Chambers throw in two cents’ worth

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This article was published 21/03/2016 (3494 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s business community wants to know whichever political party forms government on April 19 has a plan to grow the local economy.

The Winnipeg and Manitoba chambers of commerce, along with several other business groups, have asked the three main political parties for their platforms on seven key issues, or principles, that they believe will fuel economic growth, including fiscal competitiveness, trade, and infrastructure investment.

“If we want the economy to grow, these are the seven areas that we need to continually keep our eye on and we need to focus our efforts on,” said Chuck Davidson, president of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. “We’re going to be asking the leaders of the three parties, ‘what are you doing in these areas, in terms of creating that fiscally competitive environment that we know that business needs to be successful? What steps are you taking in Manitoba?'”

Loren Remillard, executive vice president of the Winnipeg Chamber, said business needs to know it can work with government.

“Nothing happens overnight,” Remillard said. “Regardless of whether there is a change in government, it’s about the relationship….Once April 19 happens, it gets down to building the relationship and talking about some of the ideas we have to address the challenges.”

Remillard said challenges include the deficit and debt, environmental sustainability, private sector growth, and engaging the Indigenous community in the growth of the province.

“Regardless of who is in power, we do have a challenge, and business is really looking for a signal from government recognizing the challenge exists and laying out a firm commitment to a plan to overcome that financial challenge,” Remillard said.

“We’re hoping for more than just elements of a game plan — business wants that entire game plan.”

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While the Selinger government has made much of its infrastructure investment creating jobs and stimulating the economy, Remillard said business wants a government that will focus on private sector growth, getting back to balanced budgets and developing a blueprint for paying down the deficit.

Davidson said there’s more to building a society than a dollars-and-cents agenda but he explained business groups have made this a priority, knowing a growing economy is vital.

“If you create that economy, that will help to pay for some of the social programs that Manitobans desire,” Davidson said.

 aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca