December 5, 2013
Fall Legislative Session Moves Manitoba Forward with Plan for Steady Growth, Good Jobs: Premier Selinger
– – –Investments in Strategic, Core Infrastructure will Create Thousands of Jobs, Training Opportunities for Families over the Next Five Years: Minister Oswald
The fall session of the Manitoba legislature is ending with a historic commitment to rebuilding Manitoba’s roads, bridges, flood protection and water systems, creating thousands of jobs and training opportunities for Manitoba families over the next five years, Premier Greg Selinger said today.
“Manitobans have told us exactly where they want their hard-earned money invested and we are listening,” said Premier Selinger. “While the opposition calls for a return to the failed policies of privatization and cuts which would put Manitobans out of work, our plan for steady growth is investing in strategic infrastructure, creating thousands of good jobs and training opportunities for Manitoba families.”
The premier said the passage of Bill 20, which includes a time-limited, one-cent-on-the-dollar increase to the provincial sales tax, allows the province to make important investments in Manitoba’s major strategic highways including:
- flood proofing PTH 75 to interstate standards so it remains open during severe Red River floods, protecting Manitoba’s trade with all of North America;
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rebuilding the southwest Perimeter Highway with interstate standard interchanges to create a
high-speed, free-flowing roadway to accommodate the increasing economic activity and truck traffic that comes with the opening of CentrePort Canada Way; - completing resurfacing on PTH 6 to meet new, wider national highway standards, along with bridge replacements, intersection improvements, curve realignments and passing lanes to make trade from Winnipeg through the Interlake to Thompson safer and faster;
- adding new passing lanes, curve realignments and asphalt resurfacing for PTH 10, bolstering western Manitoba’s main trade route to the United States and linking to other east-west trade routes including the Trans-Canada Highway; and
- rebuilding PTH 9, a busy Interlake highway for tourists and commercial travellers, ensuring a smoother ride from Winnipeg to Winnipeg Beach.
The premier noted that these investments, along with other projects announced in the government’s speech from the throne, are expected to create the equivalent of one year of employment for 10,000 people. To ensure Manitobans have the skills they need to take advantage of the good jobs these investments will create, Jobs and the Economy Theresa Oswald Minister announced:
- a new Manitoba Jobs and Skills Development Centre, a one-stop centre for employers and job seekers that brings the province’s apprenticeship, employment and workforce development services all under one roof;
- proposed legislation that would see apprenticeship training opportunities included in public works contracts undertaken by the province and designated public-sector entities; and
- an increase in public-sector apprenticeship opportunities, through a new Student Apprentice Work Experience Program for high school students and a new co-op program to link college graduates to apprenticeship opportunities in the public sector.
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