Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - May 13, 2000, Winnipeg, Manitoba Focus a17 Winnipeg free May 2000 v budget 2000 balanced key words to new governments first budget by Greg sell Ger responsible and balanced these Are key words to describe the first budget of our new government and the new balanced because it addresses the neglect of the previous 11 years in areas like health and responsible because budget 2000 delivers tangible tax Relief to today families million in personal income taxes alone by we promised in the election that we would deliver property tax Relief and move on More tax reductions As finances this is what we have we have also had to Deal with the Surprise of million in unbudgeted spending by the former even we have gone a Long Way to deliver tax reductions to Manitoban in All Canadas financial institutions gave the budget a thumbs up for financial management and tax for exam the Cibic says Over All provincial tax Burden on a Middle income family ranks fourth lowest in personal income tax reductions will kick in in Calendar 2001 and our have been focusing their criticism on just one income tax example for the year what they Are not telling Manitoban is that the total provincial tax Impact in that same example family is the fourth lowest in and that their taxes will be going Down even More significantly Over the following two a family of two with a total income of will see tax savings of this in and in 2002 for a total reduction of several accurate examples of tax reductions in budget 2000 were Laid out in thursdays edition of the free More information on this is coming to your Mailbox within the next few and you can calculate your tax savings for yourself by going to free press finance minister Greg Selinger delivers the Dps first our Wei site we Are meeting our election commit ments we made to Manitoban and exceeding them significantly on Many including tax this government was elected Pri Marily on a mandate to Start repairing our healthcare system and to improve education to prepare our Young people for the new this budget allows the government to focus on nip budget those six per cent or million in increased spending in health care Over last years Levels and better planning Means that we can continue the Progress made Over the past six months in Winnipeg hospitals and throughout the provinces health sys the Canadian Institute for health information recently cited the dramatic improvements in Manitoba Hospi y by Eric Stevanson Manitoban dont expect miracles from their govern but they do want their elected officials to have a plan the on the nip government tabled its first budget since the ill fated 1988 budget that unceremoniously Defeated the former new democratic government of Howard Pawley and Gary i a great Deal has changed since the nip tripled Manitoba debt in approximately six years during canadians recognize deficit financing is harmful to our future Manitoba was a Leader in the Effort to get our fiscal House in order and under the leadership of then Premier Gary Filmon delivered five consecutive balanced the previous pc government also introduced the toughest balanced budget and debt repayment legislation in Canada that includes severe penalties for Cabinet members if a budget is not other things have changed it is hard to believe every budget under the nip in the 1980s included new taxes or tax Manitoban no longer accept that kind of govern ment and Over the past 12 no major tax has to further protect Manitoban from this pos Sibili previous pc government also introduced legislation requiring provincial governments to bold the taxpayer Protection Bill ensures the current nip government will not of by bidding a foundation that fostered economic growth More employed Tuoi any other tune in our history and record exports but Weiwu Ednot believe we Ter Greg Selinger to Lay out a comprehensive plan to address the Many Chal Lenges before he did Little to ensure the future economic Success of Pur our ability to continue to be an engine of growth is dependent on meeting the challenges before the 2000 nip budget has set a course for us to slide Back wards and ultimately fail instead of f being courageous pioneers for the 21st or even just following the path of other jurisdictions in the nip has pushed us Over the Edge of a very Slippery one has Only to remember the devastation created by Bob Raes nip government in Ontario to realize that the Lack of a solid plan and Strong fiscal management could put Manitoba in the same we can never allow this province to accept runaway spending and Low the nip promised this budget would be about the but instead Manitoba is returning to the Howard Pawley Era of when spend ing virtually had no limits and Long term consequences held no meaning for the the finance min ister stated his budget provides a bal Ance for All but there is no this budget is about spending More taxpayer there is no meaningful tax Relief in the nip Bud get in the government had to take credit for personal income tax and Smau business tax introduced in the previous pc govern ments budget of the nip will argue it was not elected to Cut but