Carman Chamber of Commerce and business members raised concerns about worsening water management and rising education property taxes during a community coffee chat with Midland MLA Lauren Stone on March 20.
Stone hosts the public sessions to give constituents an opportunity to have their voices heard.
“I want to be here for the region and find out the best ways I can advocate for others and advocate for solutions on their behalf,” Stone said. “I need to understand the issues and challenges my constituents are facing — that is how we ensure different communities across the province are properly represented at a provincial level.”
She said she takes every issue to heart and strives to address concerns by working with local and provincial governments while pushing for necessary solutions.
“It can be a slow process, but we need to make sure we are staying on top of it,” she added. “I love what I do and we have such an incredible community. Now we need to make sure we do everything we can to ensure success.”
According to Stone, a recurring issue is long-term water management, particularly during drought years. She said local growers are calling for sustainable solutions to remain viable in the agriculture industry.
“You can’t grow if you don’t have water,” Stone said. “Without water, growers can’t sustain or expand their operations, so this is increasingly becoming a concern for the area.”
Her next steps include working alongside the Pembina Valley Water Co-op, as well as provincial and federal governments, to develop future solutions.
Another pressing issue is the rise in education property taxes. As the Progressive Conservative finance critic, Stone said finding ways for Manitobans to keep more money in their pockets is a priority. She said that since the NDP formed government, it has “removed all guard rails protecting homeowners and landowners” from increasing school taxes.
Those guardrails, she said, included the removal of the 50 per cent education property tax rebate, the elimination of the two per cent cap on increases and insufficient funding for school divisions relative to inflation.
Describing the situation as “skyrocketing to unsustainable levels,” she said some school divisions across the province have imposed increases of up to 43 per cent in the past year.
“This is not sustainable,” she added. “Not only for homeowners, but for farmers and landowners who continue to bear the brunt of increasing school taxes.”
Stone and the Progressive Conservatives have proposed increasing the Basic Personal Exemption to $30,000, making the first $30,000 of income tax-free for residents.
She said this could save Manitobans up to $1,525 for individuals and more than $3,000 for dual-income families.
“We believe in letting Manitobans keep more money in their pockets,” Stone said. “So they have more money to spend on themselves, their families and their households where it matters most.”
Stone said hearing directly from constituents helps guide her day-to-day work. Through these interactions, she gains first-hand insight into the challenges businesses face and aims to remain as accessible as possible while working collaboratively with the community and all levels of government.
She added she believes rural communities have been “largely ignored” by the NDP government, particularly following recent budget announcements.
“There was nothing about agriculture or manufacturing — the two largest economic drivers not just for southern Manitoba but for all Manitobans,” she said. “The government is not recognizing their importance, and agriculture and manufacturing industries have faced significant challenges over the past year and a half due to trade with the U.S. and China, and they are still dealing with those challenges.”
Stone said she wants residents to know she is available to listen and advocate for solutions.
“There’s always more that can be done to support a community,” she said. “I am here, I am accessible, and I am ready to meet the community where they are.”
Stone’s MLA office is located in Carman at 195 Main St. S. She is available for in-person meetings, phone calls or emails, and encourages residents to connect by visiting her office Monday through Friday, emailing laurenstonemidland@gmail.com or calling 1-431-323-2968. She also hosts several coffee chats and open houses throughout the year and encourages constituents to check her social media pages for updates.
“I can advocate for better solutions,” she added. “I am ready to listen to what you would like to see the government do and how we can advocate to move forward.”
