June 30, 2015
Manitoba Continues to Build on Plan to Grow Economy, Create Jobs, Focus on What Matters Most to Families: Premier Selinger
The Manitoba government is continuing to support families by growing the economy, helping young people build rewarding careers in the province, protecting workers and investing in strategic infrastructure, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.
“We are proud of what our government has accomplished this session,” said Premier Selinger. “We began by tabling Budget 2015, which builds on our plan to deliver on the priorities of Manitoba families – more jobs, better roads, stronger services and more affordable child-care spaces. We also made progress on an ambitious legislative package that will create more job opportunities, support families and young people, and protect workers, consumers and the environment.”
Key bills among the legislation passed this session provide first-of-its-kind presumptive coverage for post-traumatic stress disorder to workers exposed to traumatic events on the job, establish a National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba, extend Manitoba Public Insurance benefits to cover full-time caregivers involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents and protect Manitoba families’ investments when they undertake home renovations, the premier noted.
“We’re taking a balanced approach that invests in growing the economy and protecting front-line services,” said Premier Selinger. “Instead of making reckless cuts that would hurt families and threaten jobs, we are continuing to focus on the things that families hold dear like more affordable child-care spaces, improved health-care facilities and better roads.”
The premier noted this session was also a time to reflect on the province’s history. A historic apology was made survivors of the ‘60s Scoop, and the legislature recognized the 70th anniversary of VE-Day and the 25th anniversary of Elijah Harper’s stand against the Meech Lake Accord. Legislation was also passed to honour Manitoba-born hero Terry Fox by establishing the firstMonday in August as Terry Fox Day, he added.
Significant rule changes were also passed by the legislative assembly of Manitoba that will ensure longer and more predictable legislative sessions and increased accountability that will benefit Manitobans, the premier said.
The premier also noted that independent analysis conducted by the Conference Board of Canada forecasts Manitoba’s economy to grow by 2.8 per cent in 2015, and again in 2016 when the province is expected to lead the nation. This growth is directly tied to increased infrastructure investments in the public and private sector, as well as construction on new Manitoba Hydro projects, said Chomiak.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED
backgrounder
Background Information - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2015/06/RLS-End_of_Session_BG-GHL.doc