As we enter 2010 we are not only entering a new year but a new decade.
In looking back at the last decade it is clear that it was a time period in which we saw numerous initiatives in Northern Manitoba.
At the beginning of the decade our government had been in office for only a few months. We started by dealing with the neglect of our Northern transportation system that had taken place in the 1990s. The North had received as little as five per cent of the capital budget in the 1990s. We immediately increased it to 25 per cent. We built a new highway to South Indian Lake. We expanded the winter road network into Tadoule Lake, Lac Brochet and Brochet. We improved Northern airports. In recent years we have funded upgrades to the Bayline and are beginning a major expansion of the all weather road network.
We started to address the neglect of our Northern health care system. We initiated a series if major capital upgrades to the Thompson General Hospital and built new health centres in Wabowden and Ilford.
Here in Thompson we worked together to build our first personal care home. We the then built a new facility for AFM.
In terms of education we saw the establishment of the University College of the North and the first steps towards the construction of a new campus in Thompson. We also saw a major improvement to the funding formula for Thompson schools.
We saw some major investments in recreation facilities including right here in Thompson.
Hydro construction began again with the building of Wuskwatim in partnership with NCN.
In looking ahead to the next decade we will be seeing even more focus on the North. I look forward to the construction of the new campus kicking off a new era in the development of Thompson and the North.
I have been privileged to have been part of many of these initiatives over the past decade. I look forward to continuing to work with people from throughout the North on many new initiatives in the upcoming year and decade.
