Manitoba.

AuthorGrenier, Monique
PositionLegislative Reports - Legislative addresses; legislative bills

The Second Session of the 40th Legislature began on November 19, 2012 with the presentation of the NDP government's 16th Speech from the Throne. Delivered by Administrator, Chief Justice Richard Scott, on behalf of Lieutenant-Governor Phillip Lee, the address highlighted a range of government commitments and proposals, including:

* New rural economic development and improvements to cities with new road infrastructure, building on already historic road investments;

* Steady economic growth with the addition of 75,000 workers to Manitoba's labour force by 2020;

* Better care for seniors with improvements to home care and 200 new personal-care home beds in Winnipeg;

* Faster, more convenient access to testing and treatment for cancer patients with new CancerCare hubs in rural Manitoba;

* Improved access to family doctors with additional nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and dieticians for medical practices taking new patients;

* Better education and training opportunities with new primary schools and new support for high school students to transition into apprenticeships;

* More support for universities and colleges to increase enrolment by promoting Manitoba as a top destination for international students;

* New measures to protect families dealing with new home construction, vehicle purchases and cable bills; and new tools to help low-income Manitobans purchase a home; and

* Support for new research projects that will restore the health of Lake Winnipeg and protect the province's water.

Official Opposition Leader Brian Pallister's first non-confidence amendment to the Address in Reply motion included a number of observations and commentaries on the government's plans, including that despite record tax increases and record increases in transfers from other jurisdictions:

* Manitoba remains the child poverty capital of Canada;

* Manitoba food bank usage is at record high levels including the highest percentage of children using food banks in Canada;

* Manitoba's infrastructure deficit is not being addressed and roads and bridges are in disrepair;

* Many recent flood victims have still not received adequate compensation for their losses;

* Long wait times in emergency rooms and for surgeries continue to put the health of Manitobans at risk;

* Many seniors face long wait times for long-term care beds;

* Manitoba students continue to score at or near the bottom in core subjects such as math, reading and science;

* Manitoba...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT