Liberal Party of Canada

Platform 2008
ACTION PLAN FOR
MANITOBA
 Letter from Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion
In this election, Manitobans and Canadians have
a choice between two very different visions for
Canada. Our priorities as Liberals are clear:
• We want to ensure that Canadians are treated
fairly and equally so that we can all share in
the wealth of our great country.
• We want to improve Canadians’ standard of
living with education and training programs
to better provide for themselves and their
families, as well as build on Manitoba’s exist-
ing strengths and key industries.
• We are committed to building new and safer
communities by helping municipalities fund
their infrastructure needs, and by strengthen-
ing and reforming the Youth Justice System
while investing in social development, and
Letter from Manitoba Liberal Candidates and Caucus
With the Action Plan for Manitoba, we have set
out what we as candidates want to accomplish
in Ottawa on behalf of our constituents after
the next election.
This is an important election. There are sharp
differences between the plans Liberals and
Conservatives have for Canadians. To our con-
stituents, we want to emphasize that your vote
will make a difference not just for your family,
for Winnipeg and for Manitoba, but for future
generations. To Manitobans, we say:
• If you want farmers, (and not Stephen Harper)
to decide the future of the Canadian Wheat
Board
• If you want new affordable child care spaces
• If you want action on Climate Change now,
instead of never
• If you want action on cleaning up Lake Win-
nipeg now, instead of never
Page  - Liberal Party of Canada Manitoba Platform 2008
• We are committed to bringing Canadians into
greater harmony with our environment - with
real action on climate change and on clean
water for Lake Winnipeg.
On every one of these issues, we differ from
the Conservatives not just in ideology, but in
practice.
As Liberals, we are committed to solutions that
work. And we are also the only party that can
bring these solutions to bear for the good of the
country.
We hope that you will show your support for
our vision for Manitoba by supporting your local
Liberal candidate. Together, we will build a more
prosperous and greener Manitoba.
Stéphane Dion
• If you want to ensure that First Nations, Métis
and Inuit children get the same chance at
education and training as the other Canadi-
ans
• If you want federal funding to fix our streets
and bridges and build community recreation
centres
• If you want real action to prevent crime and
crack down on violent and repeat young of-
fenders
• If you want a national government that will
keep the food supply safe
There is only one way to make it happen: to
vote Liberal, because Stéphane Dion is the only
person who can replace Stephen Harper as
Prime Minister.
Liberal Platform 2008

Action Plan for Manitoba

Table of Contents

Government That Makes A Difference

Delivering On Affordable Child Care & Accessible Health Care
and Promoting Equality For Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
New Investments In Aboriginal Communities
Education, Training, Health Care And Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Building Manitoba’s Economy

Enhancing Training, Education, Immigration And Innovation. . . . . 6
Supporting Key Manitoba Industries
And Pursuing A Prudent Fiscal Policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Supporting Agriculture, Agri-Business & Rural Manitoba. . . . . . . . . . 8
Defending Manitoba’s Role As A Player
In The Global Grain Market. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Service & Growth For The North. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Community Renewal: Cities And Towns

Crack Down on Guns And Gangs and
A Renewed Focus On Prevention And Policing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Making Communities Safer & Stronger With Affordable Housing;
Fixing And Building Urban Infrastructure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Action On The Environment

Enhancing Manitoba’s Role In Combating Climate Change. . . . . . . 13
Protecting Our Lakes And Rivers & Expanding
And Exporting Manitoba’s Green Energy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Liberal Candidates for Member of Parliament. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Liberal Party of Canada Manitoba Platform 2008 - Page 

