Manitoba needs new energy, fresh ideas: McFadyen

Leader of the Official Opposition, Hugh McFadyen, said labour statistics released today prove once again that while the NDP spends taxpayer dollars trying to paint a rosy picture of our economic performance, Manitoba continues to fall further behind all other western provinces.  

“Alberta experienced its largest growth rate in 26 years, while Saskatchewan and British Columbia also finished 2006 with employment growth rates well above the national average,” he said.  “Meanwhile, Manitoba continued to lag miserably behind, posting a growth rate of only 0.7% - a rate more than 8 times less than that of Alberta and well below the national average.  This is simply unacceptable.” 

Between December 2005 and December 2006, Alberta’s economy created 108,500 jobs, British Columbia’s economy created 51,300 and Saskatchewan’s economy created 23,000.  In Manitoba, only 3,900 jobs were created.

“Saskatchewan has managed to create almost 6 times more jobs than Manitoba,” said McFadyen.  “To see that growth happen next door, while Manitoba flounders, is of great concern to us.”

McFadyen said the difference is that Saskatchewan’s government addressed the challenge head on with aggressive measures designed to stem out migration.

“It’s the provincial government’s job to instill confidence in its business community, showing them they can get positive returns on their investment,” he said.  “After over seven years and seven provincial budgets, Manitoba’s NDP government has yet to understand there is a direct connection between job growth and tax cuts, and has failed miserably at creating incentives to make businesses want to grow and expand here.” 

“A Progressive Conservative government,” he continued, “would make meaningful tax cuts, address the labour shortage and work to provide opportunities for young people right here in Manitoba.” 

“More than 35,000 Manitobans have left since the NDP took office in 1999, which equals the population of Brandon.  We have a serious problem that can no longer be ignored.” 

McFadyen concluded, “The NDP government has clearly demonstrated it has no idea how to make Manitoba competitive with its neighbours to the west or it would have taken action seven years ago.  This problem is not going away any time soon.  Manitoba needs a government that can address it with energy and new ideas.”