Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - May 2, 1981, Winnipeg, Manitoba Free saturday May 2, 1981 promises promises by Ingeborg Boyens Manitoba s progressive conservative government has fulfilled slightly More than half of the promises made by party leaders years ago while seek ing office. As promised personal income taxes Are lower the civil service smaller and businessmen generally happier. But complaints about unmet promises come from women natives ten ants homeowners Farmers workers and senior citizens. The policy is there but when you get Down to dollars the answer is Yhetta Gold former executive director promised of Winnipeg s age and Opportunity Centre said of promises affecting the elderly. I Dpn t see any Progress at said Lyle Long claws grand chief of the four nations confederacy said of promised equal opportunities for natives. In a 50-Page document challenges for Manitoba released prior to the october 1977, provincial election the pcs outlined 151 programs for most of the pledges made were some what vague or generally supported except in the Field of taxation where the party called for abolition of several levies. Homeowner 1. Study tax credit scheme for mortgage interest payments of first time homeowners. 2. Low interest Loans to first Lime homeowners to encourage Purchase of substandard Core area Homes. 3. Review with municipalities All zoning regulations to simplify and reduce costs of project approvals. 4. More equitable education financing. 5. Tax credit system to encourage Home improvements. 6. Remove sales tax on House building materials such As insulation. Results Homeowner 1. No study no scheme. 2. No action. 3. No action. 4. New foundation Levy will set a Standard More equitable rate for education. 5. No action. 6. No Breaks on insulation but eliminated tax in 1980 on storm windows woo burning stoves and other Energy saving equipment. Renter 1. Remove rent controls. 2. Provide incentives to encourage private sector development of Low rent housing. 3. Government rental housing As needed but Institute plan to let tenants Purchase units. Renter 1. Done. July 1980. 2. No incentives. 3. Family housing construction ceased in 1979. No such Purchase plan. Education 1. Provide students with Basic skills and information. 2. Re introduce a Clear Core curriculum. 3. Include French As a Core subject from the earliest years. 4. Study ukrainian education in Alberta. 5. Provincial monitoring of students to ensure standards Are maintained. 6. Ongoing leadership support and consultation with teachers and trustees. 7. Clear and direct communication Between schools universities and Community colleges. 8. Increased career guidance in secondary school system. 9. Provide courses with specific local application. 10. Provide financial support to permit wider use of school buildings for Community purposes. 11. Study school finances. Day care 1. One time capital Grants to Parent operated non profit programs. 2. Subsidies so care costs for handicapped children Are no greater. 3. Subsidies for Low income families. 4. Encourage Parent and Volunteer participation. 5. Minimum standards on staff programs health and fire safety. Day care 1. Renovation and Start up Grants available under a million package announced in 1980. 2. Family exemption of proposed under the same program. 3. Subsidy Levels maintained until 1980. Under last year s increases a single Parent with one child received about More. 4. Television advertising Campaign last year was intended to encourage new Parent run centers. 5. No action. Health care 1. Provide suitable facilities to support needs of elderly. 2. Encourage the elderly to stay at Home rather than opting for institutions. 3. Provide educational programs on preventative care. 4. Stimulate higher standards of research and service. 5. Improve morale of health professionals through sound administration rational policies and meaningful consultation. 6. Provide incentives to service Remote communities. 7. Maintain medicare and Pha Macare. 8. Provide air ambulance service to Northern communities. Health care 1. Personal care Home construction was Frozen from 1977 to 1979. 2. Home care program continued. Spending estimates this year Are up almost million. 3. No noticeable improvement. 4. New Manitoba. Research Council. Improvements to the health sciences Center and St. Boniface Hospital. Completed seven Oaks Hospital. 5. No noticeable improvement. 6. Since the medical manpower committee was formed last september. 15 doctors have been placed in Rural areas. 7. Programs continued. 8. Continued the air ambulance program initiated by the nip in 1973. Left without an aircraft after the crash of the mu2 in january the government has now resumed the service with a rented Cessna citation. Women 1. Reform family Law to provide equitable property rights. 2. Ensure equal pay for equal work. 3. Increase the number of women appointed to provincial boards and commissions. 