Progress with Corporations' merger

May 3, 2012

BUDGET 2012: CROWN CORPORATIONS MERGER MOVES AHEAD WITH NEW BOARD AND PRESIDENT

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Merger to Reduce Spending, Enhance Front Line Services: Chomiak

Innovation, Energy and Mines Minister Dave Chomiak, minister responsible for gaming, today announced the members for the new Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation board of directors.  Chomiak is the lead minister on the merger.
“In Budget 2012, we committed to finding creative ways to reduce administrative spending and by merging two of our key Crown corporations, we will cut costs and streamline operations,” said Chomiak.  “Today I’m pleased to announce the new team that will help carry that plan forward.”
Budget 2012 announced the government’s plan to merge the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission and Manitoba Lotteries.
Chomiak also announced the appointment of Winston Hodgins as president and CEO of the new Crown corporation.  Hodgins has been at the helm of Manitoba Lotteries since 2000.
The minister noted that Tannis Mindell, former secretary to Treasury Board has been appointed as chair of the new corporation and that Leslie Turnbull, a former Manitoba Hydro board member and partner with Viewpoints Research, has been appointed as vice-chair.  Other members of the new board include:

• Fran Frederickson, instructional designer for Manitoba Public Insurance, former vice-chair of the board of the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission;
• Jean Paul Gobeil, chartered accountant and certified management consultant, former member of the Manitoba Lotteries board;
• Bob Mayer, practicing lawyer, former vice-chair of the Public Utilities Board;
• Marion Moist, Manitoba Health employee, former vice-chair of the Manitoba Licence Suspension Appeal Board;
• Arnold Ouskan, grand chief of the Keewatin Tribal Council; 
• Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour;
• Gerald Rosenby, chartered accountant, former member of the Manitoba Lotteries board; and
• Dave Schioler, CEO of the Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba.

“The new board is a diverse group of people with a diverse set of experiences.  Working together, we’ll modernize the way these Crowns do business and ensure Manitobans are getting the best possible value from the work the new merged corporation does,” said Chomiak.
A request for proposals has been issued for a professional consulting firm to review and provide recommendations and options on an implementation plan for the merger.  Legislative changes will be proposed in the next year that would produce a new act for the corporation.  Changes will also be proposed to the Gaming Control Act as liquor regulation would be transferred to the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission.
Chomiak said Manitoba Lotteries and the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission will continue to operate as they do today until the merger is completed.

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Budget 2012 Review

April 17, 2012

BUDGET 2012: FOCUSED ON WHAT MATTERS MOST TO FAMILIES: STRUTHERS

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Minister Presents Manitoba's Balanced Approach to Challenges Ahead

Budget 2012 is a plan to keep Manitoba moving forward through uncertain times, by focusing on the things that matter most to families and by finding responsible ways to reduce spending, Finance Minister Stan Struthers announced today.
“Through record flooding last year and a global recession, we’ve worked to protect jobs and services families count on and our plan is working,” said Struthers.  “But in uncertain times, families look for creative ways to reduce their expenses and we have too.  In this budget, we’ve frozen or reduced spending in 10 departments to make sure more money is going directly into our schools, hospitals and roads.”
The minister noted that core government spending is decreasing by 3.9 per cent this year.  The provincial government will reduce in these and other ways:

• reducing the number of regional health authorities to five from 11;
• cutting the number of Crown corporations by merging the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission and Manitoba Lotteries Corporation;
• reducing the number of government-appointed agencies, boards and commissions by 20 per cent; and
• continuing a 20 per cent roll-back on salaries for ministers and freezing wage increases for MLAs.

The minister also noted that more than half of the government’s departments will see a freeze or reduction in their budgets.
“There are challenges ahead of us.  Many flood-damaged roads and bridges are in need of repair.  There remains uncertainty in economies everywhere.  And for the third straight year, the federal government has kept major transfers flat, despite the growing demand for important services like health care,” said Struthers.  “That’s why in this budget we are cutting spending, finding efficiencies and raising new revenue fairly to protect and improve the things that matter most to families.” 

The minister noted that Budget 2012 will build on the priorities of Manitoba families including:

• strengthening health care by ensuring life-saving cancer drugs are free for all Manitobans and taking new steps forward to give every Manitoban access to a family doctor by 2015;
• making it easier than ever to become an apprentice in rural and northern communities and ensuring that universities have strong and predictable funding; and
• building and renewing thousands of kilometres of roads, and renewing flood-damaged bridges and overpasses.

The minister noted that some have called for deep cuts to balance the budget while others have called for major new spending on new programs.  He said the province has instead chosen a balanced approach that protects the things that matter most to Manitobans.
“We are on track to return to balance by 2014.  We will get there responsibly without cutting the services that matter most,” said Struthers.  “Budget 2012 responds to today’s challenges by finding savings within government so we can continue to invest in the priorities of families while growing our economy.”

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