Policies & Resolutions Manager & Investment Advisor, Private Investment Advice TD Waterhouse Canada...

Policies & Resolutions

-

227 Portage Avenue

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R3B 2A6

Telephone (204) 948 0100

Fax (204) 948 0110

E-mail: [email protected]

www.mbchamber.mb.ca

mailto:[email protected]

INTRODUCTION

Now in its 7 th year, the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce is the umbrella organization for

Manitoba’s Chamber movement. With a membership comprised of 74 local chambers and 350 direct

corporate members, in total we represent over 10,000 businesses across Manitoba.

Our membership is not confined to any specific region within Manitoba. Nor do we represent only

one size of business. In fact, the Manitoba Chambers represents the entire spectrum of business, from

sole proprietorships to some of the largest companies in Manitoba. Nor do we represent only one

particular sector of the economy. To cite but a few examples, our membership includes

representatives within services, manufacturing, transportation, mining, agriculture and technology.

A Grassroots Organization…

The Manitoba Chambers is a grassroots organization. The key element of its lobbying mandate is set

by its Resolutions, which are submitted and voted on by the local chambers.

That Also Leads

The Manitoba Chambers is also an association of leaders – those who recognize that the true path to

success, as businesses, as communities, as a province, is found at the intersection of entrepreneurial

spirit and community values.

The spirit of these beliefs is embodied in the Chambers’ Mission, Vision and Role, and in its “Making

Manitoba a ‘Have’ Province” initiative.

We are pleased to present all of these policy documents in one convenient handbook.

More information about all of these policies and the activities of the Manitoba Chambers is available

at www.mbchamber.mb.ca.

http://www.mbchamber.mb.ca/

TABLE OF CONTENTS

. Introduction .................................................................................................... p. 2

. Manitoba Chambers of Commerce Board for 200 -

Officers .......................................................................................................... p.

Regional Vice-Chairmen ............................................................................... p.

Chamber Representatives ........................................................................ pp. -

Directors At Large ........................................................................................ p.

Representatives of the Past Chairmen ....................................................... p.

Ex Officio ..................................................................................................... p. 1

. Mission ......................................................................................................... p. 1

. Vision ........................................................................................................... p. 1

. Role .............................................................................................................. p. 1

. - 0 Resolutions:

INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... p.

PROVINCIAL

Advanced Education and Literacy:

Northern Agriculture ................................................................................................ p.

Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives:

Product Of Canada Labels ................................................................................. pp. -

Temporary Financial Assistance For Hog Producers .................................................. p.

Competitiveness, Training and Trade:

Opening Up Canada’s Interprovincial Trade .............................................................. p.

Family Services and Housing:

Lack Of Affordable Housing .............................................................................. pp. - 7

Finance:

Payroll Tax ............................................................................................................... p. 7

Modernizing Government .................................................................................. pp. 7-

Infrastructure and Transportation:

Promotion Of Airships .............................................................................................. p.

Municipal Infrastructure ............................................................................................ p.

Enhancing Air Service In Manitoba ........................................................................... p.

Keeping The Link To The United States Open ................................................... pp. -

Highway Number 10 ................................................................................................. p.

Labour and Immigration:

WCB Property Ownership ........................................................................................ p. 0

Science, Technology, Energy and Mines:

Making Manitoba the Best Place for Mining.............................................................. p.

. “Making Manitoba a ‘Have’ Province”

Introduction ................................................................................................ p.

Three Key Elements .................................................................................... p.

Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................ pp. -

The Great Jobs Agenda ....................................................................... pp. -

The Manitoba Research Institute ............................................................... p.

THE MANITOBA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

OFFICERS 200 -

Chairman

Mr. Dennis Brownlee

Mazer Group

Hwy. 1A West

Box 849

Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3C3

Telephone: [204] 857-

Fax: [204] 239-


Immediate Past Chairman

Mr. Ken Wilk

Portfolio Manager & Investment Advisor,

Private Investment Advice

TD Waterhouse Canada Inc., Private Client

Services

201 Portage Avenue, Suite 1670

Winnipeg, MB R3B 3N6

Telephone: [204] 9 -

Toll Free: - - -

Fax: [204] 988-


Vice-Chairman

Mr. Wayne McWhirter

Meyers Norris Penny LLP

2500 - 201 Portage Avenue

Winnipeg, MB R3B 3K6

Telephone -


Vice-Chairman

Ms. Carol A. Paradine

Deloitte & Touche LLP

360 Main Street, Suite 2300

Winnipeg, MB R3C 3Z3

Telephone -

Fax -

E-mail : [email protected]

Vice-Chairman

Mr. Kenneth W. Jones, CMA

Senior Managing Vice President

Cushman & Wakefield LePage

Licensed to CWL Realty Inc.

