Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - September 30, 2008, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page a4 a 4 Winnipeg free press tuesday september 30, 2008 top news Winnipeg repress. Com m Manitoba is dream of continuing to push up its population count through immigration will Only happen if government comes up with a plan to build More affordable housing advocates say. On the Day that the province boasted of a record High population of 1,208,000 people the focus of those dealing with the needs of newcomers to the province was on the critical shortage of decent rental housing and the fact few have the Money to make a Down payment on a House. We need the people. We need the tax base. Without immigration wed have a declining population Welcome place executive director Marty Dolin said. Welcome place helps refugees Settle. Dolin said the problem is so severe Federal election candidates should be discussing it As so much of the provinces Economy now depends on immigration. But no one is stepping up to the plate. Fatima Soares executive director of employment solutions for immigrant youth said while immigration numbers have skyrocketed in the past decade housing has not. Housing in Manitoba is not easy she said. New canadians Are having a hard time finding affordable housing. She said when the province started its provincial nominee program for new immigrants in 1998, about 50 people settled in Manitoba. Last year the program handled about 10,900 people. Thatus tremendous growth in a very Short time. She also said the province should create a fund to help new immigrants Purchase Homes rather than have their Money go towards rental properties. Darrell Jones chief operating officer of Manitoba housing and renewal corporation said Market demand and demographics for the most part will take care of housing. For example More older Manitoban Are moving into new condos and seniors complexes putting their Homes on the Market for new buyers. The Market is going to be a Driver he said saying government also assists in renovating older houses so they stay on the Market. Competitiveness minister Andrew Swan said Manitoba ass population growth is driven by immigration a higher birth rate and the fact fewer people Are leaving the province for Alberta or other jurisdictions. Swan said Over the next decade Manitoba wants to double the number of immigrants to 20,000 people in 2016. The province recently announced it was scrapping its lengthy occupational requirements list for applicants to the provincial nominee program. From now on those with close family in Manitoba and More general skills not necessarily credentials will be eligible to apply. By taking a More flexible approach the province Aims to attract More applicants with families already in Manitoba who can help them get settled. Bruce. Owen free press. My. Ca data source statistics Canada Manitoba Bureau of statistics september 29, 2008 4.9 4.1 5.2 7.2 9.7 4.7 5.7 9.5 14.4 1.4 5.0 0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0 thousands of persons annual growth refers to the growth from july of the previous year to july of the current year. Manitoba annual population growth july 1988 to july 2008 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 immigration to province still increasing More support for affordable housing needed advocates by Bruce Owen retired judge Roger Salhany will present his report on the Taman inquiry to the doer government today. Salhany presided Over 30 Days of testimony into the crash that killed Crystal Taman and the subsequent police investigation and trial of former Winnipeg police officer Derek Harvey Zenk. Salhany who was in Winnipeg on monday told the free press he would give his report to the government today. But the Public release of the report could take a few More Days. It will be closely read by Justice minister Dave Chomiak and then copies must be printed before it can be released to the Public. Commission counsel David Paciocco had recommended several changes to How police investigations Are conducted and How cases involving special prosecutors Are handled by the province. Its Likely Chomiak will want to review Sal Hanys recommendations before making them Public. Crystal Tamanis widower Robert Taman was told monday night the report would be handed Over to the government today but hell have to wait to see it. I just want this Over with and ism kind of disappointed that ism going to have to wait another two or three weeks to get to see the report he said. Harvey Zenk had spent the night drinking with other officers when he drove his truck into the rear of Tamanis Small convertible As it waited for a traffic Light on Highway 59 and the North perimeter Highway on the morning of feb. 25, 2005, killing her almost instantly. Harvey Zenk later pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death in a controversial plea bargain that resulted in a sentence of House arrest. The sentence resulted in Public outrage and prompted the doer government to Call an inquiry into the handling of the investigation and the criminal proceedings. When the inquiry ended aug. 14, the reputations and actions of both the East St. Paul police and Winnipeg police service had come under severe criticism. The role of special prosecutor Marty Minuk was also heavily criticized so much so that Minukus lawyer told Salhany that Minuk too had become a victim. Staff Taman report Complete but Public will have to wait Crystal Taman Ken Gigliotti / Winnipeg free press Fatima Soares right with Simon Kon from Sudan. 98 a 04_ sep 30 08. Ind a4 9/ 30/ 08 12 35 13 am ;