MOOSOMIN — One of the biggest highlights for Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa MP Dan Mazier in 2024 was seeing his private member's bill about internet service providers (Bill 288) pass.
“That was the one to make them more accountable,” he explained. “It actually had royal assent in June, and then the CRTC is working on it right now.”
In essence, internet service providers would be required to be more transparent about the actual upload and download speeds they advertise to consumers.
“Right now, internet service providers can sell you theoretical or speeds based on when it works for them, not for you,” Mazier said. “My bill would actually force internet companies to be more transparent of what service you can expect while using the internet.”
To illustrate his point, Mazier used the analogy of wanting 50 litres of fuel at a gas station, only receiving 10, but still paying for the initial 50.
“That’s the kind of scenario they have for internet service providers right now,” he said. “It’s a very pro-consumer type of bill.”
Overspending a big concern
Mazier says overspending has been a big issue in Ottawa this year, as Mazier pointed to things like the affordability crisis, the housing crisis, and general overspending currently happening as examples.
“Justin Trudeau in his last nine years has spent more money than all the other prime ministers combined in the history of Canada,” Mazier said, pointing to a national debt that’s doubled, numerous scandals, and a non-transparent nature. “We’re trying to get the papers for the $400 million Green Slush Fund, I’m working on a net zero accelerator that’s $8 billion. It’s supposed to give the heaviest emitters financing to get to net zero, to reduce emissions. And yet, the independent Environment Commissioner found that over 70 per cent of the contracts signed did not commit to reducing emissions. So in other words, it was just a handout to these companies. Many of them were foreign.”
Mazier is the shadow minister for Rural Economic Development and Â鶹´«Ã½ivity, and also the vice-chair on Environment.
“That’s been my primary focus—holding the government accountable on their failed policies, on the environment file,” he said. “They tell Canadians that they’re going to reach their emissions, things are in the right direction, well, they’re not. The independent Environment Commissioner did come out with a scathing report basically saying, no, they’re not making their targets.”
There are four key points Mazier noted as important for the future—getting rid of the carbon tax, supporting home building, repairing the budget, and getting serious on crime.
“Crime is a problem, and it’s the big city crimes that we used to see in Toronto or Winnipeg, now we’re seeing it in downtown Swan River,” he said. “That’s a direct result of Bills C-5 and C-75, so we keep on pushing on that and making this government accountable.”
The large increase in taxation will have an effect on everyone, as Mazier noted.
“This whole thing around the taxes, they are going to quadruple the carbon tax, so if you drive, your fuel price is up 60 cents a litre,” he said. “Natural gas is the one that really surprised me. If you spent $100 in natural gas, you have $100 in carbon tax billed, and they want to quadruple that.”
Given the potential for a four-time increase in Carbon Tax, Mazier wonders what the impact will be on schools, hospitals, municipal facilities, and others in his riding that use natural gas for heating.
“I’ve been reaching out to the RMs, asking them, ‘Have you adjusted your budget, do you know your energy bill is going to quadruple?’ Just how much impact that’s going to have on everybody, I don’t think everybody’s quite comprehended that,” he said.
Looking forward
Mazier reiterated the four main points his party would focus on should they form government in the next election.
On the housing point specifically, Mazier noted how curious it is for people in rural areas to jump through so many hoops to build a house.
“Talking to the municipalities and what roadblocks and what costs have incurred when there’s nothing but space around us, and what towns have to go through just to build a house, and developers,” he said “It’s quite staggering, actually, so it is relevant, maybe not as relevant as in an urban area, but I think there’s a lot of potential if government would just get the heck out of the way and let people build houses again.”
In terms of crime, Mazier also noted a combination of light sentences for repeat offenders and a reluctance to report crime for fear of retribution has created prime conditions for criminals in rural areas.
“There were instances up in Swan River like a senior just going for their groceries. They got robbed, basically mugged,” Mazier explained. “Meanwhile, he serves his time sitting and watching Netflix for the afternoon, and meanwhile, the senior trying to just live his life has got to be watching over his shoulder again, because the guy might just walk out of his house and go repeat offend again. There’s no consequences for this kind of incidences, and that has to stop right away.”