2nd Floor, 250 Portage Avenue

Winnipeg, MB R3C 0B1


Fax: [204] 453-


Treasurer

Mr. Frank Sottana

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

700 – One Lombard Place

Winnipeg, MB R3C 2P3


Fax: [204] 94 -


Corporate Secretary

Mr. Jim Forestell

130 Carlotta Crescent

Winnipeg, MB R3R 2P6

Telephone: (204) 895-

Fax: (204) 896-


Legal Counsel

Ms. Tracey L. Epp

Pitblado LLP

2500 - 360 Main Street

Winnipeg, MB R3C 4H6


Fax: (204) 957-











REGIONAL VICE-CHAIRMEN 200 -

Mid-West Region

Ms. Blue Moffat

19 Buhler Drive

Morden, MB R6M 1A2


Parkland Region

Mr. Ron Clement

Box 1089

Russell, MB R0J 1W0

Telephone: (204)773-

Fax: [204] 773-

Email: [email protected]

Western Region

Mr. Stuart Olmstead

The Group Insurance Guy

Box 1133

247 Selkirk Street

Carberry, MB R0K 0H0


Fax: (204) 834-

E-mail : [email protected]

Interlake Region

Mr. Lorne Floyd

Box 606

Arborg MB. ROC OAO

Telephone: 204- -


Pembina Valley Region

Ms. Judith Sawatzky

Network Travel

272 – First Street

Winkler, MB R6W 3N2


Fax: [204] 325-


Central Region

Mr. Chris Dyer

BMO Financial Group

2 - 335 Main Street

Winnipeg, MB R3C 1C2

Cell: (204) 292-


NorMan Region

Mr. Terry Brown

Arctic Beverages

131 Morrison Avenue

Selkirk, MB R1A 2P2

Telephone: -

email: [email protected]

Capital Region

Mr. Jack Wilson

Manitoba Hydro

6th Floor - 360 Portage Avenue

PO Box 815 STN Main

Winnipeg, MB R3C 2P4

Telephone: -

Fax: [204] 360-











CHAMBER REPRESENTATIVES 200 -

Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Gerry Glatz

Teledisc Systems Ltd.

1871 Portage Ave.

Winnipeg, MB R3J 0H1

Telephone -


Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Ron Cumming

Brandon Bearing Ltd.

1303 Richmond Avenue E.

Brandon, MB R7A 7A2



Chambre de Commerce de Saint

Boniface

Ms. Heather Miller

Mf.1

chemin, St. Mary’s

Winnipeg, MB R2H 1H1


Fax: [204] 293-


Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce

Mr. B.J. Reid

B.J. Reid, VP Finance,

Funds Financial Services

Investors Group

One Canada Centre

447 Portage Avenue

Winnipeg, MB R3C 3B6


Fax: [204] 943-


Dauphin & District Chamber of

Commerce

Mr. Brian Chita

- st Avenue NW

Dauphin, MB R7N 1A4



Flin Flon & District Chamber of

Commerce

Mr. Doug O’Brien

Box 446

Flin Flon, MB R8A 1N3


Fax: [204] 687-



Morden & District Chamber of

Commerce

Mr. Ross Ariss

G.G. Financial

380 Stephen Street

Morden, MB R6M 1T5


Fax: [204] 822-


Portage & District Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Daniel Bolton

Richardson Pioneer Limited, Dundonald

Box 114, Westbourne, MB R0H 1P0


Fax: [204] 274-













CHAMBER REPRESENTATIVES 200 - 0 (continued)

Selkirk & District Chamber of

Commerce

Mr. David Bayluk

World of Water

Unit 2, 321 Main Street,

Selkirk, MB R1A1P2

Telephone [204] 785-

Fax: [204] 785-



Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Ken Thomas

185 Main Street

Winkler, MB R6W 1B4


Fax: (204) 325-



Thompson Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Keith MacDonald

P.O. Box 363

Thompson, MB R8N 1N2


Fax: [204] 677-








DIRECTORS AT LARGE 200 -

Mr. Sean Barnes

PCL Constructors Canada Inc.

PO Box 1066, 1540 Gamble Place

Winnipeg, MB R3T 1N6


Fax: [204] 287-


Mr. Gurpreet Brar

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

2300 - One Lombard Place

Winnipeg, MB R3B 0X6


Fax: -


Mr. Scott Craig, CA

Craig & Ross

Chartered Accountants

1515 One Lombard Place

Winnipeg, MB R3B 0X3

Telephone [204] 956-

Fax: -


Mr. David Chan

W.K. Chan Jewellers

402 – 393 Portage Avenue

Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6


Fax: [204] 926-


Ms. Jamie Alyce Jurczak

Taylor McCaffrey LLP

th Floor, 400 St. Mary Avenue

Winnipeg, MB R3C 4K5

Telephone: -

Telephone: -

Fax: -

Fax: -


Ms. Michelle Painchaud

Painchaud Performance Group

421 Mulvey Avenue East, 3rd Floor

Winnipeg, MB R3L 0R6



Mr. Leonard Loboda

72 Highland Park Drive

East St. Paul, MB R2E 0H4



Mr. Wadood Ibrahim

Protegra

67 Scurfield Blvd.

Winnipeg, MB R3Y 1G4


Fax -











REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PAST CHAIRMAN 200 -

Dr. Jeff Zabudsky

Red River College

C718 - 2055 Notre Dame Avenue

Winnipeg, MB R3H 0J9


Fax: [204] 694-


Mr. Brian Kelly

Kelwin Management Consulting

788 Cloutier Drive

Winnipeg, MB R3V 1A8

Telephone: (204) 26 -

Fax: (204) 275-


Mr. David Newman

Pitblado LLP

2500- 360 Main Street



Fax: [204] 957-


Mrs. Julie Turenne-Maynard

Consultation JTM Consulting

137 Park Grove Drive

Winnipeg, MB R2J 3L5



Mr. Joe Barnsley

Pitblado LLP

2500 – 360 Main Street



Fax: [204] 957-








EX OFFICIO 200 -

Social Justice

Mr. David Northcott

Winnipeg Harvest

1085 Winnipeg Street

Winnipeg, MB R3E 0S2


Fax: [204] 944-


Aboriginal Chamber

Ms. Sandra Jackson

263 Duffield Street

Winnipeg, MB R3J 2K1

Telephone: [204] 292-9883 (Cell)


