The Manitoba government has made great strides during 2014 to support front-line services, grow the economy and invest in infrastructure renewal. This statement was made by Deputy Premier Eric Robinson.
“We know that we have to invest in the services and infrastructure Manitoba families rely on to keep our economy strong and growing,” said Deputy Premier Robinson. “This year, we’ve seen work begin on important projects that will help build a stronger Manitoba in the years ahead.”
Deputy Premier Robinson noted in the first 11 months of 2014, Manitoba’s unemployment rate averaged 5.4 per cent, third lowest among provinces and below the 6.9 per cent national average. Over the past 14 years, Manitoba’s unemployment rate has averaged 2.1 percentage points below the national rate.
Other economic highlights include:
- in the first nine months of 2014, average weekly earnings in Manitoba were up 4.1 per cent, second best among provinces and above the national increase of 2.9 per cent;
- exports increased by 11.2 per cent in the first 10 months of 2014; and
- farm cash receipts were up 5.6 per cent in the first nine months of 2014, the highest among provinces and above the national increase of 2.6 per cent.
In addition, Manitoba Finance’s survey of economic forecasts indicates the Manitoba gross domestic product (GDP) will grow two per cent in 2014 and 2.5 per cent in 2015.
As of July 1, 2014, Manitoba’s population stood at 1,282,043, an increase of 16,638 people and a 12-month increase of 1.3 per cent. This marks the fourth consecutive 12-month period of population growth above the national rate and the third best growth among provinces.
Deputy Premier Robinson noted the Manitoba government made a number of significant investments to upgrade and maintain roads and other important infrastructure including:
- investing a quarter of a billion dollars to repair and rebuild Winnipeg streets and sidewalks over five years;
- providing more than $80 million over five years to upgrade Victoria Avenue in Brandon between 18th Street and First Street, the First Street Bridge, the Daly Avenue Overpass, the Airport Access Road and PR 270 north of Brandon to PR 25;
- committing $84 million over five years to improve and upgrade water and waste-water facilities in more urban and rural communities outside of Winnipeg;
- making significant investments in road repairs and upgrades in all regions of the province;
- seeing Bloodvein First Nation completing its road work under the East Side Road Authority and becoming part of the all-weather road system in Manitoba;
- completing a number of bridges and construction projects with other First Nations on the East Side of Lake Winnipeg;
- adding more than $1.14 million to fund 13 additional projects to replace or improve municipal bridges;
- opening the Waverley West Arterial Roads Project, a series of road infrastructure improvements that provide vital transportation links in Winnipeg’s growing residential areas; and
- investing nearly $12 million to improve water and waste-water systems in 12 western municipalities by upgrading and replacing local water supply and disposal services.
Investments were also made to support job creation and build the economy including:
- introducing two new programs that will help employment and income assistance clients find good jobs while continuing to grow the province’s skilled workforce;
- investing $2.88 million in the Composites Innovation Centre over the next two years to create jobs in Manitoba industries that use advanced composite materials
- introducing a new pilot program at Red River College to provide individuals with intellectual disabilities new educational opportunities focused on successful transitions into good jobs;
- launching several new initiatives to help women access job opportunities in non-traditional skilled trades;
- supporting a new Employment Readiness Program to help meet the manufacturing industry’s need for reliable local labour by training up to 16 Indigenous participants;
- making it easier for veterans to transfer their military experience in the skilled trades to civilian jobs;
- investing $300,000 over three years in Startup Winnipeg to help entrepreneurs, artists and inventors get their new ideas off the ground;
- training 10 individuals from the Sagkeeng First Nation as diamond driller helpers (level one), opening the door to good jobs and rewarding careers in the mining industry; and
- introducing proposed legislation that would create a new special planning area for CentrePort Canada to speed up development approvals, help attract new private investment, create jobs and ensure continued public input.
Deputy Premier Robinson noted additional achievements in 2014 included supporting health, education, social services and public safety by:
- introducing a new winter tire low-interest financing program to ensure Manitobans can afford to install winter tires;
- implementing changes to allow high school students to obtain credits for more locally developed courses, distance education courses, post-secondary courses and for community service;
- increasing funding to Manitoba schools by an additional $24.4 million or two per cent, the rate of economic growth;
- providing $3 million more to support reduced class sizes for students in kindergarten to Grade 3;
- supporting the creation of 250 new child-care spaces in Winnipeg, St. Andrews and Oak Lake;
- investing in a 15-suite expansion for seniors’ housing in Pineview Manor Home in The Pas;
- creating a $1 million fund for upgrades to high school technical training facilities to better equip students to learn trades and enter apprenticeship programs;
- introducing a new $1 million career development fund to help students develop clear career paths;
- investing in new cancer drugs and additional supports for front-line staff to improve cancer treatment and care for patients in Manitoba and opening new cancer hubs in several communities;
- launching a four-point plan to help prevent sexual assault and to improve services for victims;
- officially opening the new $82-million, 84,400-sq.-ft. University College of the North facility in Thompson;
- celebrating the graduation of the largest number of medical students from the University of Manitoba’s faculty of medicine;
- introducing two new mobile clinics to provide a range of health-care services closer to home in several rural communities;
- opening River Point Centre, a new recovery centre with three addictions organizations located under one roof, enhancing partnerships and access to services;
- increasing support worker wages at agencies that offer valuable residential services for adults with intellectual disabilities;
- launching a major update of programs for children in crisis to improve care, reduce reliance on hotels as emergency shelters and redirect funds to key support services;
- unveiling a permanent monument to murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls at The Forks;
- hosting the fifth Wiping Away the Tears event and continuing activities to assist families of victims;
- holding two meetings through Hudson Bay Regional Roundtable initiative in Churchill and Baker Lake that will be continued in the new year to build upon work to address energy, transportation, health and cultural challenges in Manitoba and Nunavut;
- meeting the commitment to hire 50 physician assistants in communities across the province; and
- partnering with Ka Ni Kanichihk to provide culturally appropriate counselling and supports for Indigenous sexual assault victims in Winnipeg.
Steps were also taken to protect the environment including:
- working with the governments of Ontario and Canada to transfer the Experimental Lakes Area to the International Institute for Sustainable Development;
- signing the Lake Friendly Accord to support the improvement of water quality by reducing excess phosphorous and nitrogen entering waterways;
- providing $750,000 to conservation districts to work with farmers on projects that will improve water quality, support climate change adaptation and preserve wildlife habitat;
- proclaiming the Upper Fort Garry Heritage Provincial Park Act to designate the Upper Fort Garry Heritage Provincial Park in downtown Winnipeg and establish an advisory committee on historic resources, development and programming;
- enhancing flood protection infrastructure in several communities;
- establishing Chitek Lake Provincial Park as the province’s 88th park and permanently protecting the Walter Cook Caves Park as an ecological reserve;
- working with officials from Saskatchewan and North Dakota to better connect about issues related to flooding, drought and water quality across the entire Assiniboine River Basin;
- introducing proposed legislation to support efforts to control the spread of aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels;
- holding a series of open house meetings on enhanced flood mitigation for the Assiniboine River and Lake Manitoba basins; and
- expanding Whiteshell Provincial Park boundaries to include 2,950 hectares of land and water, and increasing the protected area within the park by 20,375 hectares.
“While much has been accomplished in 2014, there is still work underway to support strong economic growth while protecting front-line services for Manitobans,” said Deputy Premier Robinson. “We look forward to the new year ahead and the work that will ensure our province remains an exciting and dynamic place to live, work and play.”
