Throne speech flush with austerity

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This article was published 21/11/2016 (3290 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Progressive Conservatives will introduce legislation in the coming weeks to back their bid to keep a lid on public-sector spending.

Details of the proposed legislation are so far scarce, but Premier Brian Pallister said any new rules would apply to universities, hospitals and Crown corporations in addition to the government itself. He said it’s critical government costs do not exceed the province’s ability to pay, and Manitobans are already taxed to the max.

The premier made the comments Monday as the PC government unveiled its throne speech, a document Pallister called “a pretty exciting blueprint for hope.”

“Legislation will be introduced, following consultation and dialogue, to ensure that the province’s public-sector costs do not exceed Manitobans’ ability to sustain those services they receive in return,” the government said in the speech, read by Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon in the legislature.

The speech details several measures for improving the efficiency of government while signalling the PC administration’s intentions on an array of subjects ranging from child welfare and court reform to measures dealing with legalized marijuana use, ticket scalping and the absence of pension plans for many workers.

However, topping the government’s agenda is controlling ballooning public-sector costs.

“I think there is a pretty clear signal here that we’re serious about fixing the finances of the province. We ran on this, we made a commitment that we would address this and today we’re keeping our word,” Pallister said to reporters. “We have to understand that we can’t keep going with $800-million and $900-million deficits year after year and expect that that is anything but a deferred tax. It is.”

Pallister said he will have more to say about the province’s belt-tightening plans in the coming days.

Asked if the government planned a freeze on all public-sector wage increases, Pallister said he did not want to say anything that would affect the outcome of a late Monday vote by University of Manitoba professors on a tentative contract.

During the U of M negotiations it was revealed the Pallister government had told the university administration of a desire to see a one-year freeze or “pause” on salary increases. When the government’s request was made public, neither Pallister nor his finance minister would say whether a public-sector wage freeze was in the offing.

On Monday, Pallister suggested he would be more specific once the U of M contract is settled, but he did not rule out a broad public wage freeze.

“We’ll look at the details and we’ll announce the details in due course,” he told reporters. “I would prefer not to get into any extra minute points right now as a consequence of the ratification not having happened (yet) at the U of M.”

Here is what the Opposition parties had to say about the throne speech:

Interim opposition leader Flor Marcelino accused the provincial government of laying the groundwork for cuts and the privatization of public services.

Marcelino said she couldn’t think of a single positive thing for Manitobans in the speech.

“There was no detailed, concrete plans on how the economy will grow, on how jobs will be created, on how unemployment, which is over six per cent now, could be curbed,” she said, adding there was no mention of raising the minimum wage.

She said she was also disappointed not to hear anything about what the government will do for Winnipeg.

“Most of the population is here, the economy of the province — a huge part is dependent on Winnipeg,” she said.

Interim Liberal leader Judy Klassen was disappointed she heard no specific plans for the North.

The North has been hemorrhaging jobs,” said Klassen. “I didn’t hear any definitive plans. (The Tories) were in opposition for 17 years — they should have been ready to hit the ground running.”

Here is what the mayor said:

Mayor Brian Bowman said he was happy to hear positive news about building Freedom Road at Shoal Lake. “That was excellent to see,” he said.

Bowman said while he lauds the province’s plans for “getting its financial house in order,” he hoped this wouldn’t be achieved “on the backs of Winnipeg’s taxpayers.”

“I wanted to hear a focus on economic development,” and indeed he did hear that, said Bowman, who promised the city will work collaboratively and constructively with the province.

Here is what organized labour said:

Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour, said he had “huge concerns” about the implications for workers of planned legislation to curb public-sector spending.

“That was not the type of campaigning that he got elected on,” Rebeck said, referring to Pallister. “He talked about protecting frontline services and providing quality services for Manitobans.”

The government has already interfered once in the collective bargaining process, Rebeck said, referring to the U of M contract negotiations. “We hope that doesn’t continue and that people are able to get a fair deal for fair wages.”

Rather than capping wage increases, Rebeck said, the government should unveil plans for growing the economy.

Michelle Gawronsky, president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union, said she would be disappointed if the province were to freeze public sector wages or place restrictions on collective bargaining.

She said in a recent meeting with the premier, Pallister assured her repeatedly that he believes in the bargaining process and in fair bargaining.

“And since bargaining is a constitutional right of all of us as Manitobans I’d be curious to see exactly what direction he plans on going with this,” Gawronsky said of the government’s proposed legislation.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca