to a private company, it was managed by Manitoba Hydro Telecom (MHT), a Hydro subsidiary which had a long history of successfully partnering with MB based businesses to expand access to broadband in rural and northern communities. /2

A deluge of concerning Bills are being passed in the MB Legislature this evening. Here’s a sampling of the PC legislative agenda:

Bill 26: Will limit damages which can be paid out on human rights complaints. Sends strong signal that human rights violations are no big deal. Bill 37: Hugely anti-democratic Bill which eliminates municipal control over development decisions. Don’t like that new suburb being proposed? Too bad, Pallister’s hand appointed Board will now make the final call.

Brian Pallister and his hand picked head of Treasury Board, a former general counsel to Bell MTS, have been caught secretly giving direction to Manitoba Hydro which has resulted in a lucrative data services contract extension to...Bell MTS.

winnipegfreepress.com/local/tories-a… There are significant conflict of interest concerns here. Mr. Beauregard owned thousands of $ worth of Bell MTS shares as recently as three years ago.

Manitobans deserve to know if Mr. Beauregard continues to have any direct financial interest in Bell MTS.