GOVERNMENT THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
DELIVERING ON AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE & ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE
PROMOTING EQUALITY FOR WOMEN
THE CONSERVATIVE
RECORD:
The Conservatives
• Cancelled an exist-
ing affordable Child
Care agreement to
provide $176 million
to the province of
Manitoba.
• Slashed spending
by $1-billion - includ-
ing cutting pro-
grams to promote
adult literacy, equal-
ity for women, and
smoking cessation
programs for First
Nations .
• Eliminated the
Canadian Court
Challenges Pro-
gram, headquar-
tered in Winnipeg,
which helps ensure
that Canadians are
being treated fairly
and equally by the
Federal Government
under the Charter of
Rights.
The program makes
it affordable for
individuals and
groups - including
the disabled - to chal-
lenge the govern-
ment in court to fulfill
its obligations to all
Canadians.
Page  - Liberal Party of Canada Manitoba Platform 2008
Providing Support for Families
Affordable early childhood education is a win-
win for children, families and the community.
It provides children with a safe and nurturing
environment, frees up parents to work and
earn more money for their family.
A Liberal government will:
• Cut personal income taxes by up to 10%
under the Green Shift
• Create 165,000 affordable child care spaces
across Canada, with a minimum of 6,600
spaces in Manitoba over the next four years
• Provide the option of extending parental
leave up to 18 months
• Implement a national 30/50 poverty re-
duction strategy to reduce the number of
people living in poverty by 30% and the
number of children living in poverty by 50%
in five years
• Introduce a new universal child tax credit for
every child under 18 that won’t be clawed
back and maintain the $100 a month child
benefit.
• Create a new Guaranteed Family Supple-
ment for the poorest families with children,
worth $1,225 a year
HEALTHCARE
The Liberal Party is dedicated to safeguarding
quality, affordable and accessible healthcare
for everyone.
Manitoba Liberal Members of Parliament will:
• Ensure support for hospitals and research
funding at major teaching centres such as
the St. Boniface Hospital and the Health Sci-
ences Centre
“Equality, and a commitment to fairness
is a core Liberal value.”
• Shorten wait times and improve access to
family doctors through the “Doctors and
Nurses” fund, that could be worth
$16.8-million to Manitoba. The fund will
fund training, reward medical professionals
who practise in areas where there are short-
ages as well as speeding up the process
for recognizing foreign credentials of new
Canadians
• Provide $36-million for a Catastrophic Drug
Fund for Canadians suffering from cancer,
diabetes, and arthritis
• Make the Disability Tax Credit refundable
Promoting Equality for Women
The Liberal Party of Canada is the only politi-
cal party to commit to fielding and supporting
a minimum of one third female candidates
in this election – the baseline to ensuring
more women are successful in representing
Canadians in the House of Commons, and we
surpassed this goal. Fully 50% of the Liberal
candidates in Manitoba are women.
Manitoba Liberal MP’s will ensure equal access
to resources and services in every region of the
country. They will:
• Fund regional services provided by the
Status of Women
• Fund the Court Challenges Program
• Establish programs that provide real eco-
nomic security for women, especially those
with children and the elderly
• Enhance support for training, education and
entrepreneurship through Women’s Enter-
prise Centres, Community Futures and other
organizations
 GOVERNMENT THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
NEW INVESTMENTS IN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES

New Investments in Aboriginal Social THE CONSERVATIVE

RECORD:

& Economic Development

Although the
Aboriginal popula-
tion of Manitoba has
Education, Training, Health Care and Housing been steadily increas-
ing, the Conservative
The Aboriginal population in Manitoba is large, cation system government cut
young, and growing. They deserve equal ac- funding to Aborigi-
• Make housing a priority - both on and off- nals in Manitoba,
cess to educational and employment opportu-
reserve who face some of the
nities enjoyed by all Canadians.
• Improve funding for Aboriginal post- greatest social and
Currently, spending per student in on-reserve
secondary students in order to meet the economic challenges
Schools in Manitoba is much less than it is for
needs of the growing population in Canada.
students in provincially-funded schools. In
order to improve high school graduation rates • Provide skills training and development, The Kelowna Accord
- which are major indicator of future earning apprenticeship programs and access to dis- was a $5-billion
power - this and other inequities must be ad- tance learning post-secondary programs agreement between
dressed. the Federal Govern-
• Establish, in partnership with First Nations: ment, provinces and
There is also a pressing need to address access
to services for urban aboriginal populations. • A Northern Aboriginal Resource territories that would
Benefits Strategy through consulta- have increased fund-
A Liberal government will: tions with aboriginal communities on ing to First Nations
national resource and other develop- in key areas: educa-
• Bring back the Kelowna Accord, investing ments. This would include the alloca- tion, health care, and
$2-billion over four years housing.
tion of the necessary resources to
• Provide a $150 per person Green Rural provide for meaningful and effective The Accord would
Credit consultation. have had a signifi-
• A Northern Manitoba Development cant positive impact
• Sign and Ratify the UN Declaration of the
and Training Initiative in Manitoba - and an
Risgts of Indigenous Peoples
estimated $750-mil-
• A Northern Transportation System lion in funding - but
Manitoba Liberal MP’s will work to:
Plan to address rail and road system it was scrapped by
• Expand the Aboriginal Head-start Program requirements of northern and remote the Conservatives
communities as soon as they took
• Move quickly to move forward with the
office.
renewal of the Aboriginal Human Resource • A Northern Healthy Foods Guaran-
Development Agreement (AHRDA) pro- tee that ensures that milk and other
gram for skills training and development healthy foods are affordable
for aboriginal Canadians with additional
• A Northern Energy Strategy that will
focus on training for women
identify and invest in a comprehensive
• Ensure that the reinstated Early Education package of energy conservation, re-
& Child Care Agreements provide equitable newable energy supplies and transmis-
funding for on-reserve programming sion systems for northern and remote
communities
• Ensure that education funding for students
on-reserve is comparable to educational
funding for students in the Manitoba edu-