4. Give clerical workers increased Access to promotion. 5. Encourage split shifts to help mothers who work part time. 6. Review and remove All discriminatory tax measures. 7. Review devolution of estates act and other statutes affecting marriage contract. 8. Maintenance for spouse after marriage break up based on economic need not fault. 9. Greater funding Quality control and leadership of Day care. Women 1. Largely approved the nip initiated family Law package tampering slightly with division of commercial property rights. 2. No action. 3. No noticeable improvement. 4. No noticeable improvement. 5. No noticeable improvement. 6. Succession duties and gift taxes abolished. 7. Done. 8. Done. 9. Increased funding in 1980. But no Quality control. The elderly 1. Establish a Council of seniors. 2. Income supplements for seniors to offset rising education property taxes. 3. Provide Choice Between Home and institutional care. 4. Continue construction of senior citizens housing and nursing Homes. 5. Maintain rents Al reasonable Levels. 6. Establish provincial employment programs to offer the elderly work. 7. Work with Industry to encourage employment projects. The elderly 1. Council on aging named in 1980. 2. Increased to the maximum property tax credit for seniors. Benefits under the Manitoba pensioners school tax assistance program were raised in 1980 by and offered to retired renters and pensioners Between the Ages of 55 and 65. 3. Increased Case Load in the Home care program. But personal care Home fees will stand at a Day by next Spring compared to in 1978. 4. Freeze in nursing Home construction for years until 1979. 5. New rent supplement the shelter allowance for elderly renters safer program began in 1980. 6. None but annual Grants to senior citizens Job Bureau for the past two years. 7. No noticeable improvement. The general direction of these poli cies reflects the kind of government we will be in Manitoba after the next Sterling Lyon then opposition Leader in the legislature wrote in a preface to the document. However interviews with specialists and Community spokesmen determined Only 81 promises have so far been met. Some Manitoban say they wish the government had t been As diligent As it was in keeping its promises. Some things were perhaps better left said Dennis fast president of the Manitoba naturalists society. Fast said his group fears the government May succeed in promoting tourism and commercial development in provincial Parks. The conservative party won its Man Date in 1977 largely on its pledge to reduce spending and taxes. A new incentive oriented tax system was to encourage risk taking Spur Small business development and keep productive Manitoban in Manitoba. Yet despite tax cuts and new incentives productive Manitoban continued to leave the province. In the year that ended july the province s popu lation count fell by labor farm education and medical spokesmen All rated the government s work As average. However other interest groups had harsher words for the current administration. Sally Strofel of the Manitoba action committee on the status of women said the Only kudos the conservative government deserved from women were promised ignored altogether. Child care workers Are still continuing their Long standing lobby for legislated standards of care. And spokesmen for Manitoba senior citizens said the government should have put More Money into programs such As the Home care scheme if it truely meant to serve the elderly. Listed below is a tally Sheet of Many of the promises outlined in the 1977 document. The assessments of action taken Are based on interviews with government observers. Education 1. No noticeable improvement. 2. There always was a Core curriculum. 3. No action. 4. Done three bilingual projects started. 5. Increased testing of students. 6. No noticeable improvement. 7. No noticeable improvement. 8. Spending reductions eliminated counsellors. 9. No noticeable improvement. 10. Little funding to Parent groups or Community schools. 11. Done study results released in january. Provincial Grants and revenues from a new Basic property tax should account for 80 per cent of education costs. Results for continuing with the family Law improvements first proposed by the otherwise she said it was obvious they Haven t thought enough about while Northern residents were to enjoy the same amenities As their Southern Neighbours water services and jobs in the North Are still hard to come by said northerners. Although conservatives have persistently lauded the merits of Home ownership they failed to come through on their promises to homeowners. Similarly pledges to streamline i and change the statutes governing the City of Winnipeg were j j native people 1. Ensure All Federal responsibilities Are discharged. 2. Develop programs on the basis of direct Contact with communities. 