Manitoba Chamber of Commerce
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/604128
13 MBiz | november 2015 students have the opportunity to access post-secondary courses and paid work experiences while still in high school. We have worked with schools to: Launch a new First-Year Now initiative that gives students the opportunity to take university and college courses in high school and earn dual-credits; offer new specialized high school programs where students have access to industry experts and state-of-the-art equipment — as Sisler High School has done with its cyber-security academy; expand the existing High School Apprenticeship Program by accrediting new programs in schools across all regions of the province; and work with the Alliance of Manitoba Sector Councils to introduce a new Manitoba Career Prospects program, bringing more employers into classrooms and more students into workplaces. If elected Premier, what is your number one priority? greg seLinger: Manitoba has been creating jobs faster than any other province in 2015, according to Statistics Canada. We also have one of the lowest unemployment rates in Canada. What that means is Manitoba is growing at a strong rate and Manitobans are getting good jobs here at home, and we need to continue on that path. My top priority as Premier will be to make sure we don't slow down and that we continue to create more good jobs for Manitobans while continuing to make sure that the front-line services families count on are there for them. To help businesses in Manitoba, our government has reduced the corporate tax rate to 12%, and we're the first province in Canada to completely eliminate the small business tax, but it takes more than tax reductions to grow an economy. That's why we are investing in training skilled workers, core infrastructure, and innovation. We've introduced a $1,000 bonus for businesses that hire apprentices for the first time and boosted the Apprenticeship Tax Credit to up to $5,000. We are also investing $5.5 billion in core infrastructure to build roads, flood protection and strategic trade routes. This balanced approach to growing our diversified economy and creating jobs for Manitobans has led the TD Economics to project Manitoba will have one of the top performing economies in Canada over the next three years. Our inclusive plan to grow the economy provides more access to high quality services to help families get ahead, like health care and child care. brian PaLLister: Frontline services are the top priority for the entire Progressive Conservative team. We understand that responsible fiscal management is not an end unto itself. It is the means through which government protects our frontline workers and the critical services they provide. Our Progressive Conservative team will do the hard but necessary work the current NDP government failed at or avoided. We will find savings in government, restrain growth in spending, protect frontline services we all rely on and make strategic investments in infrastructure and innovation to grow the economy. Our number one priority is to get Manitoba back on track. This is how we will do so. rana bokhari: If elected premier, my number one priority will be to change the tone and culture of government. Average is not acceptable anymore. People depend on government to make their lives better and that is not happening now. It's not about power, it's about responsibility and I will take that responsibility very seriously. No more us and them attitude. We're all Manitobans and when we work together anything is possible. ■ THE DIFFERENCE IS HERE Already one of Canada's top 10 most innovative and research intensive colleges, Red River College is proud to lead the nation in partnership growth for 2015. Here, we imagine a Manitoba where the combined forces of industry and education are limited only by our imaginations. Partner with us today at rrc.ca/appliedresearch Next Stop: A Better Future Proud to be a part of the legal landscape in Manitoba. 204.949.1312 www.tmlawyers.com 9th Floor - 400 St. Mary Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4K5