Manitoba throne speech promises education, health-care reforms, but with 'more collaborative' approach

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefansonsays she plans to charta new course for her provincial government by going back to the drawing board on reforms to education and health care.

Stefanson's first throne speech, read Tuesday afternoon at the Manitoba Legislature byLt.-Gov. Janice Filmon, attempted to marka departure from thegovernance style of former premier Brian Pallister, whose popularity waned in his final months in office.

After the governmentscrappedthe unpopular Bill 64, which would have dramatically reformed education in the province, Stefansonpromised areturn to the original K-12 review commissioned by the provinceto guide future education changes.

Her Progressive Conservative government will also re-examine the planned reforms to rural health care that the premier said caused "angst" among municipalities, who worried their health-care centres may close.She said she's committed to ensuring all Manitobanshave the care they need close to home.

The province will also"re-engage"with post-secondary institutions on a new funding deal,the throne speech said. A plan pitched byPallister last year totailor institutional funding to labour market needs faced somehostility.

WATCH | Premier Heather Stefanson speaks to reporters before Tuesday's throne speech:

'Today is a positive day for our government and all Manitobans': Premier Heather Stefanson

3 years ago

Duration 5:44

Heather Stefanson reads an opening statement to the media before her first throne speech as Manitoba's premier.

Despite choosing to revisitthese policy areas, Stefansonsaid "there have been many good things .... that have been done that we can build on, and that's an important thing."

"We don't have to reinvent the wheel, so to speak, but I think that there's a better way to do things and a more collaborative way with Manitobans,"she told reporters in an embargoed briefing before the reading of the throne speech.

Stefansonwas sworn in as premierthis month followinga leadership vote, prompted by Pallister's resignation.

Tuesday's throne speech the first from a female premier in Manitoba's history laid out Stefanson's plan for her government over the next year and launched a brief legislative session, whichwill rise on Dec. 2.

The contents of the speech were leaked in advance toCBC News, which the premier called "entirely unacceptable." She said the government isinvestigating and willlevel consequences.

For the first time,Manitoba'slieutenant-governorwas escorted into the Legislature by an Indigenous singer. Mike Bignell performed an honour song prior to the reading of the speech.

More nurses, homelessness strategy promised

The speechpledged to provide everynurse who graduates in Manitobawith a job offer in the province.

Twenty of400 additional nurses being hired will be trainedthrough a two-year diploma program at the University College of the North in Thompson, the throne speech said.

Manitoba will offerincentives to keep nurses, Stefansontold reporters.

"With the shortage across the country, it's critical that those that we are educating here have the opportunity to stay right here in Manitoba."

The province also plans to introduce a homelessness strategy this winter, renew its seniors strategy and provide more money for domestic violence shelters.

Tuesday's addressalso repeated Stefanson's previouscommitmentsto increase intensive care capacity and create a task force to reduce the surgery backlog, which has been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Kristjan Thompson, president of Doctors Manitoba, said the government is showing a lack of urgency on the backlog, which his advocacygroup says now stands at more than 136,000surgeries and other medical procedures.

He wants the province to set a target for clearingthat backlog.

"Manitobans caught in this massive backlog need hope. They need to see action and they need to know that help is on the way."

The government also said it will reach a deal with Winnipeg to fund upgrades toits largest sewage treatment plantand collaborate with the federal government to provide better infrastructure for Indigenous communities.

On the economic front, thegovernment will develop venture capital and green energy policy frameworks, increaseimmigration, spend more on training and do more torecognizeforeign professional credentials.

'An appetite to listen' to business: chamber CEO

The government's financial outlook remains uncertain, however.Stefansonwouldn't commit to balancing the budget in a set timelineor slashing the education property tax by another 25 per cent next year two of Pallister'sprevious pledges.

"Those commitments were based on whatever the finances were at the time, and those finances are changing," Stefanson said.

The speech made several nodstoward inclusivity. It cited single parents, Indigenous youthand people with disabilities as afocus for economic recovery.

When asked if her right-wing government wasmaking centrist inroads, Stefansonsaid itis"making it morehumanitarian" by listening to Manitobans andincorporating their concerns.

Loren Remillard, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, said he detected ashift in tone.

"There's definitely an appetite to listen to what business has to say and act on those recommendations," he said.

New leader same as the old: NDP

Opposition parties weren't as charitable in their review of Stefanson'sspeech.

"What we saw was just more of the same old, same old. We saw Brian Pallister's repeats,"NDP House leader Nahanni Fontaine said. She accused the government of inaction on issues rangingfrom the surgical backlog to COVID-19 outbreaks at personal care homes.

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said a government juggling multiple crises at once must act quicker.

"So much of this just seems to be empty talk," he said. "It'snice words, but no actual concrete actions."

Manitoba throne speech promises education, health-care reforms, but with 'more collaborative' approach

3 years ago

Duration 2:16

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson's first throne speech, read Tuesday afternoon at the Manitoba Legislature by Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon, attempted to mark a departure from the governance style of former premier Brian Pallister, whose popularity waned in his final months in office.