November 30, 2009


2009 THRONE SPEECH HIGHLIGHTS

The Economy

· Organizing a 2010 economic summit to focus on skills, training and investment.

· Saying no to a harmonized sales tax (HST) due to $400-million impact on Manitoba families.

· Anticipating Manitoba’s economic performance to decline slightly, but still outperform the rest of the country.

· Increasing stimulus spending by more than 50 per cent over the previous year, supporting 1,500 projects and creating more than 12,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs.

· Eliminating both the corporation capital tax and the small business tax in 2010.

· Investing in new projects such as the Polar Bear Conservation Centre and Exhibit to launch the Assiniboine Park Arctic Attraction.

· Investing $545 million in roads and 28 bridges in 2010.

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Education and Training

· Providing portions of tuition rebate up front for post-secondary education students.

· Extending the Co-op Tax Credit to include high-school students.

· Investing $310-million in the schools capital program for new schools and needed renovations.

· Investing in capital projects at the University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg, Brandon University, Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface, University College of the North, Assiniboine Community College and Red River College.

· Committing to work with federal government and First Nations leadership to assist students on First Nations.



Health Care

· Committing to proceed on important health capital projects including:

- building a new women’s hospital at the Health Science Centre site,

- building a new birthing centre for the south end of Winnipeg,

- providing access centres for St. James and northwest Winnipeg,

- building a new cancer centre for Brandon and the Westman Lab in Brandon,

- building a new emergency medical service station at West St. Paul, and

- expanding dialysis capability in Gimli and Russell, and Berens River and Peguis First Nations.

· Proceeding on suing tobacco companies in the upcoming year in co-operation with other provinces.

· Establishing a new tax credit for women receiving fertility treatment.



Families and Communities

· Phasing in an adult fitness tax credit.

· Establishing a consumer protection action plan.

· Introducing legislation to establish Upper Fort Garry as historic site.

· Offering more cottage lots.

· Introducing legislation to assist cottage owners facing assessment increases.

· Providing capital improvements to mark 50th anniversary of provincial parks system.

· Establishing a new strategy to help older Manitobans re-enter the workforce.



Justice

· Committing to assist the Winnipeg Police Service to acquire a helicopter.

· Hiring gang prosecutors.

· Introducing new legislative tools to stop gangs such as giving the province a stronger role in denying or revoking licences of businesses that are a front for gangs, creating a list of known gangs to simplify court proceedings and preventing the introduction of gang armoured vehicles in Manitoba.

· Increasing maximum fines for workplace, safety and health violations.

· Providing tools to help parents prevent teens from getting involved in gangs.

· Improving maintenance enforcement.

· Increasing protection for victims of domestic violence.

· Expanding Tracia’s Trust to stop sexual exploitation of children.

· Continuing leadership on the tragedy of murdered and missing Aboriginal women.



Environment

· Establishing new protected areas.

· Restoring Netley and Delta marshes.

· Introducing legislation to establish Pimachiowin Aki World Heritage Site Trust Fund.

· Modernizing the Sustainable Development Act.

· Instituting methane capture at Manitoba’s large landfills.

· Enhancing building codes to improve water and energy efficiency.

· Adding recycling of electronics and hazardous waste to program for recycling of paper and packaging.



Rural and Northern Manitoba

· Extending the successful organics incentive program and supporting farmers’ markets.

· Investing in a buy local program to support quality Manitoba food.

· Streamlining services to municipalities.

· Providing support for municipalities on water and waste-water projects.

· Committing further to an East Side permanent road.

· Investing $42 million to rehabilitate 18 orphaned mines.