The fourth session of the 39th Manitoba legislature has adjourned with a number of initiatives and developments that reflect our priorities in Northern Manitoba.
The session focused on strengthening core services such as health and education, the environment and continued initiatives to help households and businesses move forward in a challenging economic environment.
We saw the announcement of a record investment in highways and infrastructure. The 2010 construction season will see another record investment of $366million on major highway and bridge projects.Manitoba began the Highway Renewal Plan in 2007.The $1.3 billion invested in the first three years of the plan is on track to meet the government's $4-billion, 10-year commitment and has provided 10,725 person years of direct employment and 9,126 person years of indirect employment.
The province will move forward with legislation to enable the creation of a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in Manitoba, starting with public consultations in 2010.
We are continuing to invest in health care and education including record investments in health capital;
We announced that we are bringing in provincial funding of $4.3 million to enable the Manitoba Métis Federation to renew up to 645public housing units in rural, Northern and remote Manitoba communities;
We made it clear that Manitoba will not introduce the harmonized sales tax during an uncertain economy because it would impose $405 million in new taxes.
There was also good newsin terms of our population. We saw the highest growth since 1971.
As we head into the New Year as NDP MLA for Thompson I will be continuing to work on our priorities here in Northern Manitoba.
