Manitoba.

• Author: Yarish, Rick
• Position: Legislative Reports/Rapport legislatifs - Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, Canada

On April 4th, 2007 the Manitoba Legislature assembled as the Fifth Session of the Thirty-Eighth Legislature resumed amid much speculation about an impending provincial general election. The House sat for two and a half weeks before the Legislature was dissolved on April 20 and Premier Gary Doer called a provincial general election for Tuesday, May 22, 2007.

On the opening day of the spring session Finance Minister Greg Selinger presented the NDP government's eighth budget. The total operating expenditure for the 2007-2008 "Building Budget" was listed as $9.3 billion, an increase of 7% from 2006-2007. The government described their plan as "the first summary budget in Manitoba's history that fully reflects generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)." Highlights included:

* Providing $297 million in new tax cuts including $119 million in personal income tax reductions, $49 million in education property tax relief and $93 million in business tax cuts;

* Increasing the investment in highways by 50 per cent, bringing the annual investment close to $400 million;

* Installing a new leading-edge, non-invasive cancer knife to treat cancers in all parts of the body;

* Investing more than $10 million in additional funds to support water protection initiatives and improve water management and flood protection;

* Providing a $30.3-million increase for public schools;

* Implementing the 60 per cent tax rebate on tuition fees for all post-secondary graduates who live and work in Manitoba;

* Increasing funding support for Winnipeg by 18.3 per cent or $29.1 million, which includes $21 million for road improvements; and

* Providing funding for 14 additional police officers including five for the Stolen Auto Unit to deal with repeat offenders.

During his first budget speech as party leader, on April 10, 2007 Official Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen 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'. The motion listed a number of deficiencies, including:

* failing to set out a coherent plan to stem the flow of people out of Manitoba, after the loss of 35,000 Manitobans to other provinces since 1999;

* failing to implement taxation measures to make Manitoba competitive with other provinces;

* failing to address serious issues of crime such as auto theft, gang activity, and violent crime;

* failing to address the emergency physician shortage that has crippled Manitoba hospitals and threatens to close more emergency rooms;

* failing to embark on a long-overdue, science-based effort to clean up Lake Winnipeg;

* failing to provide clear information about the "Spirited Energy" campaign; and

* failing to be accountable to Manitobans for exorbitant cost overruns on the floodway expansion project and Manitoba Hydro office tower.

On April 11, 2007 Jon Gerrard (Independent Liberal--River Heights) moved a sub-amendment to Mr. McFadyen's amendment. Mr. Gerrard perceived a number of other shortcomings in the government's financial plan, including:

* failing to provide an effective strategy to deal with child poverty;

* failing to provide Manitobans with the legal rights to timely quality health care;

* failing to present an adequate approach to reduce phosphorous levels and algal blooms in Lake Winnipeg; and

* failing to make rapid transit a priority in the city of Winnipeg.

On April 17, 2007 Mr. Gerrard's...