The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
A summary of some of the promises being made by political parties ahead of the Oct. 4 Manitoba election: New Democrats Access to a family doctor for all Manitobans within four years. Limit all Kindergarten to Grade 3 classes to a maximum of 20 students. The plan would be phased in within five years, beginning next year. Invest an additional $24 million over the next four years to train and educate more doctors, nurses, paramedics, technologists and other front-line health care staff. Balance the books by 2014 without cutting front-line services. Progressive Conservatives Introduce a grant of $100 per child, per month for parents of kids ages 6 to 12. It would be called the Manitoba Universal Child Care Benefit. Introduce a permanent Manitoba Home Renovation Tax Credit. It would allow Manitobans to claim 10.8 per cent of eligible expenses for work or goods associated with a home renovation project. Extend the Fitness Tax Credit to all Manitobans and make gym memberships eligible. It would be applied to $500 of eligible costs. Manitobans with disabilities would be eligible for double the credit amount. Extend the $700 education property tax credit to cottage owners. Liberals Implement legislation allowing retailers to set their own business hours on Sundays. The legislation would provide time for employees to attend religious services. Extra funds for community centre programming and recreational directors as part of a plan to reduce crime in Winnipeg by offering alternatives to at-risk youth. Establish an independent authority to tackle the threats faced by Lake Winnipeg. Its powers would include the ability to regulate and manage shorelines on Crown lands and, together with residents and communities around the lake, set a "best practices" guideline. Improve the high-school graduation rate and reduce crime through a plan designed to ensure young people take more responsibility for their actions.
