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.
The NDP government on Monday outlined its goals for the future with a Throne Speech. The speech, which opened the second session of the 40th Manitoba legislative assembly, was delivered by Chief Justice Richard Scott, on behalf of Lt.-Gov. Philip Lee. Pledges made in the speech include: slash the size of Manitoba's public service by 600 positions over three years; new rural economic development and improvements to cities with new road infrastructure; better supports for businesses with a new business succession resource centre and a single point of contact for Manitoba's entrepreneurs; better care for seniors with improvements to home care and 200 new personal-care home beds in Winnipeg; Faster, more convenient access to testing and treatment for cancer patients with new CancerCare hubs in rural Manitoba; ÊImproved access to family doctors with additional nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and dietitians for medical practices taking new patients; better education and training opportunities with new primary schools and new support for high school students to transition into apprenticeships; more support for universities and colleges to increase enrollment by promoting Manitoba as a destination for international students; more mentorship opportunities for students with a new after-school leaders program; new measures designed to protect families dealing with new home construction, vehicle purchases and cable bills; and new tools to help low-income Manitobans purchase a home; improvements to parks and park amenities, and the creation of new parks; consolidate government offices where opportunities exist to reduce costs and modernize services; improve productivity in health care by using new management approaches and other tools designed to deliver better care at a lower cost; continue to work toward the goal of ensuring all Manitobans have access to a family doctor by 2015. help employers make changes that will make it easier for workers to live healthier lives; See 'Adding...' on pg. 15 Contiuned from pg. 12 Êstep up efforts to help Manitobans quit smoking and ensure fewer young people take up the habit; set a target of adding 75,000 more workers to Manitoba's labour force by 2020, with a strategy that includes having young adults obtain in-demand skills; expand Winnipeg's Red River College by investing $60 million in a new Skilled Trades and Technology Centre; new parent-friendly curriculum tools designed to keep parents up to speed on what their children are learning; work with the Manitoba Teachers Society to launch a new 'Talking with Teachers' tool to help teachers keep on top of the latest techniques by learning from and sharing with their colleagues; new measures to help parents, students and teachers fight bullying; upgrade rural high-school shop classrooms to apprenticeship standards; begin consultations with rural communities on new tools to help rural journeypersons start their own businesses; Êintroduce greater seasonal flexibility in the weights allowed in Manitoba's transportation system to help foster rural economic development and allow for greater efficiency in emergency situations; continue to finalize the new Growing Forward 2 program with the federal government to allow for new investment in innovation and technology on the farm and in Manitoba's food industry; launch a new economic development fund for the Thompson region; continue to build a permanent network of roads on the East Side of Lake Winnipeg; Êconsolidate provincial tourism resources and work with industry to ensure consistent branding and positioning to take full advantage of the existing potential; support the development of more affordable housing, and give municipalities new tools to help them create more opportunities for affordable housing; Êcut red tape for small businesses, increase consumer choice and enhance social responsibility around liquor and gaming; work with police and the community to launch a crime-reduction strategy based on proven methods to reduce violent crime, starting in the William Whyte neighbourhood in Winnipeg's inner city; reduced speed limits when passing first responders and other roadside vehicles, and giving firefighters authority to direct traffic when necessary; move ahead on plans for a more sophisticated electronic case management system designed to result in improved services for vulnerable children; new tools to help workplace safety investigators and workers ensure safe workplaces; new rules to protect against impaired driving; legislation to ensure better accessibility for disabled Manitobans; a new program to support municipal and commercial composting programs; new reporting mechanisms for major polluters; and release a Clean Energy Strategy designed to ensure reliable, affordable energy for future generations.
