1st throne speech from new Manitoba premier promises to keep nurses in province, re-examine rural health care

In thefirst throne speech since Heather Stefanson became Manitoba's premier, the Progressive Conservative government promises to re-examine changes proposed to rural health care,ensure moregraduating nurses stay in the province and introduce astrategy to reduce homelessness.

Stefanson's first throne speech, an 11-page document obtained by CBC News Monday evening, lays out the first stepsof the new premier's effort to set herself apart from her unpopular predecessor, Brian Pallister.

The historicspeech the first prepared by a female premier is scheduled to be read byLt.-Gov. Janice Filmon on Tuesday afternoon.

It lays out the broad strokes of Stefanson's plans to improve core government functions such as health care and education and also rewardsthe nurses and firefighters she courted when she ran for leader of the PC party.

Stefanson repeats anearlier governmentpledge to train 400 morenurses. What's new is 20 will be trainedthrough a two-year diploma program at the University College of the North in Thompson. The Northern Health Region has promised to hire every graduate from theprogramin 2023, the speech states.

"In addition, we will ensure every graduate receives a job offer here in Manitoba with further details to be announced," the document reads.

When she ran for PC leader, Stefansonsigneda pledge of support prepared by the Manitoba Nurses Union.

Re-examine rural health-care

Health-care outside Winnipeg is also in line for a boost, asthe governmentintends to"re-examine the reforms and changes proposed for facilities in rural Manitoba."

The government also pledges toexpand thelist of presumptive cancers that will be considered workplace illnesses for firefighters.

During the leadership campaign, the United Firefighters of Winnipeg endorsed Stefanson and signed up new partymembers on her behalf.

The speech also repeats previous Stefansonpledges to increase intensive care capacity and create a task force to reduce the backlog of surgeries.

Doctors Manitoba estimates 136,000 surgeries and other medical procedures have been postponed.

The government also promises to bring in a homelessness strategy this winter, utilizing a "whole of government approach."

Stefansonplans to come up with "a renewed seniors strategy," provide more money for family violence shelters and prioritize single parents, Indigenous youths and people with disabilitiesin a provincialeconomic recovery plan.

The government also pledges to ensure agricultural producers and food processors have enough water, reach a deal with Winnipeg to fund upgrades toits largest sewage-treatment plant andwork with the federal government to provide better infrastructure for Indigenous communities.

Money for businesses

On the economic front, Stefanson pledges to develop venture-capital and green energy policy frameworks,increasetargeted immigration, spend more on training and do more torecognizeforeign professional credentials.

The speech also pledgestochange the funding formula for post-secondary education but does not elaborate how.

Stefanson's office declined to comment on the contents of the speech.

Earlier Monday, Stefansonindicated the speech would not be laden with many specifics.Speaking tothe Associationof Manitoba Municipalities convention, she said herfirst throne speechwill be"more traditional and high-level" than previousaddresses.

"Traditionally, throne speeches set the tone and vision for the upcoming session and more of the details are left to the budget or other announcements throughout," Stefanson told reporters afterward.

Recent throne speeches have "gotten away from that tradition of setting a vision to getting more detailed and making specific announcements, and I think we're going to get away from that."

Stefanson said she wants to empower her ministers to work on their files and consult with Manitobans, all with an eye toward next year's budget, she said.

Stefanson, who was sworn in as premier on Nov.2, hadonly three weeks to prepare her throne speech.

"It may be that rather than try and find an internal consensus around a more detailed speech, she's gone with this more general speech tending to be uplifting and edifying," veteran Winnipeg political analyst Paul Thomas said Monday afternoon, prior to CBC News obtaining the speech.

Thomas said Stefanson's team is giving itself time to develop a political agenda, but Manitobans' patience could wear thin in the longer term.

That day has already come for opposition parties, who say too many pressing issues are facing the province, including high COVID-19 case counts,thesurgical backlog and theUniversity of Manitoba strike.

"Unless there's a clear repudiation of Mr. Pallister's approach and his cuts to health care then it really is just a continuation of his legacy," NDP Leader Wab Kinew said in an interviewMonday afternoon.

Kinew said his party will hold the government to account during the fallsitting for what he described asfailing to strengthen a pandemic-strainedhealth-care system.

Also on Monday afternoon, Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said Stefanson needs to offer a "clear sense of direction other than saying that [she'll] listen."

The speech from the throne opens the fourth session of the 42nd legislature. MLAs will sit for eight days in a hybrid legislature.To allow for physical distancing, two-thirds of MLAs will be seated in the chamber 24 Tories, 12 NDP and two Liberalswhile the rest will participate online.

The government said some billswill be introduced in this brief sitting.