MLA’s returned to the Manitoba Legislature this week as the Fall session kicked off Wednesday.
The summer is often a chance for MLAs to reconnect with their constituencies.
Starting off this week’s Premier’s Report, Wab Kinew recapped what he said was a great summer overall, starting with a trip to France representing the province at D-Day 80th anniversary ceremonies.
“That was a life changing trip and one I’ll never forget,” he said.
“The thing that really hit home to me, among many others, is talking to a couple of gentlemen who grew up in Selkirk and Winnipeg, so right here in Manitoba, who ran across the beach when they were 19 years old in the face of incoming fire from the Nazis, and they prevailed. Listening to their stories was just unreal.
I’ve got a 19-year-old son and I’m just thinking, imagine my boy or my kid having to do what these guys did. It just puts everything into perspective, makes you so grateful for our democracy and for our freedom and for what the previous generations have done for us.”
Next, the Premier joined his counterparts from across Canada at the Council of the Federation meeting in Halifax, focusing on the economy and ensuring strong ties with the United States.
“Manitoba is a trading province and whether Saskatchewan, Ontario, Alberta, B.C, all of our other provincial partners, my fellow premiers, we’re all really, really focused on making sure that however the election down there goes this year that we’ve got a strong trade relationship so we can keep our economy moving.”
Government business also continued to trundle along during the summer.
That includes the recently announced Gas Tax Holiday extension to December 31st.
Also, in September, the Premier stated the Manitoba government was on track to hit its election promise of hiring 1,000 net new health-care workers by the time it introduced its second budget this Spring.
“We’re at 873 right now. So, that’s some good progress in terms of that really important priority,” noted Kinew. “That’s about 300 more nurses, 300 more healthcare aides, about 116 new doctors, and more allied health workers in the province. We’re not saying, ‘mission accomplished’ by any means, but we set a target and we’re working towards it.”
As for what’s on the docket for the current Fall session, Kinew said his government’s Freedom Bill, announced earlier this summer, will be introduced.
“A lot of municipalities around Winnipeg were concerned about this Winnipeg Metro Region Plan 2050 […] (and it) will give the locally elected democratic officials that freedom to choose. Do they want to be part of this plan, or do they want to choose something that’s more locally decided? Or is there another path that you think fits with the local voters and your local community’s needs?”
And with the Fall session in full swing, Premier Kinew’s NDP party marked the one-year anniversary since forming government.
“It’s been a great honour of my life and for everybody on our team,” said Kinew, adding one year in, his hope is that Manitobans feel like they are keeping their word.
“We said we’d cut the gas tax, and we did. We said we’d fix health care and now, we’ve got some numbers to show we’re turning that ship around – big ship that it is, but we’re turning that ship around and hiring hundreds and hundreds of more people for the front lines.
And then, there’s those other things that just come up, the tough days, whether it’s the wildfires or the difficult community challenges we sometimes see, or it’s the really inspiring moments like those veterans that we saw in the D-Day commemorations. This past year has been such an amazing, awe-inspiring experience and the thing that really makes it special is the open heart and the open mind of the average Manitoban out there (who) says,’ even if I didn’t vote for you, I want to see good things happen in this province. So, let’s work together’, and that’s the same attitude that we’re taking. We’re going to show up every day, roll up our sleeves and do our best to serve the people of Manitoba.”
You can hear more of the Premier’s comments in the latest Premier’s Report below.
