The Pallister government’s inaugural throne speech promises a stronger northern economy and more say for municipalities in how infrastructure dollars are spent.
The new Progressive Conservative-dominated legislature convened on Monday with an array of pledges from the government.
The Tories vowed to launch Yes! North, their plan to build partnerships to attract new companies, aid entrepreneurs and cultivate “quality jobs and a stronger economy” in northern Manitoba.
The government “will focus on the sustainable development of our natural resources, including forestry and mining, to pursue additional opportunities for balanced growth and job creation,” according to the speech.
There are also plans to give municipalities a “fair say” on strategic infrastructure investments while also committing to long-term investments of this nature.
That came in response to an Association of Manitoba Municipalities campaign to confer municipalities a stronger voice in determining how provincial infrastructure dollars are spent.
Flin Flon mayor Cal Huntley supported that campaign. As an example, he said some of the dollars allotted for Highway 10 upgrades near Flin Flon under the previous NDP government could have been better spent on piping and roads within city limits.
Of interest to labour groups, the throne speech vowed to restore secret-ballot voting in order for workers to unionize.
Under current laws, a union can apply for certification if 40 per cent of employees in a workplace sign a card saying they want a union. If that number rises to 65 per cent, a union can be certified without a vote among employees.
Other promises outlined in the throne speech include a review of government spending, a new framework for consultation with indigenous communities, lower ambulance fees, a health-care wait times reduction task force and a made-in-Manitoba climate action plan.
The Tories further plan to abolish taxpayer subsidies for political parties, restore Manitobans’ right to vote on major tax increases such as the PST and cut government red tape, among other measures.