3. Require All Northern development projects to provide Clear forecasts of native jobs and to include native preference purchasing policies where feasible. 4. Support settlements for reasonable and legitimate land claims. 5. Assist natives hoping to establish economically practical commercial enterprises through loan guarantees. 6. Extension and improvement of local services according to Community desire. 7. Monitor programs to ensure administration costs Are controlled. Native people 1. Province continues to state indians Are Ottawa s responsibility. 2. Less Community autonomy. 3. No such requirements. 4. No such settlements. 5. Treaty indians still do not qualify for Loans under the communities economic development fund. 6. No noticeable improvement. 7. Laid off 400 civil servants in the department of Northern affairs and renewal resources to Cul administrative costs promised private Enterprise 1. Restore corporate tax Levels. 2. Wind Down the Manitoba development corporation and sell enterprises that could operate privately. 3. End government Competition with private Industry instead providing incentives for work in the private interest. 4. Study feasibility of Small business loan guarantees. 5. Clear and open consultation with business and labor. 6. Expand Small business advisory programs. 7. Consider diverting funds used by Mac to help employees Purchase equity. Results private Enterprise 1. Eliminated corporate income tax on Small business. 2. 11 of 12 companies were closed or sold. The fund ceased operations december 1979. 3. Halted government Competition. 4. Forgivable Loans under Federal provincial Enterprise Manitoba program. 5. No noticeable improvement. 6. Done through Enterprise Manitoba. 7. No action. Work Force 1. More Active mediation role by government. 2. Establish labor and management committee to govern workplace health and safety Laws. 3. Establish the Merit principle in hiring and promotion in Public service to eliminate patronage practices of nip. 4. Lower provincial taxes for greater take Home pay. 5. Involve labor unions in Job programs for handicapped and Young. 6. Teach employers about modern lab relations. 7. Provide incentives to business to retrain employees. Work Force 1. No noticeable improvement. 2. Continued use of nip initiated advisory committee. 3. Terminated 875 contract positions. No change in promotion policies. 4. Personal income tax drops in 1978. In a Manitoba resident with 315.000 taxable income was charged si.678.30 in provincial tax. In 1980. The same person would have to pay 5. No noticeable improvement. 6. Some seminars were Heid. 7. No noticeable improvement. Energy 1. Conduct audit of Energy needs and prepare forecast to year 2000. 2. Conduct through a new Manitoba resources commission full Public review of nuclear Power. 3. Encourage alternate Energy research. 4. Assess and reorganize Manitoba Hydro. 5. Reduce government Auto Fleet dispose of Large government cars conserve Energy in government buildings. 6. Provide tax incentives to assure recovery of Oil resources. 7. Encourage development and routing of Polar Gas pipeline through Manitoba. Energy 1. Done 2. No commission no review. 3. Done. Gasohol Plant in Minnedosa. Grant to a Cycle engine developers and new Energy information office. 4. Dons. Million Tritschler commission. 5. Flee was not reduced although vehicles Are being replaced by compacts new Energy conservation program is cutting consumption by 10 per cent. 6. No direct incentives but less onerous royalties. 7. No Success. City of Winnipeg 1. Reduce the size of City Council. 2. Provide elected Community councils with responsibility for local matters. 3. Provide a new Central Council for area wide matters. 4. Appoint a general manager or chief administrator. 5. Let local councils set level of services. 6. Permit neighbourhoods to Levy taxes for special local amenities. City of Winnipeg 1. No action. Council was Cut from 50 to 30 members in 1977 by the nip. 2. No action. 3. No action. 4. No action. 5. No action. 6. No action. Hydro electric resources 1. Investigate performance of Utility. 2. Review electric Power costs and Rales. Hydro electric resources 1. Done. 2. Froza Hydro rates in 1973 for 5 years. Taxation 1. Apply savings of proper management to balancing of the budget lowering of taxes reduction of the provincial debt. 2. Lower personal income taxes to Levels comparable with those in neighbouring provinces. 3. Ensure Small business tax rates Are comparable. 4. Abolish the income surtax. 5. Abolish succession duties and gift taxes. 6. Abolish capital tax on Small business. 7. Consider rebating Manitoba portion of capital gains taxes on private investment made in the Public interest. 8. Establish advisory committee of Small businessmen. 9. Permit Small businesses to pay sales lax on payment of accounts rather than rendering of invoices. 10. Remove nuisance taxes. 11. Abolish Mineral acreage tax 12. Proceed with tax reductions Only As it becomes financially feasible. 