Manitoba.

• Author: Yarish, Rick
• Position: Legislative Reports

On November 15, 2006 Lieutenant Governor John Harvard delivered the NDP government's ninth Speech from the Throne. The address conveyed a range of government proposals and commitments, including:

* $4-billion plan to modernize highways over the next 10 years;

* University and college graduates to receive 60 per cent tuition rebate;

* Manitoba seniors to save $11 million annually through pension splitting;

* Corporate tax rates to fall to 14 per cent and small business rates to three per cent

* A new immigration target to double the current levels;

* $42 million in additional funding for child protection services in response to recommendations made by the provincial ombudsman and the children's advocate;

* More training for emergency medicine physicians and initiatives to recruit oncologists;

* Continuing moves forward on additional wait-list priorities including pediatric dental, pain management and sleep therapy;

* Additional tools to be introduced to provide police and prosecutors with a stronger edge to fight gang crime; and

* Changes to the Payday Loans Act and new legislation to prevent identity theft, regulate pawn shops and provide RRSP creditor protection.

In his non-confidence amendment to the Address in Reply motion, Official Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen identified a number of government shortcomings, including their failure to:

* provide meaningful and competitive tax relief for Manitobans;

* provide foster placements for the unprecedented number of children in care housed in hotels;

* address the critical shortage of health care professionals;

* call an independent public inquiry into the Crocus Investment Fund scandal, which resulted in 34,000 Manitobans losing more than $60 million;

* ensure prudent expenditure of taxpayers' dollars, spending millions of dollars on rebranding campaigns and pre-election advertising;

* implement a long-term provincial strategy to recruit and retain police officers:

* ensure the promised level of flood protection for the people of the City of Winnipeg; and

* address the out-migration of Manitobans, especially youth.

In his sub-amendment to Mr. McFadyen's amendment, Jon Gerrard (Independent Liberal--River Heights) identified further faults with the government's performance, including the failure to:

* provide meaningful tax changes such as elimination of the payroll tax that would make Manitoba more economically competitive;

* resolve the underlying causes of the unprecedented number of...