WINNIPEG — Manitoba will introduce legislation to help control spending in the public sector, including wage increases
Monday’s throne speech, which is used to outline the government’s agenda for the following year, included upcoming legislation to “ensure the province’s public sector costs do not exceed Manitobans’ ability to sustain the services they receive in return”.
“Our number one category of expenditure, across government…is of course wages,” Premier Brian Pallister said. “We have tremendous respect for people who work in our system and want them to be fairly paid. But we cannot fail to get a handle on the out-of-control spending that we’ve seen.”
Pallister provided few further details on the proposed legislation but said its aimed at capping wages and would include agencies like hospitals and universities.
“There are only so many dollars out there and everybody who is raising a family, or runs a small business, knows that,” Pallister said.
The province said it’s throne speech is aimed at reducing the provincial deficit, while improving the economy and protecting front-line services.
The Premier also said it’s finished the first phase of a fiscal review but that results wouldn’t be released until the new year.
The throne speech also included a promise to create an ‘independent’ child advocate, and a new law that would mandate a referendum on any major tax increases.
Other highlights:
- public education to combat growing opioid crisis to warn Manitobans’ about ‘dangers’ of fentanyl related drugs.
- a promise to reduce 20 percent of the province’s 200 agencies, boards and commissions
- new legislation to crack down on ticket scalping
- a new retirement plan for employees and self-employed who do not have access to a workplace pension
- a strategy to improve access to mental health and addiction services
- a wait time task force with a goal of improving access to emergency rooms, surgery and diagnostic procedures
With files from the Canadian Press
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