Education

Mr. Digvar S. Jayas

University of Manitoba

207 Administration Building

Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2


Fax: (204) 774-



Young Associates

Ms. Silvia de Sousa

Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP

2200 – 201 Portage Avenue

Winnipeg, MB R3B 3L3


Fax: -


Corporate

Mr. Pierre R. Cronier

Canada Post

– 266 Graham Avenue

Winnipeg, MB R3C 0K2

Telephone: [204]987-

Fax: [204]987-


Agriculture

Mr. Gary Stott

Maple Leaf Foods

201 – 1465 Buffalo Place

Winnipeg, MB R3T 1L8


Fax: [204] 489-

Cell: -


Mining

Ms. Mary Ann Mihychuk

HudBay Minerals Inc.

Dundee Place

1 Adelaide Street E., Suite

Toronto, ON M5C 2V9


Fax: -

Email:

[email protected]









MISSION:

To foster a dynamic economy and vibrant communities, making Manitoba the best place in which to

live, work, invest and raise a family.

VISION:

• Policy development that brings together businesses of all sizes, from all sectors, and communities

across Manitoba;

• Non-partisan public debates of integrity, that criticize government where necessary, praise

government where warranted, and disdain personal attacks and exaggeration;

• A Business community that demonstrates high ethical standards in all it does;

• Businesses dedicated to the vitality of their communities, the prosperity of their employees and the

sustainability of the environment;

• A province that understands the nature and value of entrepreneurship and promotes the competitive

enterprise system;

• A provincial government with sound, long-term economic strategies that are focussed without

ignoring opportunity, flexibility and diversity;

• Government policies and spending that are efficient and effective, delivering the programs that

Manitobans need and helping the disadvantaged; and

• A Manitoba that promotes the progress of all its citizens toward individual freedom, dignity and

prosperity, and opposes any form of negative discrimination or needless control.

ROLE:

• Through active and effective leadership, ensure a vigorous and integrated chamber of commerce

movement throughout Manitoba and Canada;

• Promote, through its member chambers, the progress and development of Manitoba’s communities

to make them better places in which to live and to work;

• Increase the efficiency and usefulness of individual chambers of commerce in Manitoba by

encouraging innovation, mutual co-operation and the united pursuit of matters of common interest;

• Advocate a favorable legislative/regulatory balance by government and influence government policy

in a positive, visible, consistent and representative manner;

• Incorporate information delivery, consultation services, and effective lobbying in a central

administrative body;

• Develop and present informed views and opinions, on behalf of the chamber movement, to the

provincial legislature, federal government, and other forums where appropriate; and

• Promote the agricultural, civic, commercial, industrial and other general interests of Manitoba and,

where appropriate, of Canada.

MANITOBA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

RESOLUTIONS -

As Approved By Local Chambers During

The 7 th Annual General Meeting

Held In Gimli, Manitoba April 24 to 26, 2009

INTRODUCTION:

This booklet contains the final approved versions of the Resolutions adopted by the voting members

of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce at the Chambers’ th Annual General Meeting held in

Gimli from April to , .

The Resolutions were discussed, amended and approved by accredited voting delegates from across

the province during our Policy Session. Each Resolution has an effective lifespan of one calendar

year.

All Resolutions will be brought to the attention of appropriate government officials and other bodies

to which the various recommendations are directed. The method of presentation may vary by

Resolution due to a number of factors, including timing; subsequent events and legislation which may

affect the subject matter; or additional information that may become available.

Throughout the year, members will be kept informed of the action taken on each of these positions

by way of summaries and reports in the Chambers’ publications.

Questions concerning these policy positions should be directed to the Manitoba Chambers of

Commerce at:

Manitoba Chambers of Commerce

227 Portage Avenue

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R3B 2A6


Fax: (204) 948-


www.mbchamber.mb.ca

NORTHERN AGRICULTURE

Preamble: By mandate of the Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet, the Northern Food Prices

Project was established in July 2002 and completed in December of that year.

The mandate of the Northern Food Prices Project was to submit a report to Healthy Child

Committee of Cabinet identifying strategic options to address the concern about high food prices in

northern Manitoba. This concern is related to the nutritional health and food security of northern

citizens. The purpose was further defined to focus on one specific aspect of the issue: strategic

options that could reduce the retail price of nutritious foods to northern citizens.

A primary recommendation of the Northern Food Prices Report, 2003 was as follows:

“Northern Food Self-Sufficiency Initiative – a comprehensive and long-term strategy to build

local food provision activity and capacity in the north. As nutritious foods are produced,

harvested, processed and marketed locally, the costs may be reduced by replacing the

imported product with a local food supply.”

In the November 2006 Speech from the Throne the provincial government pledged to expand the

Northern Foods Project, which among other things encourages and provides support for gardening,

rearing poultry and food preservation.

Resolution: That the Government of Manitoba work with the University College of the North

and the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba to develop a

research program for northern agriculture.

PRODUCT OF CANADA LABELS

Preamble: Canada requires food products to contain a minimum specified percentage of Canadian

content, for the label to say, “Product of Canada”. The requirements for use of the label were studied

last year and a parliamentary report from national consultations with industry, led by MP James

Bezan (Interlake), was prepared.1 This report recommended revising the long standing previous level

of a minimum of 51% to a new level of at least 85% Canadian content to be eligible for use of the

Product of Canada label.

