Manitoba.

AuthorGrenier, Monique
PositionASSEMBLEE NATIONAL

The Second session of the 40th Legislature resumed on April 16, 2013, with the delivery of the budget from Finance Minister Stan Struthers.

The 2013-2014 total operating expenditure of $12.1 billion represents an increase of 2.3% from 2012-2013. Highlights of the government's budget included:

* Increasing the PST by 1% for a 10 year period to raise additional necessary revenue for the new Manitoba Building and Renewal Plan which will be dedicated to building the province's critical infrastructure;

* Cutting income taxes by increasing the basic personal income tax exemption by $250;

* Eliminating school property taxes for all seniors by 2015 and removing the PST from baby essentials; * Increasing the minimum hourly wage to $10.45;

* Investing a record $1.8 billion to build and renew critical infrastructure including roads, hospitals, schools and flood protection;

* Creating new apprenticeship opportunities, introducing a new training and skills development strategy and increasing funding to universities and colleges;

* Helping more Manitobans find a family doctor by building more clinics and hiring more doctors, nurse practitioners and other health-care providers across the province;

* Expanding the life-saving STARS helicopter ambulance to 24 hours, seven days a week;

* Ensuring that Manitobans have the lowest combined rates for electricity, home heating and auto insurance in the country;

* Providing incentives to businesses to grow the economy and create new jobs including eliminating the small business tax for more Manitoba businesses;

* Extending the 20 per cent reduction on Ministerial salaries and reducing the budgets of 11 departments.

During his contribution to the budget debate on April 17, 2013 Official Opposition Leader Brian Pallister moved a motion expressing non-confidence in the government, which stated that the budget failed to address the priorities of Manitobans by:

* ignoring the taxpayer protection laws that safeguard Manitoba families; and

* saddling Manitoba families with crushing and unnecessary taxes that don't allow them to prosper and save for the future; and

* failing to tame a $500 million structural deficit created through 13 years of overspending; and

* failing to promise a full and transparent review of all Provincial Government spending; and

* failing to control growth of low spending priorities such as advertising and vote taxes; and

* stifling economic growth and prosperity through excessive red tape and...

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