Stronger Health Care, Investment in Jobs, Highlight Legislative Sitting

Government House Leader Says Doer's Last Session Leaves Province Primed for Economic Growth, Healthy Population

As reported by the Government of Manitoba News Media Services

October 8th, 2009

The latest legislative session, the last for Premier Gary Doer, has ended with the government investing strongly in the economy, health care and job creation, government house leader Dave Chomiak said today.

During the past month, the province began rolling out its $47-million, five-point plan to focus Manitoba’s pandemic response specifically for H1N1 influenza. As well, $55.9 million in joint federal‑provincial investments for key infrastructure projects worth more than $83.2 million were rolled out.

“We know that Manitobans are concerned about how events around the world will affect them, so we have worked closely with other levels of government to make this province as resilient as possible,” Chomiak said. “By investing heavily in health care and infrastructure now, we will have the best chance to come through difficult times and be in a good position to grow afterwards.”

Doer is stepping down as premier to become the Canadian ambassador to the United States. He has served as premier for 10 years and has been an MLA for 23 years.

Chomiak said key bills passed during the session included:

• the Community Revitalization Tax Increment Financing Act, which provides an innovative way to support the revitalization of communities in Winnipeg, Brandon and across Manitoba;
• the Police Services Act, which modernizes police governance in the province including how major incidents involving police officers are investigated;
• the Manitoba Floodway Authority Amendment Act, which expands the mandate of the authority to include building and maintaining the road on the east side of Lake Winnipeg;
• the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act, which increases benefits for Manitobans who are catastrophically injured in motor-vehicle crashes; and
• the Service Animals Protection Act, a first of its kind in Canada, which will make it easier for owners of service dogs (disability, police, search and rescue) to collect damages if their animals are attacked or injured.

Chomiak also listed measures introduced to strengthen the economy, health care and the justice system:

• The province will increase its annual funding for roads for the City of Winnipeg to $38.1 million in 2010 from $32 million in 2009. This will result in a $53.3-million increase over a 10-year period, eliminating the need to close the Disraeli bridge for 16 months
• The province is giving the City of Brandon $16.5 million to complete its $81.4-million waste-water plant, which will make Brandon the first municipality in Manitoba to be fully compliant with the Clean Environment Commission’s recommended standards for nutrient removal.
• Manitoba continues its role as a leader in the development and support of biofuels by introducing a biodiesel mandate that requires, on average, two per cent biodiesel in all diesel fuel sold in a year, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 56,000 tonnes, the equivalent of taking 11,000 cars off the road annually.
• The province has kicked off a $2-million renovation of the maternity ward and gynecological services at St. Boniface Hospital, which will give new mothers, their babies and their families more privacy and access to more modern obstetrical and gynecological facilities.
• Construction has begun on a $21-million Aboriginal personal-care home, the first of its kind in the Winnipeg health region.
• The province is partnering with Aboriginal organizations and front-line agencies to form the Manitoba Action Group on Exploited and Vulnerable Women.
• The government has strengthened its strategy for healthy waterways with an investment of $1 million to protect and restore wetlands including Manitoba’s largest marshes, Netley-Libau and Delta.
• The provincial administration has launched StreetReach Winnipeg, which expands and strengthens the safety net for youth who have been sexually exploited or who are at high risk of being victimized.
• The province is partnering with Aboriginal organizations and front-line agencies to form the Manitoba Action Group on Exploited and Vulnerable Women.

Finally, the government house leader said, while bolstering health care and infrastructure to build the economy, the province has launched belt-tightening measures including:

• requiring all departments to review operating expenditures to identify potential reductions,
• refraining from refurbishment and relocation of office space,
• restricting out-of-province travel,
• using teleconferences to participate in more meetings remotely and reducing travel where feasible,
• maintaining a minimum five per cent vacancy rate by delaying staffing actions for vacant positions that don't affect front-line services,
• minimizing overtime,
• limiting use of consulting contracts, and
• deferring or reducing expenditures that will not negatively affect front-line services.