The Federal Government subsequently implemented a 98% level of Canadian content for use of the

Product of Canada label. Revised labelling guidelines for Product of Canada claims came into effect

on December 31, 2008. They were developed to promote compliance with subsection 5(1) of the

Food and Drugs Act and subsection 7(1) of the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act. The

Canadian Food Inspection Agency enforces the requirements of the Food and Drugs Act and the

Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act to protect consumers against product misrepresentation.

1 "PRODUCT OF CANADA" CLAIMS: TRUTH AND TRANSPARENCY ARE NECESSARY,

Report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, James Bezan, M.P. Chair. June 2008. 39th

PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION

Resolution: That the Government of Canada revise, from 98% to 85%, the Canadian content

percentage required for a food product to be eligible to use the Product of Canada claim on its

label.

TEMPORARY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOG PRODUCERS

Preamble: Until recently the Manitoba hog industry was contributing approximately $1 billion to the

Manitoba economy and employing up to 14000 people, exporting to the USA the highest number of

live pigs in Canada (about 1.5 million market hogs and 4 million weanlings annually).

The hog industry has fallen on hard times in recent months due to rising feed and other input costs

and falling market prices.

The implementation of mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) legislation in the USA has

had a drastic negative impact on Manitoba’s export of live pigs.

The governments of all of the other major pig-producing provinces in Canada (Alberta,

Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec) have introduced major cash payment programs to shore up their

hog industries, yet Manitoba, the largest pig producer in Canada, has not.

Resolution: That the Government of Manitoba immediately introduce a temporary cash

payment program to assist Manitoba hog producers to counter the impacts of COOL and see

them through this unprecedented financial crisis.

OPENING UP CANADA’S INTERPROVINCIAL TRADE

Preamble: In January 009, Canada’s Premiers signed, along with the Prime Minister, a Declaration

regarding the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT). This declaration contains two key amendments to

the existing AIT and marks a significant milestone toward eliminating internal trade barriers and

enhancing labour mobility in Canada.

The two amendments pertain to improved labour mobility and an enhanced dispute resolution

mechanism.

Little progress has been made on the issue of barriers to trade created by tax subsidies.

Resolution: The Provinces and the Federal Government eliminate tax subsidies that constitute

or propagate barriers to interprovincial trade within the provinces of Canada.

LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Preamble: The Provincial Unemployment rate sat at 4.9% as of January 2009. This is higher than it

was a year ago (3.8%) but there are still 5,000 more jobs in the province than there were a year ago.

That is because the total workforce increased by 8,800 people.

Provincial employers are still struggling to find employees to fill vacancies.

Initiatives are being undertaken by the provincial government, municipalities and private industry to

emigrate workers from foreign countries to fill these positions.

A challenge that faces these groups is a lack of affordable housing for these immigrants once they

come to Manitoba. Part of the Provincial Nominee Program requires that perspective immigrants

have Sufficient Settlement Supports.

The lack of affordable housing in the smaller and rural areas makes this more of a challenge.

Resolution: That the Government of Manitoba over the next 12 months in consultation with

key stakeholders:

a) identify the extent of the need for entry level housing in Manitoba and

b) develop and implement a strategy to meet that need.

PAYROLL TAX

Preamble: Manitoba’s Payroll Tax is paid by employers with a permanent establishment in Manitoba.

Payrolls of between $1. Million and $2. Million pay 4.3% on the amount in excess of $1 Million

and payrolls over $2. Million pay 2.15% of the total payroll (the first $1 Million is not a deduction).

Manitoba continues to have one of the highest employer payroll rates in the country and is the only

Western province to maintain this tax.

Resolution: That the Government of Manitoba commit to a series of annual reductions in the

payroll tax, through a variety of increases in the exemption level and decreases in the rates,

with the ultimate goal of eliminating this tax by 2013.

MODERNIZING GOVERNMENT

Preamble: The 2009 Budget of the Government of Manitoba identified practical strategies to reduce

costs and modernize government, targeting three key areas:

1) improving service delivery for citizens and business;

2) strengthening the control and management of public resources; and

3) strengthening the capacity of our civil service.

The Budget documents defined ‘modernizing government’ as

“… constantly improving the way government operates to ensure the provision of the best

possible services to all Manitobans. It is about identifying what works and moving ahead with

those efforts, while improving on activities and services that can be better achieved in a more

effective, efficient, innovative and affordable manner.”

This Resolution follows up on a 2008-2009 Resolution called “Provincial Government Spending.”.

The Government responded to that Resolution by defending its level of spending, however, it did not

specifically respond to the suggestions in the Resolution (reproduced below).

Resolution: That the Government of Manitoba:

a) create a culture in the public sector that inspires and rewards employees for finding

efficiencies;

b) review all programs every year to determine where the payoffs are the greatest and

identify areas where spending can be reduced or eliminated;

c) further to the efforts described in b), establish a Commission on Efficiencies that

engages the public in an effort to determine if the services provided by the Province

are being done in a cost-effective and efficient manner; and

d) consider the use of ‘sunset clauses’ in all new program spending.

PROMOTION OF AIRSHIPS

Preamble: Over the past 10 years, the ice road network in Manitoba has gone from 55 to 60 days of

usage to 20 days or less in some years.2

Manitoba and Ontario build 5,000 kilometres of ice roads each year. The costs of converting this ice

road network into all-weather gravel roads is approximately $2.5 billion with an annual maintenance

cost of $50 million. This is significantly more than the cost of building ice roads for Manitoba and

Ontario which is less than $20 million annually.

Airplanes could also be used to supply remote communities but in addition to their high operating

costs, landing strips would have to be improved to accommodate larger aircraft. This idea is so easily

dismissed that no estimates of using cargo airplanes to replace ice roads exist.

Thompson is ideally situated to serve as a freight distribution centre to remote northern Manitoba

and Nunavut communities but can only serve some remote Manitoba communities for a short period

of time through the winter road network.

Resolution: That the Government of Manitoba consult with the University of Manitoba

Transport Institute to investigate and promote the use of airships as a year-round means of

freight transportation to service northern Manitoba and Nunavut, and that it target the year

to conduct a ‘test run’ between Thompson and at least one remote community.

MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE

2 The information in this preamble is incorporated from “Global warming forcing a re-think of how

best to supply remote communities”, October 23 2007, by Barry Prentice, a professor of supply

chain management at the University of Manitoba

Preamble: Municipalities are playing an ever greater role in the lives of Manitobans. Today’s

municipal council has to balance community economic development, land use planning, and

infrastructure renewal and development with a limited tax base and an increased reliance on

application-based grants.

Federally, municipalities have benefited from a GST rebate, the sharing of the federal gas tax and the

new Building Canada Fund. Provincially, municipalities have benefited from the sharing of provincial

income tax, the Building Manitoba Fund, and supports in several other areas. While these efforts are

welcome, now more than ever municipalities need new tools to deal with new responsibilities and

new expectations.

Resolution: That the Government of Manitoba add to its funding streams for municipalities

by, on an annual basis, allocating the equivalent of one percent of the provincial sales tax to

municipalities for municipal infrastructure. Further, that the distribution of this revenue be

on a per capita basis.

ENHANCING AIR SERVICE IN MANITOBA

Preamble: Brandon, the second largest City in Manitoba, has been without air service for some time

and that lack of air service hinders both tourist and business development opportunities across

Manitoba and into Eastern Saskatchewan. Moreover, recent developments regarding the inability to

safely operate air ambulances in emergency situations have created a major safety concern for all of

Western Manitoba.

Resolution: That the Federal and Manitoba Governments fund the installation of an

instrument landing system (ILS) and improved lighting capabilities at the Brandon airport so

as to provide enhanced air service to Western Manitoba.

KEEPING THE LINK TO THE UNITED STATES OPEN

Preamble: Provincial Highway 75 is the main north-south artery connecting much of western Canada

to the United States and an integral part of the Centreport concept for Winnipeg and the province of

Manitoba. There are over 800,000 vehicles that pass through the Emerson/Pembina border crossing

every year, nearly half of which are commercial vehicles. There is over $12 billion worth of raw

materials, manufactured goods and grain that crosses annually. The vast majority of this is either

coming from or going to Winnipeg and travels along highway 75 to get to its destination, making this

a very vital byway in our province.

Provincial Highway 75, however, runs parallel to the Red River which is prone to flooding during the

spring. It has been closed off 6 times in the last 12 years, often for weeks at a time. While this has

very tragic results to the local economies of the towns along its route, there is a much larger picture

that is affected on a much larger scale. The flow of goods is diverted hundreds of kilometers adding

to the cost of shipping (not to mention the environmental impact of extra fuel). There are often

delays and, at times, cancellation of shipments due to the detours involved. The extra costs involved

are mostly passed on to the consumer. Tourism, which is just getting warmed up for the season, is

stalled as travelers find alternate routes. Many areas of all Manitoban’s lives are affected by even a

small flood in the Red River Valley.

The main issue is the closing of Highway 75. In truth, very little of the highway is actually

submerged. Currently there is only about16 km of the 105 km that is covered in water with most of

it being only a few inches below the surface. Raising just this portion of highway as well as the

bridge over the Morris River would keep this main transportation link open in all but the worst of

flooding conditions.

Resolution: That both the Government of Manitoba and the Government of Canada use a

portion of their infrastructure budgets to raise the section of Highway 75 and the bridge

crossing the Morris River that is currently submerged by the Red River flood waters, with the

purpose of keeping the highway open for the movement of goods along this vital trade

corridor.

HIGHWAY NUMBER

Preamble: The condition of Highway Number 10 has deteriorated to such disrepair it has been

deemed unsafe by heavy truck operators carrying potatoes, potash, cattle, hogs, grain and fertilizer,

western Manitoba travelers, tourist traffic to the famous International Peace Gardens with its

proposed 52 million dollar upgrades, the gateway to Manitoba and Canada.

Highway Number 10 connects to U.S. highways 281, 2 and 5, which North Dakota is completing a

90 million dollar upgrade. The U.S. port of entry is also proceeding with a 20 million dollar upgrade

to facilitate the large animal scanning and unloading area on two parcels of land being leased from

the International Peace Gardens. Highway Number 10 also connects Manitoba Highways 2 East

West, 3 East West, 23 East West and the Brandon bypass.

Resolution: That Government of Manitoba ask the National Highways Board to designate

Highway Number a “National Highway” and rebuild/re-surface the portion of Highway

Number 10 from Highway #2 East, South to the U.S. border.

WCB PROPERTY OWNERSHIP

Preamble: The Workers Compensation Act mandates the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) to

promote safety and health in workplaces and prevent and reduce the occurrence of workplace

injuries and disease. However, the WCB has engaged made investments beyond the organization’s

mandate making speculative investments in retail and residential property in Ontario, Alberta, and in

Manitoba that have no relation to its mandate or operations of the WCB.