13. Remove some sales taxes. Taxation 1. In March. 1978. The combined deficit stood at million. The direct debt and guaranteed debt totalled s3.5 billion. At the end of 1980. The combined debt was s4.1 billion. The projected deficit for 1981-82 is s319 million. 2. Taxes were reduced by two percentage Points of the Basic Federal tax in 1978. Tax credit programs ensured tax Levels were among the lowest in the country. 3. Abolished Corporal s income tax on Small business in 1978. 4. Personal income surtax on income Over ended in 1978. 5. Done retroactively to oct. 11, 1977. Eliminating about s5 million a year in provincial Revenue. 6. Done. 7. No action. 8. No action. 9. No action. 10. Levies such As the slide on camper trailer tax were withdrawn. 11. Done. 1978 12. Personal income lax reductions were announced after the government had been in office Only one month. 13. Sales taxes dropped to two per cent during the summer of 1973 in conjunction with a Federal program. Selective sales cuts were offered on some restaurant meals children s clothing and other items. Farmers 1. Increase support research and promotion of marketing. 2. Reduce Burden of taxation on Farmers. 3. End nip land lease or state farm program. 4. Support marketing boards that Are truly representative. 5. Improve and maintain roads. 6. Proceed with drainage flood control and water conservation projects. 7. Provide Clear guidelines on land use and taxation policies. 8. Repeal the Mineral acreage tax. 9. Set up contingency plans for natural or economic threats to farm Economy Farmers 1. Limited improvement. 2. Eliminated succession and gift taxes. 3. Froze land rentals immediately and encouraged the 500 lease holders to Purchase land. 4. Done. 5. Done. Spending for Road maintenance and construction has nearly doubled to s128 million. 6. Legislation in 1980 formed new water management districts along watershed boundaries. 7. Guidelines implemented lax assessment review in Progress. 8. Done. 9. Established a flood committee when water Rose named a drought committee when the dust flew. Northern development Northern development 1. Revise Mineral royalties and taxes. 2. End government Competition in Mineral exploration. 3. Expand Parks in Thompson area. 4. Upgrade Northern roads. 5. Work with natives to assess opportunities in traditional areas. 6. Expand and encourage tourist development. 7. Ensure northerners get full Benefit from tax reductions. 1. Ended two tier tax on mining. Now mining companies pay a straight 18 per cent royally. 2. Done. January 3. Done. 4. Improvements to provincial Road 391 to Thompson. 5. No noticeable improvement 6. Done More Northern fishing lodges. 7. No action. Managing government 1. Impose effective controls on government spending. 2. Require financial reports every three months. 3. Review All government programs to eliminate waste duplication and extravagance. 4. Limit growth of civil service to increase in the labor Force. 5. Introduce Zero Point budgeting. 6. Introduce the same kinds of controls As in private sector. Managing government 1. Spending increases limited to 2.9 per cent in 1978. Estimates up 15 per cent in 1981 Over last year. 2. Done. 3. A task Force headed by conservative la Sidney Spivak reviewed spending in All government departments. 4. In 1980, the government had about employees. In 1977, there were about civil servants. 5. Spending has to be justified but no formal Zero Point budgeting system was Init lamented. 6. Government accounts arc still in the Rod. Natural resources 1. Establish standards and programs for environmental Quality 2. Establish permanent commission to ensure changes in resource use conform with Public interest. 3. New commission to assume duties of clean environment commission. 4. New commission to conduct Public hearings into nuclear Power. 5. Rural municipalities to manage soil and water. 6 establish objectives for recreational use of fish and wildlife resources. 7. Review before 1980, Long term cutting rights for Manitoba forests. 8. Improve Access to resources East of Lake Winnipeg. 9. Provide for orderly Harvest of forests. 10. Review of commercial fishing policies. 11 intensified development of provincial Parks. 12. Continued opposition to Garrison diversion project. 13. Review Blanket freeze on Sale of leased Crown land and to permit sales where beneficial. Natural resources 1. Have held hearings on Quality of red River report to come. 2. No commission. 3. No commission. The clean environment commission still exists. 4. No commission. 5. Municipalities appoint the local boards that manage the water conservation districts. 6. New wildlife act introduced in 1980. 7. Done. 8. Done. 9. 20-year agreement signed making Abi Tibi paper co. Ltd. Responsible for reforestation. 10. Done but policies Frozen in the face of opposition. 11. Done. 12. Done. 13. Sale of collage Lols on Crown land ;