there is a Clear expectation by Manitoba voters that the doer government wiil do what it this is not an Issue about regardless of political every province in Canada provided mean Ngui tax Relief to their hard working citizens this Sahf t just Over hours East of will pay an sep Cen of Ugiss payer earning Jmel Flaflin our provinces from Newfoundland to British Columbia but the reality is Manitoba appears destined to become a High tax Island amid a sea of tax reducing the tax Bur Den of Manitoban is not the 2000 Manitoba budget estimates in its medium term plan that Manitoba will generate about billion in Rev Enue Over the next five this is a substantial amount of Money if managed gives the nip government a significant Opportunity to provide a fair balance Between priority program spending and meaningful tax cutting taxes to stimulate economic growth is in everyone Best not Only do hardworking taxpayers our healthcare and education systems do the nip likes to tout itself As a Friend of social but if we do not continue to grow the Manitoba will no longer Gen Erate the additional revenues required to meet the needs of health care or i believe this province is the greatest place in the world to live and i am proud to Call Manitoba we cannot expect our great Summers and Beautiful lakes to be enough incentive for our Young people to stake their futures Manitoba must be tax competitive with other provinces or we risk losing our Best and brightest Hope for the our Young people Are Tomor rows Puter entrepreneurs and so they win have choices to make about where to stake their futures and tals Over the past six waiting lists Are now postponed Surg eries resulting from overcrowding in hospitals Are Down and the phenomenon of hallway Medicine has been turned despite this we need to do we can now take action to further reduce waiting improve vital ser and hire More the reintroduction of the two year nursing program this fall will help ensure that we can train and hire hundreds of much needed nurses Over the next few budget 2000 will allow for More per so Alcare Home spaces to be new units for cancer care and Pedi Atric extended care will be Pha Macare will be expanded to ensure More Manitoban get the drug coverage they Home care ser vices Are ambulance ser vices in Winnipeg and across the province will be better management Means concentrating the resources in the front lines of health not we amalgamated the two Winnipeg health authorities into reducing vice presidents and other we now expect a much greater degree of accountability by institutions to health new Hope for Young people Means a new emphasis on education and train an Overall increase of per we announced stronger sup port for our childrens with million More for the 2000 school we Are delivering on our Promise Cut tuition fees by 10 per and increasing funding to Community colleges and universities by million to ensure More stable Dol Lars and that students get the full Bene fit of the based on the current average University this trans lates into a Cut for a Good economic strategy for the 21st Century is a Good education Strate participants from and the Community confirmed this at the recent Manitoba Century other education initiatives include a new the first since there will also be new internet based training and expanded apprenticeship programs to provide better Access to learning Many of the other improvements in budget 2000 include million More for licensed child care better crop insurance and other programs for fam ily farms More opportunities for aboriginal Manitoban and stepped up Community safety and renewal with the new neighbourhoods alive and new programs in the Justice depart new measures to improve financial management of the government include the first Lon term plan for comprehensive debt including unfunded pension liabilities less than half As much As last year drawn from the fiscal stabilization fund and greater budget transparency As called for by the provincial Audi like the Cibic personal taxes for Middle income Manitoba families rank the fourth lowest in like the Canadian Institute for health information we have made major Progress in improving health services to and were going to be doing we Are moving on better and universities that Are geared for the new Economy of the 21st on top of the budget is bal with a surplus of million and improved financial management and stronger debt budget 2000 is balanced and respond this is the moderate and steady approach of Premier Gary doer and today endorsed by Manitoban in last Falls i look Forward to the brighter future for today Manitoba families that we have helped launch this week and will continue in the Greg Selinger is Manitoba conservative Eric Stefanson says nip budget lacks balance the nip government must Demon Strate there will be Opportunity right Here at in our Young people and All Manitoban need a straight no nonsense plan for the the Nofs 2000 budget fatted to deliver that Erie Mia for Kirkfield served As finance minister of Manitoba fiqmj93 to 1999 and tabled four con balanced he also has served As Deputy minister of Trade and tourism and minis Ter of Doon Bury ;