A packed house was on hand at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg Thursday afternoon as Premier Brian Pallister gave his first state of the province speech since being elected in April.
The premier spoke about Manitoba’s challenging economic climate including the province’s large budgetary deficit, past credit downgrades and untapped opportunities for growth in rural and remote regions of the province. Pallister also committed to improving services, increasing government transparency and fiscal management, and to continuing to stand up for the priorities of Manitobans on the national stage including the elimination of inter-provincial trade barriers and restoring balance and sustainability to federal funding of health care.
“Our government has an ambitious vision for Manitoba and is taking steps to demonstrate that we are open for business, committed to improving the services available to Manitobans and to creating an environment that is attractive to investment both from within our province and from outside,” said Pallister. “We are investing in education, infrastructure, immigration and economic development throughout our province and we know that Manitobans are motivated to partner with us to create sustainable growth and economic opportunity for generations to come.”
Pallister also introduced the Premier’s Enterprise Team (PET) for economic development and special projects. Chaired by Hartley Richardson, vice-chair Barb Gamey, and members Paul Mahon, Maureen Prendiville, Ashleigh Everett, Gerry Price, Wadood Ibrahim, Edward Kennedy, Sean McCormick, Fiona Mourant, John Heimbecker, Barbara Bowes and Rene Pereux.
“Manitoba’s new Premier’s Enterprise Team will offer its vast entrepreneurial and business expertise to the development of a new provincial strategy for economic growth,” said Pallister. “This strategy will guide the future policy and funding decisions of government to ensure that our efforts are focused on Manitoba’s many untapped opportunities for sustainable, long-term economic development.”
The PET are expected to meet four times a year and will focus its efforts on refining a provincial economic development strategy that builds upon the government’s 10-point economic outline, the premier said, noting the panel will also consider and incorporate applicable work conducted by outside groups, such as the Manitoba Bold initiative of the Chamber of Commerce.
Pallister also spoke about organized labour unions saying there were far too many bargaining units in Manitoba.
He offered an example from the healthcare sector saying that there were 169 bargaining units in that sector alone compared to a total of 20 units in Saskatchewan and Alberta and BC combined.
Pallister said he wants to work with unions to build the economy.
The premier also challenged Manitobans to sign up as volunteers for the 2017 Canada Summer Games and to participate in events and celebrations around Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation. He encouraged citizens to continue supporting charitable initiatives throughout the province.
As part of the Look North Initiative the premier announced that three Northern Economic Summits will take place in the spring of 2017, one each in The Pas, Thompson and Churchill.
-News4 Staff-