Resolution: The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba liquidate all speculative property

investments not related to its operations and services.

MAKING MANITOBA THE BEST PLACE FOR MINING

Preamble: In March , industry ranked Manitoba in th place globally in the Fraser Institute’s

Survey of Mining Companies 2008/2009. Four years ago it was in 1st place.

Industry representatives surveyed indicated that the global economic slowdown has cast a pall over

the mining industry with the vast majority of mining executives saying they expect a severe pull back

in exploration activity and at least 30 per cent of exploration companies going out of business.

The mineral industry is affected by the current global recession. Base metal prices have fallen by

almost 70% over the past two years and analysts have not yet given assurances that we will be seeing

recovery in the near future.

Manitoba’s second largest primary industry, mining, is at risk as Manitoba is the least competitive

jurisdiction in Canada, according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers Canadian Mining Taxation: 2007

Edition.

Resolution: That the Government of Manitoba,

(a) on a high priority basis demonstrate, from the office of the Premier and throughout,

commitment to make Manitoba the best place in the world to engage in the mining

business,

(b) establish a Premier’s Mineral Economic Advisory Council (“MEAC”) to advise

government on steps to make Manitoba the best place to do business in mineral

exploration and development, value-added processing and manufacturing (“the mineral

industry”). Further, that the MEAC consider making recommendations respecting, but

not be limited to, the following:

Regulations

1. Expediting the permitting process with clear processes and timelines;

2. Harmonizing the provincial and federal review process, with the objective of

making Manitoba the lead jurisdiction;

3. Developing a “One Window” process for all permitting;

4. Reducing assessment fees for the next 3-year period given the unusual economic

hardships faced by mineral exploration SMEs.

Taxation

5. Eliminating the cap on the Mineral Exploration Assistance Program (“MEAP”)

program and fully funding the program to committed levels;

6. Further reducing taxes to be competitive to Saskatchewan and Ontario;

7. In the public interest, government resource revenue sharing with Aboriginal

Communities with due regard to the Quebec and British Columbia approaches.

Duty to Consult

8. Creating clarity about aboriginal consultation standards in Manitoba;

9. Developing and resourcing a comprehensive mineral industry awareness program

targeted at Northern and Aboriginal Communities;

Other

10. Addressing other matters deemed helpful to accomplish (a) above.

MAKING MANITOBA A ‘HAVE’ PROVINCE:

http://www.fraserinstitute.org/researchandpublications/publications/6534.aspx

) Introduction: The Manitoba Chambers Launches an Effort to Unleash Potential

Manitoba’s largest business association has embarked on an ambitious and historic effort to change the

way Manitobans think about their province and its future. Officially launched on January 16, ,

“Making Manitoba a ‘Have’ Province” is an agenda of both opportunity and responsibility, challenging all

Manitobans, business and government to help unleash their own and our province’s incredible potential.

It begins with what the Chambers is calling a ‘grand discussion’. One that has the courage to ask the tough

questions, builds commitment to a common vision and moves to a course of action. It seeks to avoid the

dysfunctional discourses of the past, which too often amounted to little more than finger pointing and

harping on our differences and what divides us, and instead build on what unites us.

To build on this initiative the Chambers have mounted a ‘full court press’, developing a website

(www.haveprovince.com), an attitude survey, a major event entitled ‘Partnership for Prosperity’

(www.mbchambers.mb.ca), a research institute and enlisting the help of ‘champions’ to spread the

word, seek input, and move the process forward.

The 14 Champions are volunteering their services over the next two years to meet with Associations,

Business organizations, Business Leaders, Councils, Chambers of Commerce, Social Groups and

Aboriginal Groups around the Province to spread the word and get feedback:

Champions

Garth Manness CEO & Business Leaders

Larry McIntosh CEO & Business Leaders

Gord Peters CEO & Business Leaders

Daniel Paul Bork Aboriginal Business

David Northcott Social Community

Jeff Zabudsky Communications

Lee Jebb Business Community

Jean McClellan Media & Communications

Jack Wilson Associations & Capital Region

Chambers & Councils:

Dale Wallis Mid-West Region

Don Forbes Western Region

David Wilkinson Pembina Valley Region

Ron Clement Parkland Region

Dennis Brownlee Central Region

Brad Ritchie NorMan Region

The Chambers believes that better dialogue will give us a better plan for a better tomorrow. In the words

of the website “Everyone needs to take their own steps towards the vision. Collectively, we will seek out

and find common ground, creating initiatives that add momentum to Manitoba; measuring our progress,

celebrating our success and learning from failures as we go.”

2) Three Key Elements to Making Manitoba a ‘Have’ Province:

http://www.haveprovince.com/

http://www.mbchambers.mb.ca/

Have the Courage to ask the tough Questions

We must each honestly ask ourselves if we have reached our potential in Manitoba.

Do our friends and family want to stay in Manitoba because they have the best opportunities

here?

Does Manitoba have a long-term strategy that will help us, our businesses, and our

communities thrive?

Have the Commitment to the Vision

Our goal is a Manitoba where:

everyone has the opportunities they desire, takes responsibility, and is dedicated to dignity,

independence and prosperity;

government is focused on a long-term strategy that promotes opportunity, helps the

disadvantaged, and measures progress in a consistent and candid manner; and

businesses are successful and committed to high ethical standards, the vitality of

communities, prosperity of employees, and the sustainability of the environment.

Have a Course of Action

Everyone needs to take their own steps towards the vision.

