Your ideas are important. Please take the time to fill out
and return this questionnaire.
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1. |
Based on things you may have seen, heard or read, do you generally feel the Manitoba economy is going to improve, stay about the same, or get worse during the coming year? Please check only one answer. |
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Improve |
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Stay about the same |
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Get worse |
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Don't know |
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Why do you think that? |
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2. |
Each of the last eight budgets provided tax relief, improved support for vital services, and debt reduction payments. As new resources become available, please indicate the percent you would allocate to each of the following:
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Maintain key programs and services |
% |
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Introduce further tax reductions |
% |
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Pay down more debt |
% |
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TOTAL should equal 100%
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100%
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3. |
Independent forecasters predict Canada will continue to experience slower growth than in previous years, while Manitoba’s economy will continue to grow but at a slightly slower pace than in previous years.
Keeping this information in mind, how would you rank the following areas for government action in the coming budget (#1 as being the highest):
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Advanced Education (universities and colleges) |
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Education (schools and learning) |
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Health Care |
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Agricultural Support |
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Social Services and Child Care |
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Anti Poverty Measures |
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Jobs and Economic Development (including tax cuts) |
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Justice Services |
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Improved roads, highways, bridges, drainage and flood protection |
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Water Quality and Environmental Protection
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4. |
Education and training are key to keeping Manitoba competitive by ensuring the Manitoba economy has the skilled workforce it needs to continue growing.
What are your priorities for education and training in Manitoba?
Please rank these priorities (#1 as being the highest).
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Keeping college and university tuition fees low |
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Expanding career-related training in high schools |
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More financial support for post-secondary students (loans, bursaries, and scholarships) |
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Increased support for Apprenticeship programs |
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Upgrading college and university campuses |
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Improved access to skills upgrading and retraining programs for workers |
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More job experience opportunities for students (co-op education, part-time jobs for students, mentorship programs) |
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Other, please specify below
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5. |
A key challenge is to ensure Manitoba’s economic growth is managed in an environmentally sustainable way.
What are your priorities for environmental protection? Please rank these priorities (#1 being the highest). |
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Clean air and climate change |
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Ensuring safe drinking water |
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Waste reduction and pollution prevention |
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Expanding Manitoba’s network of protected areas
(parks, ecological reserves, private lands protected by conservation agreements, etc.) |
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Carbon taxes to reduce consumption of gasoline and reduce greenhouse gas emissions |
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Other, please specify below
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6. |
If the needs and demands for improved funding for healthcare, education, agriculture, social programs, roads, drainage and clean water exceed government revenue growth, how should these needs and demands be met?
Please check only one answer. |
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Increases in fees and/or taxes |
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Cutting back some programs or services |
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Running a small deficit |
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Slowing down debt repayment |
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Delaying tax cuts |
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Other, please specify below
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Why do you think that?
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7. |
While recent data show poverty declining in Manitoba it still remains a concern for many Manitobans. What program would you suggest government pursue to address this problem?
Please rank by priority (#1 being the highest) |
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Raise social assistance rates |
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Build more low income housing |
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Increase the minimum wage |
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Improve benefits for children |
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Enhance shelter benefits |
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More training and employment programs |
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Other, please specify below
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8. |
Thinking about the challenges of developing a budget, what do you think are the top considerations for Budget 2009?
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