Barrier Free Manitoba

BFM is surely hoping that respect for parliamentary tradition and oaths of office are basic and enduring priorities for our provincial government. Because if not, what is?

The Honourable Heather Stefanson took the following oath of office on August 1, 2018 when she was sworn in as the new Minister of Families:

“I, Heather Dorothy Stefanson, do solemnly swear that I will duly, faithfully, and to the best of my knowledge and ability perform and fulfill the duties and requirements of the office of the Minister of Families for the Province of Manitoba to which I have been appointed and so long as I continue to hold that office without fear or favour so help me God.”

One of these "duties and requirements" is the full and timely implementation of the landmark AMA so as to realize the legislated promise of achieving major progress toward full accessibility by 2023.

Problem is that implementation by government (both the past and the current ones) to date has been slow, weak and incomplete. While there had been new reason for renewed optimism a few months ago, there has still been very little in the way of improved performance.

But oaths are almost sacred things - you just don't take them if you don't mean to honour them. And Minister Stefanson's oath means that she will duly, faithfully and to the best of her knowledge and ability ensure the full and timely implementation of the AMA.

• It’s the right thing to do.
• It’s the historic thing to do.
• It’s what every party and MLA voted for in December 2013.
• It’s what the PCs recommitted to do as part of the 2016 general election.
• It is what the Minister promised to do on August 1, 2018.

Minister Stefanson has a well-established and respected track record and she's one smart cookie (she has plenty of knowledge and ability).

Honouring her oath of office will mean that 2019 is the year of the big turn around for the AMA. From slow and weak to timely and robust implementation. From missing or only minimally addressing requirements to meeting and exceeding them.

That's our hope and expectation for 2019. Can we depend on you Minister Stefanson?

Click here to see the YouTube video of Minister Stefanson (and others) taking of this oath as part of the August 1, 2018 swearing in ceremony.

Click here to hear the audio of Minister Stefanson taking here oath.