NDP support had recovered somewhat by the 1990 election, and Martindale was able to defeat Chornopyski in a rematch. The Progressive Conservatives won a majority government under Gary Filmon, and Martindale served in the official opposition as his party's critic for family services and housing.Ruth Teichrob, "Swelling rolls mean welfare budget up but recipients' income down", Winnipeg Free Press, 7 April 1993; Paul Samyn, "Security deposit changes planned", 23 June 1993. He opposed the Filmon government's cuts to child welfare and education support, and called for an inquiry into allegations of emotional abuse and unethical treatment at the Osborne House battered women's shelter.Ruth Teichrob, "Abuse lawsuits urged", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 July 1993 [child welfare]; Frances Russell, "Student aid crisis ignored", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 September 1994 [education support]; Ruth Teichrob, "Independent probe of shelter sought", Winnipeg Free Press, 18 May 1993. He also criticized the government's introduction of a "welfare fraud hotline", describing it as "punitive and unnecessary" and noting that Manitoba lost far more money each year to income tax fraud.Alice Krueger, "Phone tips net welfare cheats", Winnipeg Free Press, 19 September 1994; Alice Krueger, "Taking aim at rural cheats", Winnipeg Free Press, 11 February 1995. Nonetheless, Martindale supported the government's early intervention policy as a means of keeping more children with their families and out of the supervision of Child and Family Services.Paul Samyn, "Plan ties kids to kin", Winnipeg Free Press, 19 November 1994.