Collectively, we will:

seek out and find common ground;

create initiatives that add momentum to Manitoba;

measure our progress;

celebrate our successes; and

learn from failures as we go.

3) Frequently Asked Questions About Making Manitoba a ‘Have’ Province”

Q. Does this initiative align to any particular political party agenda? What is the political

impetus behind this initiative?

A. The MCC is an apolitical organization, in fact, that commitment is so important to the MCC it is

mentioned in the second item of its Vision. In any event, Making Manitoba a ‘Have’ Province isn’t

about what suits a particular political party; it’s about what suits Manitoba. To be sure,

Government has a role to play, but the essence of a democracy means Manitobans must take the

lead in defining the vision and the plan of action that will make our province great.

One final point, too often we rely on government to solve our problems. This can be risky as issues

are becoming more and more complicated and resolving them can require years of consistent effort.

Consistency can be a challenge in the public realm as government’s change and even within

governments Ministers come and go in Cabinet shuffles. We need to develop a vision - an agenda -

that moves forward no matter what government is in power.

Q. What are you as an individual doing to help make Manitoba a have province? ( JFK USA

President said “ask not what my country can do for me but what can I do for my country”)

A. Simply put, true success comes from enjoying what you do best while contributing to something

beyond yourself. That is why, while Making Manitoba a ‘Have’ Province talks about “Everyone -

with the opportunities they desire”, it also talks about everyone “taking responsibility; and

dedicated to dignity, independence and prosperity”.

The pamphlet “Making Manitoba a ‘Have’ Province” sets out a framework where individuals are

both self-fulfilled and serving their community.

Q. What are the issues stopping Manitoba from being a have Province?

A. The Making Manitoba a ‘Have’ Province pamphlet sets out three basic issues that are holding us

back: we lack the courage to ask the tough questions, we lack a commitment to the vision, and we

lack a course of action. These are the broad brush strokes. To truly move forward we need

consensus and a more detailed plan. That is why the MCC is now broadening the discussion so as

to get buy-in, feedback, and suggestions about the next steps.

Q. What assurances do you have that government/business will buy into this?

A. It is important to remember the type of buy-in we are seeking right now. The MCC doesn’t claim

to have all the answers, we aren’t even sure that the framework outlined in our pamphlet is the right

way to go. That is why we are seeking feedback on the framework and ideas on how to move

Manitoba forward. We think we are on the right track – in fact we put a lot of thought/effort into the

framework – but we have to have an open mind to the feedback otherwise consulting is a hollow

exercise and people will become jaded. The crucial buy-in at this point is the agreement that more

needs to be done to achieve what we - as individuals, and as a province - can be.

Assurances are few and far between, so there is no guarantee that there will be the necessary buy-

in, but here are two certainties: we will not achieve our potential if we do not work together and it

is the duty of the MCC to try (note the MCC’s Vision).

Q. A ‘have’ province for whom? Big business and fat-cat entrepreneurs? What's in it for the

ordinary citizen - the little guy?

A. This is a very important question because this agenda is all about putting an end to the notion of

“us versus them”. In fact, the framework specifically and very deliberately talks about the

prosperity of everyone. Our key economic strategy centres on ‘great jobs’, the bridge between

economic vitality and individual prosperity.

Q. Do you mean more balanced equalization payments?

A. Equalization is an issue. By definition, receiving equalization payments means our province

cannot provide public services that are reasonably comparable to those of the other provinces

without receiving financial help from the federal government, and that is a little embarrassing. But

the MCC wanted a vision for Manitoba that is so much more than the traditional definition of a

‘have not’ province. That is why the being a ‘have’ province seeks to bring out the best of what we

are as Manitobans, and what we can be as a province

Q. Our provincial economy continues to grow each year, so what is the problem?

A. This question raises three issues:

a) Do we have the courage to look at the story behind the numbers?

For example, the national economy is doing very well, how much of Manitoba’s growth is

due to national trends as opposed to our own house being in order? We are lagging other

provinces in many areas (job growth, labour force growth, wage growth, post-secondary

students in the workforce, net losses due to interprovincial migration).

b) Should we be doing better and are we ready if the national economy loses steam?

How much of this economic growth is due to government funding? Typically, Manitoba’s

capital investment relies more on the public sector than any other province. Is this

sustainable?

And don’t forget, the business community is in a strange position – it will identify

government’s policies that are making it hard to compete and call for change but the next

day the business community has to do everything it can to thrive, to show that it was wrong,

that it can compete in the current environment.

Sure some economic growth is there, but we have to ask ourselves, is this environment in

effect handicapping our businesses so that growth is slower than what it can be, driving

businesses away, or slowly but surely wearing them down?

c) Can we fight complacency?

We have to move from asking whether things are good to asking whether things are good

enough. Sure the economy is growing, but we have challenges: taxes are too high,

infrastructure is in disrepair, wages are low and Manitobans are leaving in droves. When

you speak to many of our companies and our communities you hear that times are tough.

Although we are the most diversified economy in the land many of our clusters are shallow

(i.e. only have a few key companies) – that means we are vulnerable, certain sectors would

be decimated if just one or two companies left.

We need the drive to bring out the best in what we can be – it is an entrepreneurial drive, a

perpetual commitment to improve. Report after report suggests that communities are more

likely to pull together after they hit rock bottom. Do we really have to take that risk, or let

things get that far?

