Manitoba.

• Author: Yarish, Rick
• Position: Budget passed

on March 6, 2006 the Manitoba Legislature assembled as the Fourth Session of the Thirty-Eighth Legislature resumed. Finance Minister Greg Selinger delivered his speech on the NDP Government's seventh budget. The total operating expenditure for the 2006-2007 Budget was listed as $8.7 billion, an increase of 6.8% from 2005-2006. The government based this year's financial plan on the following four "building blocks": Growing Green, Growing Smart; Healthy Families, Healthy Communities; Tax Savings for Manitoba Families and Business; and Responsible Approach to Government Finances. Specific highlights from the budget included:

* More hydroelectric development in partnership with Aboriginal and local communities

* New wind-farm projects, attracting $2 billion in potential investment

* New environmental enhancement loan program for farmers

* New children's physical activity tax credit to parallel federal proposal

* $60-million, three-year funding plan for universities and colleges

* Resources to fight crystal meth, auto theft and gangs

* Reduction in farmland school tax increased to 60 per cent

* Business tax reductions to reach $146 million annually

* Personal income and property tax cuts to total $472 million annually

* $148 million summary budget surplus forecast for 2006-07

* $110 million payment towards debt and pension liabilities

In his last budget speech as party leader, on March 9, 2006 Official Opposition Leader Stuart Murray moved a motion expressing non-confidence in the government. The motion noted the opposition's regrets that the budget ignored "the present and future needs of Manitobans", listing a number of deficiencies, including:

* failing to be accountable to Manitobans for overspending and fiscal mismanagement;

* failing to be accountable for the dismal state of agriculture in Manitoba;

* failing to provide opportunities for Manitoba youth to remain in the province;

* failing to be accountable for the province's unprecedented level of debt;

* failing to provide adequate funding for post-secondary institutions;

* failing to be transparent and accountable for health care spending;

* failing to be accountable for the increased court backlog and probation breaches; and

* failing to provide a long-term strategy for the revitalization of rural Manitoba and continuing to ignore rural Manitobans.

Jon Gerrard (Independent Liberal--River Heights) moved a sub-amendment to Mr. Murray's amendment on May 1, 2006. Mr. Gerrard perceived a...