Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson’s first throne speech Tuesday included promises for improved rural health care and education, and placed priorities on the needs of seniors, nurses, firefighters, immigrants and the homeless..Overshadowing the speech read by Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon was an announcement earlier in the day that a legal challenge to the Progressive Conservative party’s vote that crowned Stefanson party leader propelling her to the premier’s chair, would be heard in Court of Queen’s Bench earlier than anticipated..The Throne Speech said the government will act within weeks to set up a task force to try to reduce what Doctors Manitoba estimates is a growing backlog of 136,000 medical procedures, including surgeries and diagnostic tests, put on hold due to COVID-19..“This will be a priority for our government, to ensure Manitobans get the health care that they need when they need it,” Stefanson, the former health minister, told reporters..The Throne Speech, which was often short on specifics, zeroed in on a nursing shortage in the province with an aim to train 400 nurses, all of whom would be offered a job and incentives to remain in Manitoba..The government plans to implement a new strategy for aging seniors after consultation with Manitobans..And it will revisit planned reforms to rural health care that caused “angst” within municipalities..The province will also expand the list of presumptive work-related cancers afflicting firefighters who are exposed to toxic chemicals..Funding will be increased for family violence shelters..The speech pledged to develop a green energy policy..It also declared that Manitoba would scrap the controversial Bill 64 calling for the dissolution of English-language school boards and centralized decision-making with government and return the original K-12 review commissioned by the province. .The Stefanson government will work to mend the strained relationship former premier Brian Pallister had with indigenous leaders and focus on “respect, reconciliation, and repairing broken relationships.”.A promise, but no details, was made to assist the homeless this winter..Stefanson attempted to distance herself from the unpopular Pallister, but said not all his policies were bad for the province..“I think there have been many good things that have been done that we can build on,” she said..“We don’t have to reinvent the wheel, so to speak, but I think there’s a better way to do things and a more collaborate way with Manitobans.”.Meanwhile, lawyers for PC leadership challenger Shelly Glover will begin to present their argument in court December 10 as to why the October 30 leadership vote should be overturned and a new election held..Initially, the court set a December 23 date for the hearing before Justice James Edmond..Glover, who won 49% of the votes, 363 less than Stefanson, alleges there were irregularities when the ballots were counted and that unsecured ballot boxes were moved to another room..“This application not only affects the parties and the intervener, but also affects the people of Manitoba, who have an interest in knowing whether the election of our new premier was flawed,” said Edmond when he decided the case should proceed..Stefanson was sworn in as premier November 2..Slobodian is the Senior Manitoba Columnist for the Western Standard.lslobodian@westernstandardonline.com
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson’s first throne speech Tuesday included promises for improved rural health care and education, and placed priorities on the needs of seniors, nurses, firefighters, immigrants and the homeless..Overshadowing the speech read by Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon was an announcement earlier in the day that a legal challenge to the Progressive Conservative party’s vote that crowned Stefanson party leader propelling her to the premier’s chair, would be heard in Court of Queen’s Bench earlier than anticipated..The Throne Speech said the government will act within weeks to set up a task force to try to reduce what Doctors Manitoba estimates is a growing backlog of 136,000 medical procedures, including surgeries and diagnostic tests, put on hold due to COVID-19..“This will be a priority for our government, to ensure Manitobans get the health care that they need when they need it,” Stefanson, the former health minister, told reporters..The Throne Speech, which was often short on specifics, zeroed in on a nursing shortage in the province with an aim to train 400 nurses, all of whom would be offered a job and incentives to remain in Manitoba..The government plans to implement a new strategy for aging seniors after consultation with Manitobans..And it will revisit planned reforms to rural health care that caused “angst” within municipalities..The province will also expand the list of presumptive work-related cancers afflicting firefighters who are exposed to toxic chemicals..Funding will be increased for family violence shelters..The speech pledged to develop a green energy policy..It also declared that Manitoba would scrap the controversial Bill 64 calling for the dissolution of English-language school boards and centralized decision-making with government and return the original K-12 review commissioned by the province. .The Stefanson government will work to mend the strained relationship former premier Brian Pallister had with indigenous leaders and focus on “respect, reconciliation, and repairing broken relationships.”.A promise, but no details, was made to assist the homeless this winter..Stefanson attempted to distance herself from the unpopular Pallister, but said not all his policies were bad for the province..“I think there have been many good things that have been done that we can build on,” she said..“We don’t have to reinvent the wheel, so to speak, but I think there’s a better way to do things and a more collaborate way with Manitobans.”.Meanwhile, lawyers for PC leadership challenger Shelly Glover will begin to present their argument in court December 10 as to why the October 30 leadership vote should be overturned and a new election held..Initially, the court set a December 23 date for the hearing before Justice James Edmond..Glover, who won 49% of the votes, 363 less than Stefanson, alleges there were irregularities when the ballots were counted and that unsecured ballot boxes were moved to another room..“This application not only affects the parties and the intervener, but also affects the people of Manitoba, who have an interest in knowing whether the election of our new premier was flawed,” said Edmond when he decided the case should proceed..Stefanson was sworn in as premier November 2..Slobodian is the Senior Manitoba Columnist for the Western Standard.lslobodian@westernstandardonline.com
