WINNIPEG — Greg Selinger is hoping to put all the turmoil of the past few weeks behind him by laying out a new set of plans for his NDP government in the throne speech Thursday.
The throne speech promises include an end to interest on post-secondary student loans, a ban on the use of tanning beds by minors, and a new, higher bridge at Morris to prevent flooding on the main highway linking Winnipeg with the United States.
The government will also raise the speed limit to 110 kilometres per hour from 100 km/h on the Trans-Canada Highway from the Saskatchewan boundary to Winnipeg.
“It’s always important to have a working majority to put forth a solid vision for Manitobans,” the premier told reporters.
Last month Selinger’s leadership came under fire after five high-profile cabinet ministers called on the premier to step down. The rebels resigned from cabinet and are not allowed to participate in government decisions. A backbench MLA and two party executive members also said Selinger should quit.
READ MORE: Selinger determined to stay in power during NDP leadership struggle
The NDP appeared to be coming apart at the seams, but Selinger used the throne speech to put on a display of party unity.
“I think what we presented here is something all the members of caucus profoundly believe in, and it’s also something that they’ve always contributed to,” said Selinger.
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University of Winnipeg political scientist Allen Mills doubts the speech will do much to settle the internal battles within the NDP over his leadership.
“My sense is that he’s in trouble, continues to be in trouble. My sense is that his legitimacy and his authority is sort of drip drip dripping away day by day, and I’m not sure the throne speech is going to arrest these kinds of dripping away. But I suppose he has to try,” Mills said Thursday.
The split in NDP ranks was obvious in the legislature Thursday, with the rebellious MPs wearing orange corsages on their lapels while the rest of the NDP caucus wore white. Former jobs and economy minister Theresa Oswald also said the dissidents had no input on the content of the throne speech, other than initiatives they may have led while they were in cabinet.
The NDP government’s legislative blueprint includes a few goodies for Manitoba families.
The government pledged to eliminate interest on student loans, raise the speed limit on the Trans-Canada Highway from Winnipeg to Saskatchewan to 110 km/h soon and ban minors from using tanning beds.
The tanning bed ban legislation could come as soon as the fall, the premier said.
“There are a ton of good ideas in here that you haven’t seen before,” Selinger boasted to reporters at a news conference shortly before the throne speech was delivered. “We have many many other ideas. … We didn’t put everything in.”
Selinger also stood by his promise to balance the budget within two years.
One cost-saving measure announced Thursday is reducing the number of civil service workers by 600 through retirement and attrition.
The throne speech also marks the beginning of a new session of the legislature. MLAs will be back in their seats, giving opposition critics an opportunity to question Selinger about the turmoil in his government.
— With files from Canadian Press
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