Q. If we are a ‘have not’ province why is our unemployment level so low?

A. Unemployment simply means that most of those seeking work are getting work, it doesn’t tell you

what kind of jobs you have (high paying, high skills?), how many jobs you are growing, whether

people are under-employed (i.e. have less work than they want or they are over-qualified for their

job) or how many youth are leaving (in fact, you could have low unemployment because so many

people are seeking jobs in other provinces). It is good that most of those who are seeking work are

finding it, but those unemployment numbers only tell a fraction of the story. That is why “Making

Manitoba a ‘Have’ Province” is seeking a better understanding of our economy.

) The Great Jobs Agenda: The Economic Arm of Making Manitoba a ‘Have’ Province

With global competition, a rising Canadian dollar, rising energy prices and technological innovation,

these are complex and contentious times. And yet there is a common goal amidst much of the debate

about our economy – the desire for great jobs, the bridge between individual prosperity and economic

vitality. As such, it is time we had an agenda that put great jobs front and centre:

Mindset (attitude is key)

Adopt a ‘creative capital mindset’ – one that judges all economic policies against the basic standard of

whether they are empowering each individual to obtain employment that fully taps into their creative

potential.

An Environment Where Business Can Thrive

If the goal of the Great Jobs Agenda is to provide people with jobs that are well-paying, meaningful

and tap into their talents, then we need an environment that enables businesses to create/maintain

those jobs.

Nurture Skills/Recognize Skills

None of the items we propose for the skills strategy (lifelong learning, the importance of skills

acquisition from the most basic to the most sophisticated, skills recognition, etc) are new. Indeed,

great strides have been accomplished in relation to many of them. The key call for change is twofold:

that these strategies receive an even greater focus from government, business, labour and

the public as part of a Great Jobs Agenda; and

as such, every single initiative must be evaluated against the standard of whether the skills

of the individual involved have been enhanced in a way that leads to engaging and financially

rewarding employment.

Identify & Remove Roadblocks for Those on Low-income

For starters, engage in effective tax relief for low-income tax payers.

Trumpet Success

Collectively we must do a better job of sharing business and government success stories in a way that

both inspires and instructs.

Obey the Law

Laws that are not enforced serve no purpose other than to permit victimization of workers and to

penalize law-abiding employers.

Broaden Knowledge of the Law

The first step to an effective regulatory system is knowledge as to its existence.

All Together

The most important aspect of the Great Jobs Agenda is that government, business and labour agree to

work on it together.

For the Fourth Straight Year, the MCC’s Pre-Budget Submission Built on the Great Jobs

Agenda:

An Environment Where Business Can Thrive

Step 1 (short-term):

In addition to your current plans for tax relief, make it a priority to eliminate all capital taxes,

all sales tax on capital and all profit insensitive taxes.

The payroll tax needs to go. It is profoundly wrong-headed to tax a business for increasing staff

and/or their wages. Commit to eliminating this tax and develop a multi-year strategy to do so.

Step 2 (long-term): Develop a strategy that moves our province more from a regime that taxes

investment/income to one that taxes consumption, including an analysis of:

The economic effect of eliminating the corporate tax;

Converting the PST into a broad-based value added tax covering goods and services;

Basing personal taxation on lifetime earnings; and

A consideration of how other jurisdictions tax. For example, Denmark and Sweden have high

rates of tax but in a way that motivates business investment.

Identify & Remove Roadblocks for Those on Low-income

As an interim step:

Federal-provincial work on ‘Market Baskets’ may provide a tool for assessing the breadth and

depth of low income in Manitoba. Follow-up on this issue

Reduce marginal effective tax rates

Examine whether the broad range of boutique programs that are available work together in an

effective way

Enable low-income families, including those on assistance, to build assets/savings

Include a cost comparison of families living on a minimum wage income and social assistance in

the Manitoba Advantage analysis of the provincial budget.

All Together (Government, Labour, Community Groups and Business Must Work Together)

As a starting point, create a Forum on the Great Jobs Agenda that will:

Provide ongoing and timely reporting on, and measurement of, the Great Jobs Agenda; and an

assessment of the combined effects of provincial initiatives that influence the Great Jobs

Agenda;

Consider productivity issues, but within the context of the Great Jobs Agenda;

Perform an ongoing and detailed analysis of Manitoba’s economy;

Maintain a website, with regular updates that are both posted and emailed to subscribers;

Ideally, be operated through the Premier’s Economic Advisory Council.

5) The Manitoba Research Institute

The MANITOBA RESEARCH INSTITUTE is an independent not-for-profit charity organized in

2005 by Manitoba business leaders with the encouragement of the Manitoba Chambers of

Commerce. Its focus is on issues that affect the economy of Manitoba and the conduct of business.

The MANITOBA RESEARCH INSTITUTE will meet its purposes through a number of endeavors

and programs:

• The Research Program conducts a range of studies and research projects on economic,

social and policy issues of importance to business in Manitoba. In partnership with the

Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, the Institute will be examining Manitoba’s attitudes and

perceived solutions associated with a more prosperous and competitive Manitoba.

• The Learning Program includes activities focused on encouraging Manitoba students to

consider Manitoba careers in business. In this regard, the Institute manages the Youth

Business Institute’s high school business competition.

• The Knowledge Exchange Program supports seminars, lectures and conferences on issues

of importance to Manitoba’s economy.

• The Achievement Program promotes Manitoba’s entrepreneurs and business successes.

For more information on the MANITOBA RESEARCH INSTITUTE contact:

The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce

227 Portage Avenue

Winnipeg, Manitoba. R3B 2A6

Phone: 204.948.0100

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