Safer and Healthier Workplaces

Since 1999, our government has significantly improved the labour relations climate in Manitoba and contributed to safer and healthier workplaces. These changes have contributed to a healthier economy, fewer workdays lost to work stoppages, and improvements to the work-life balance.

Workplace Safety

• The workplace injury rate in Manitoba has fallen 25 per cent from 2000 through 2007.



• The NDP government updated the province’s Workplace Safety and Health Act, the first major overhaul in 25 years.



• Changes to the Electricians’ Licensing Act ensure that those working with electricity in Manitoba are properly trained and supervised.



• Changes to the Workplace Safety and Health Act require the use of safety-engineered needles in the health sector to protect our health care workers from accidental needlestick injuries.



• Fourteen new safety inspectors have been hired since 1999 and the number of safety inspections has more than tripled to 5,200 in 2005. Another 20 new workplace safety and health officers will be hired, including one for rural Manitoba focusing on farm safety, as well as one for Flin Flon, and two for Thompson.

Workers Compensation

• In the first expansion of WCB coverage in Manitoba since the 1960s, over 7,000 more workers became eligible for workers compensation benefits as of January 1, 2007.



• Workers compensation coverage will be extended to an additional 30,000 workers as of January 1, 2009.



• Benefits are no longer reduced for workers over 45.



• We amended the Workers Compensation Act to expand coverage for firefighters for work related illnesses. Firefighters are now covered for three new cancers and for heart attacks that occur within 24 hours of an emergency response. Part-time and volunteer firefighters are now covered as well.



• Compensation for permanent injuries is fairer today. Workers who have been off the job because of their work injuries for more than two years will no longer see their benefits reduced.



• Our successful injury prevention programs in partnership with the WCB have resulted in a 20% reduction in the time loss injury rate from 2000 through 2005.

Healthy Job Market

• Manitoba’s unemployment rate so far in 2008 has averaged 4.0%, the second lowest of all the provinces.



• Our total job growth increased 1.6% in the last 12 months - 9,400 jobs. This is above the national average of 1.3%.



• Average weekly earnings were up 4.2% in 2007, the 3rd highest increase in Canada and above the national increase of 3.2%. This was the strongest increase in nearly 20 years.

Healthy Housing Market

• While still affordable compared to the rest of the country, Winnipeg’s home values increased 11.5% over the past year (June 08 over June 07). This is the fourth highest rate of growth in Canada (behind Saskatoon, Regina, St. John’s), well above the national average of 3.5% and well ahead of cities to the east.

Minimum Wage

• Since taking office, we have increased the minimum wage annually - by 42% so far. It is now $8.50 per hour.

Opportunities

• The NDP government has made multi-million dollar investments in improved technical-vocational education in our high schools, colleges and apprenticeships.



• The number of active apprentices has shot up by 72% since 1999.



• Our 10% cut in tuition, which has been in effect for the last 8 years, has made college and university more affordable, as has our 60% tuition fee tax rebate for graduates of any eligible college, university or apprenticeship program who choose to live and pay taxes in Manitoba.

Low Cost of Living

• Low-cost child care, auto insurance and hydroelectricity rates have helped ensure Manitoba has the lowest cost of living in Canada for a one-earner family of four making $40,000.

Job Protection

• We’ve brought in new employment standards rules including new family and bereavement leave days (unpaid), new protections for children working alone, limits on payroll deductions, better statutory holiday pay for part-time workers, and guaranteed reporting pay.



• Agricultural workers now benefit from modern protections under the employment standards code, including minimum wage, maternity leave, restrictions on child labour, work breaks, and vacation pay. This is the first change to employment standards for Manitoba agricultural workers in more than 50 years.



• We introduced legislation to ensure that reservists’ civilian jobs and benefits would be waiting for them when their service is completed.

Figures are current as of October, 2008

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