His general thesis is not really new. Manitoba's lethargic economy is a result of personal and corporate tax rates higher than its western peers. [Niels Veldhuis] holds particular scorn for the province's corporate capital tax, something that doesn't even exist in B.C. and Alberta and is being quickly phased out in Saskatchewan.

Manitoba beat out only tiny P.E.I. and Nova Scotia in job creation last year and Veldhuis points out Manitoba's job creation record between 2000 and 2005 is the worst in the country and GDP growth per capita is second lowest over that period.

Notwithstanding an even more recent Statistics Canada report showing capital investment intentions in Manitoba for 2007 are second highest in the country, Veldhuis said when you start low it's easier to get a higher rate of growth. (Capital spending in Saskatchewan was almost 30 per cent higher than Manitoba's in 2005 and 2006.)