News Release - Manitoba

Free cancer drugs for all patients, more training and apprenticeship opportunities, new laws to protect consumers and more help for flood victims were highlights of the spring provincial legislative session,  Premier Greg Selinger said today.

“There is a still a sense of uncertainty in economies everywhere but, through it all, we’ve focused on the things that matter most to Manitobans,” said Selinger.  “We said no to deep cuts to balance the budget all at once and no to major new spending on new programs, and instead worked to make life better for families.  That’s meant more money for our schools, hospitals and roads as we return to balance responsibly.”

The premier noted, in Budget 2012, core government spending has decreased and spending in 10 departments has been reduced or frozen.

Selinger highlighted action taken in a number of areas:

 Creating opportunities for families and businesses

• More apprentices:  Tax incentives for businesses to hire apprentices and a new Rural and Northern Apprenticeship Training Strategy will make it easier than ever for Manitobans to become an apprentice.
• Clean energy jobs:  A new Energy Jobs Fund will help businesses manufacturing equipment for hydro dams, electricity transmission and other forms of renewable energy grow and create jobs, building on Manitoba’s manufacturing strength.
• Sunday shopping:  New legislation will give retailers more flexibility in opening hours on Sundays and some statutory holidays, while protecting retail workers who would rather not work expanded hours.

Providing better health care for all Manitobans

• Free cancer drugs:  Budget 2012 is making approved oral cancer drugs free for Manitobans, eliminating deductibles and covering the costs of necessary support drugs that patients may need during their treatment.
• Number of Regional Health Authorities (RHAs):  RHAs were reduced to five from 11 to provide more money to support the front lines of health care.
• Better, faster care:  New training positions for doctors and nurse practitioners and increases in the number of clinics that offer same-day or next-day appointments to 60 from 40 will give families access to quality care more quickly.

Protecting consumers and making life more affordable

• Lowest-cost utility bundle:  New legislation will ensure that Manitobans have the lowest combined rates for electricity, home heating and auto insurance in the country.
• Automobile repairs:  New rules will ensure Manitobans are better protected from hidden charges, incomplete information and fraudulent vehicle repair practices.
• More energy efficient choices:  A new Manitoba Hydro program will make it easier for families to pay the upfront costs of money- and energy-saving home retrofits and spread out the repayment over monthly charges on their utility bills.

Keeping families safe

• Safer communities:  New provincial funding will help hire over a dozen more police officers in Manitoba and 10 new cadets for the Winnipeg Police Service to add to the downtown team.
• More firefighters:  New provincial funding will hire 20 more full-time firefighters in Winnipeg and four more firefighter-paramedics in Brandon.
• Cracking down on drunk drivers:  The ignition interlock program will be expanded to all first-time impaired driving offenders along with stricter sanctions including a fine of up to $5,000 and up to one year in jail.

Building strong infrastructure and repairing flood damage

• Better roads and bridges:  Continued record investments in Manitoba roads and bridges will pave or renew more than 2,400 kilometres of road under Budget 2012 including continued repairs to the more than 80 bridges and 200 roads damaged by last year’s flood.
• Helping flood-affected families:  Eight new appraisers and 14 other new provincial staff members have been hired to assess flood-damaged property and process flood claims for property owners around Lake Manitoba, adding to more than 100 staff already processing claims.
• More funding for municipal infrastructure:  The government is dedicating the equivalent of one point of the provincial sales tax to municipal infrastructure each year including an increase of $23 million this year alone.  

 “This session, we made a lot of headway on the priorities of families including more attention for kids in smaller sized classes, improvements to health care and, just today, a new law to better protect Manitobans from discrimination based on gender identity and social status,” said Selinger.  “And we’ll keep moving forward with a balanced approach that puts families first.”

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