Speech from the Throne delivered as new MB Legislative session begins

The Manitoba government was joined by members of the public and community leaders from around the province at the reading of the speech from the throne, which outlines what Manitobans can expect from their government, Premier Wab Kinew announced today.

“Every day, we measure our success by how much Manitobans are free to pursue a good life,” said Kinew. “The opportunity of a good job to support your family. Knowing that if you work hard, you can afford a home. Health care that’s there when your family needs it. We’re starting to see progress on these important priorities and we won’t stop working to make life better for all Manitobans.”

Manitobans were welcomed to the people’s building to hear Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville’s reading of the speech from the throne, followed by a performance of O Canada in Anishinaabemowin by Giinawind Riverbend Community School Abinoojiiyag Nagamog.

One year into the government’s mandate, Manitobans are starting to see relief from high costs, improvements in health care and more good jobs, but there’s still more to do, noted the premier – the throne speech lays out a plan to keep delivering for families.

The premier said among the commitments made in the throne speech are:

• Making progress on health care: building on the 870 net new health-care workers and new clinics in Winnipeg and Brandon with a new ER wait times strategy, 800 new hip and knee surgeries at the Selkirk Regional Health Centre and applications for an improved plastic health card rolling out before the end of the year.
• Lowering your bills: with a plan to freeze Manitoba Hydro rates for one year, and new steps to provide relief to renters and homeowners, and address anti-competitive contracts that make groceries more expensive.
• Growing the economy: with a new critical minerals strategy, a new Indigenous loan guarantee program to help big energy projects move forward and big infrastructure projects like twinning the Trans-Canada Highway east.
• Making our downtowns and communities safer: with the new Public Safety Strategy, which will put more police on the streets, hire more mental health workers to work alongside first responders, crack down on drug dealers and get dangerous weapons off Manitoba streets.
• Giving kids the freedom to be kids: building on the province’s universal school meal program and cellphone ban to help kids focus on learning, with updated science curriculums and a dedicated unit on financial literacy in Grade 9, and a commitment to ensure all First Nations people are able to vote in school board elections.
• Protecting our environment: with the government’s new Affordable Energy Plan, improvements to efficiency codes and a new stakeholder working group to help protect Lake Winnipeg.
• Protecting freedom and democracy: with an all-party committee to look at the future of diverse, local journalism and an inquiry into the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters construction project.
• Honouring our past while giving hope to our future: with a new mother and child bison statue to be built on the front lawn of the legislative building grounds, and a new honour for veterans and other Manitoba heroes.