Manitoba.

• Author: Yarish, Rick
• Position: Legislative Reports

The Fifth Session of the 39th Legislature began on November 16, 2010 with the presentation of the NDP government's 14th Speech from the Throne. Delivered by Lieutenant-Governor Phillip Lee, the address highlighted a range of government commitments and proposals, including:

* Elimination of the small business tax on December 1, 2010

* A new approach to trade promotion that will reflect the increasing importance of global trade links with Brazil, Russia, India and China, the so-called BRIC nations;

* The launch of a broad consultation process to help parents help their children excel by utilizing things such as plain-language report cards, standardized in-service days and improving student attendance;

* A new pension plan for child-care workers to be implemented on December 1, 2010

* The establishment of quick-care clinics staffed by nurse practitioners;

* A new ambulance helicopter;

* Legislation to cap health-administration costs.

* More community-based police and more Crown prosecutors;

* Introduction of stronger laws to ensure that criminals are not benefiting from the supports offered to law-abiding citizens;

* The launch of a new program, modelled on the successful auto-theft initiative, to intensively track violent, high-risk offenders and keep them from reoffending;

* A series of measures designed to protect consumers when buying new homes, condominiums, vehicles and cell phones;

* A new program to improve the infrastructure and programming of community centres throughout the province;

* A further increase to the minimum wage; and

* New nutrient reduction targets to improve the quality of water in Lake Winnipeg;

Official Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen's non-confidence amendment to the Address in Reply motion included a number of observations and commentaries on the government's plans, including:

* That the government's Throne Speech failed to acknowledge that after 11 years, violent Crime is rising, waste is rampant and past health-care promises have been broken; and

* That the speech endorses large ongoing deficits and rising debt which will result in higher taxes for Manitoba families; and

* That the speech failed to protect Manitoba seniors and families from hydro rate increases caused by the Premier's interference in Manitoba Hydro; and

* That the speech fails to acknowledge that for 11 years the government has wasted money on bloated health-care bureaucracy and boardrooms at the expense of front-line care; and

* That the speech...