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Investments in Education, Infrastructure will Grow Manitoba's Economy, Create Jobs, Provide Opportunities for Young People: Premier Selinger

Today’s speech from the throne outlines a responsible plan to keep building Manitoba while protecting the services that matter most to families, Premier Greg Selinger said.

“Manitobans have told us they want to see investments in infrastructure and more opportunities for young people without the deep cuts to front-line services proposed by others,” said Premier Selinger.  “This blueprint for the coming year will invest in education at every level and good jobs for families to ensure our kids can put down roots here at home as we grow our economy.”

Lt.-Gov. Philip Lee delivered the speech from the throne today to open the fourth session of the 40th Manitoba legislative assembly.

The premier outlined highlights of the speech:

• Education for the New Economy
  • eliminate interest on student loans,
  • expand the existing apprenticeship model to certify new occupations outside the traditional trades,
  • launch a new Credit Transfer Portal to help students move more easily between programs and institutions, and
  • work with the Alliance of Manitoba Sector Councils to bring more employers into classrooms and more students into workplaces.
• Good Jobs and a Stronger Economy
  • strengthen Manitoba’s primary trade corridor with new flood protection for PTH 75 including the construction of a new, higher bridge at Morris;
  • upgrade the Lake St. Martin Channel and build a new outlet to flow 7,500 cubic feet per second from Lake Manitoba to provide better flood protection for families and businesses in the Interlake region;
  • increase Manitoba’s municipal road budget and double funding for municipal bridges;
  • establish a special planning area to support rapid expansion, trade and strategic growth at CentrePort including development of the new CentrePort Canada Rail Park;
  • create a new streamlined portal for infrastructure program information and applications in partnership with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities; and
  • apply innovative approaches to core infrastructure design, construction and maintenance through a new Infrastructure Innovations Council in partnership with the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association.

• Protecting Front-line Services
  • replace contract employees of Manitoba Child and Family Services with better trained staff for emergency placement shelters and create a new unit for young women with complex needs and more clinical assessments;
  • open new QuickCare Clinics staffed by nurse practitioners in northwest Winnipeg, St. Vital and Southdale and finalize the location of a new QuickCare Clinic in west Winnipeg;
  • hire dozens of primary care professionals, including nurse practitioners, into new MyHealth teams in every region of the province;
  • launch a new program at Red River College to train advanced care paramedics to start emergency medical interventions before patients arrive at the emergency room;
  • make the pilot Emergency Paramedic in the Community program permanent to help more patients avoid unnecessary emergency room trips;
  • begin construction on the redevelopment of Grace Hospital, which will include a new emergency room;
  • establish a new cancer hub for Winnipeg to help patients get better co-ordinated care and faster diagnostics and treatment;
  • expand the hours at the Urgent Cancer Care Clinic, which has already helped hundreds of patients;
  • work with First Nations to address the proposed elimination of the federal government’s band constable program to ensure affected communities have access to community policing; and
  • move forward with plans to build 1,000 more social and affordable housing units.

• Reducing Government Costs and Protecting Consumers
  • reduce the office space used by government by over 100,000 square feet;
  • undertake a major restructuring of internal services such as accommodations, procurement, information technology, and materials and equipment management to find savings;
  • continue reducing the size of the civil service by 600 through retirements and attrition;
  • ensure homeowners are provided complete, upfront, guaranteed quotes and timelines for home improvements;
  • provide pet owners with up-front and all-in pricing for veterinarian services;
  • help homebuyers and realtors more easily identify properties that were previously used as criminal grow-ops or drug production sites; and
  • create a new independent energy efficiency agency to expand opportunities for all Manitobans to lower their energy bills.