Manitoba.

• Author: Grenier, Monique
• Position: Legislative Reports

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The First session of the 40th Legislature resumed on April 17, 2012, with the delivery of the budget from Finance Minister Stan Struthers.

The 2012-2013 total operating expenditure of $11.8 billion represents an increase of 4.3% from 2011-2012. Highlights of the government's budget included:

* Increasing the number of apprenticeships and creating more rural and northern training;

* Providing strong, predictable funding to universities and additional funding for colleges;

* Creating an Energy Opportunities office and fund to help Manitoba businesses take advantage of Manitoba Hydro's growth;

* Loosening restrictions on Sunday shopping by working with business and labour to keep Manitoba businesses strong and competitive;

* Rebuilding flood-damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure;

* Making investments to improve flood mitigation and protection to prevent future damage and hardship for families;

* Building and renewing thousands of kilometres of roads, and many bridges and overpasses;

* Providing faster cancer testing and treatment, and providing free cancer drugs for all patients;

* Taking steps forward to ensure every Manitoba can access a family doctor by 2015;

* Ensuring Manitoba families will pay the lowest combined bills in Canada for electricity, home heating and auto insurance;

* Reducing income taxes for families by delivering on a commitment to increase the basic personal exemption by $250 this year and increasing the seniors' maximum property tax credit by $75 to $1,025;

* Starting to reduce class sizes to 20 students in kindergarten to Grade 3 and providing children with stronger programming to improve reading and math skills; and

* Increasing the minimum wage by 25 cents on October 1.

During his contribution to the budget debate on April 18, 2012 Official Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen moved a motion expressing non-confidence in the government, which stated that the budget failed to address the priorities of Manitobans by:

* Imposing $184 million in new taxes on hard pressed Manitoba families, who are also facing higher hydro rates and property taxes, increased child care fees and a range of other hidden taxes;

* Driving gas prices higher at a time when gas prices in Manitoba have already increased 12% so far this year;

* Failing to take action to build safe communities as Manitoba has become the violent crime capital of Canada with Winnipeg's murder rate reaching an all time high in 2011;

* Failing to take action to protect Manitobans from future floods and failing to adequately compensate families for past damages;

* Failing Manitoba students who scored among the lowest in Canada on national and international...