FRANCAIS

November 20, 2003

Today's speech from the throne promised new action to protect water, develop clean energy, increase education and economic opportunities for youth, and pursue economic development in all regions of the province.

The speech, delivered by Lt. Gov. Peter M. Liba, opened the second session of the 38^th Manitoba Legislature, the first full session since the June 3 election. The speech builds on the achievements of the government's first mandate including strong job growth, lower taxes, stability in health care, higher university and college enrolment and more young people staying in Manitoba.

The speech outlined the government's major priorities, including:

• a new water protection act to set targets for water quality;
• special action for Lake Winnipeg to reduce harmful nutrient levels;
• new one-stop agency to help Manitobans save money through conservation;
• expanding low-impact hydro and clean energy alternatives like wind and ethanol;
• legislation dedicating all provincial gas taxes to highways, roads and municipal infrastructure, as well as any new share of federal gas taxes;
• new education and training to support growing biotech and life sciences sectors;
• more doctors, nurses and diagnostic technicians;
• a new Manitoba wait list reduction plan;
• new resources to fight organized gang crime;
• reform of the provincial court to tackle backlogs and the "remand culture";
• action to reform the legal aid system; and
• extending summer again in 2004 so students don't return to school until after Labour Day

The speech also stated that the government has received the recommendations of the All-Party Task Force on Environmental Tobacco Smoke, which calls for a provincewide ban on indoor smoking in provincial public places and provincial workplaces. The minister of healthy living will introduce legislation that reflects the all-party consensus.

The speech also noted the challenges facing the Manitoba economy since last spring: the effect of the BSE crisis and drought on cattle producers and farmers, the severe drought leading to one of the worst forest fire seasons on record and the impact on export sectors due to a rapidly rising Canadian dollar.

Despite these pressures, Manitoba has maintained four years of balanced budgets and paid down $384 million in operating debt and pension liability—policies that have earned two successive upgrades in the province's credit rating, the speech noted.

The speech pledged that the government will follow through on earlier promises including tax reductions scheduled for 2004:

• a six per cent personal income tax cut for middle-income earners, bringing total tax cuts to $220 million since 2000;
• a further reduction in business tax by increasing the small business threshold 10 per cent, meaning more businesses qualify for the small business tax rate which has fallen to five per cent from eight per cent in 1999; and
• further cuts in the general corporate income tax, reduced two years ago for the first time in 50 years.

Manitoba will also increase the minimum wage by 25 cents an hour, effective April 1, 2004, reflecting the advice of the Minimum Wage Commission and consistent with a 1999 election promise. The government will also follow through on its promise to fully end the clawback of the National Child Benefit this year, returning nearly $14 million annually to low-income families.

The speech noted that the government is committed to maintaining Manitoba's affordability advantage. One example is the recent progress on holding down property taxes. Continued property tax relief since 2000 has kept property taxes flat while property values continue to rise, reversing the negative trend of the '90s when education property taxes rose dramatically and property values stalled.

The speech also noted the importance of continuing to build economic partnerships in all regions of Manitoba. Further action includes:

• continuing with the seven-point Action Strategy for Economic Growth which focuses on education, research and innovation, raising and retaining investment, affordable government, immigration, building communities and developing energy opportunities;
• the Premier's Economic Advisory Council taking a key role in implementation of the Action Strategy by focusing on skills development, image promotion and local investment strategies;
• expanding low-impact hydro generation and developing clean energy opportunities;
• further rural economic diversification by expanding such industries as food processing, wind farms and ethanol production;
• a new post-graduate scholarship fund and new education programs to support growing sectors like biotechnology;
• targeted training for leading-edge sectors including new media, aerospace and nursing;
• a new stand-alone Manitoba Tourism Agency;
• a new Manitoba Immigration Council appointed to help reach the new annual immigration target of 10,000;
• working with municipalities and local developers on new models for housing development in Brandon and Winnipeg; and
• a new Aboriginal Issues Committee of Cabinet to focus on new initiatives including an Aboriginal education action plan and building new links with business.

The speech also noted that there have been major changes to the political landscape in Canada. A new administration in Ottawa, as well as new provincial governments, provide an opportunity to build new partnerships in such key areas as health care and energy.

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