Liberal Party of Canada Manitoba Platform 2008 - Page 

BUILDING MANITOBA’S ECONOMY
ENHANCING TRAINING, EDUCATION, IMMIGRATION AND INNOVATION

THE CONSERVATIVE Improving Immigration financial support to assist foreign-trained

doctors and other professionals in obtaining
RECORD: to Manitoba their Canadian qualifications
Manitoba’s unem- Manitoba Liberal MP’s will:
• Implement an expeditious refugee determi-
ployment rate is • Work with the Province of Manitoba and nation system
going up. Business Council to increase the number
The Conservatives of new immigrants to Winnipeg from Education and Youth
10,000 to 20,000 a year. Manitoba Liberals will:
have hurt Manitoba
by cancelling training • Provide additional funding to increase • Replace tax credits with an Education
and education pro- the number of skilled workers coming to Grant payable to each student every three
grams that helped Manitoba through the Provincial Nominee months. When combined with the GST
workers upgrade program. rebate renewed by most students will get
their skills and $1,000
incomes, and helped • Review consular services abroad to improve
address a labour wait times and to reduce the incidence of • Improve access for low-income students
shortage facing so fraud with 8,000 bursaries of $3,500 a year
many Manitoba busi- • Review the Temporary Foreign Workers • Improve access for students from underrep-
nesses. program to improve flexibility, transparency resented groups with 4,000 grants of up to
and efficiency and work with the province $4,000 a year
They also chose
to implement safeguards so that workers
Canadian literacy • Assure every student is eligible for a loan of
cannot be exploited by potential employers
week to announce $5,000
once they are in Canada
they had slashed
funding for commu- • Petition the U.S. to open a visa office closer • Guarantee lower interest rates on student
nity-based literacy to Winnipeg loans, extend the grace period on loans and
programs make it interest-free, and extend the repay-
• Create a stronger, more timely and efficient ment period.
family reunification system
• Assist universities with infrastructure costs
• Work with the provinces to speed the recog-
nition of the credentials of foreign-trained Promoting Innovation
professionals
Innovation is the key to economic growth in
A Liberal Government will spend $800-million Manitoba, Canada and around the world. A
to streamline and clear backlogs in the immi- Liberal Government will
gration process:
• Create tax initiatives for research, develop-
• $400 million to process applications more ment and innovation
efficiently and support the admission of
• Increase support for university research
significantly more permanent residents to
chairs in the fields of both applied and pure
Canada.
research.
• $200 million in New Beginnings Canada to
• Provide greater support for higher educa-
help newcomers master the language nec-
tion, including the University of Manitoba,
essary to get jobs that match their qualifica-
the University of Winnipeg, Brandon Univer-
tions
sity, Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface,
• $200 million for Bridge to Work - a new initia- and Red River College
tive that will better prepare newcomers for
the workplace through the use of intern-
ships, mentorship and work placement
opportunities, and that will provide direct Fiscal Policy

Page  - Liberal Party of Canada Manitoba Platform 2008

 BUILDING MANITOBA’S ECONOMY
Support for Key Industries
in Manitoba
Liberals will create a $1-billion Advanced
Manufacturing Fund, to help manufacturers
modernize and go green. Manitoba Liberal
MP’s will support key growth industries in
Manitoba, including:
The Life Sciences industry, by building upon
the critical mass established in Manitoba un-
der previous Liberal governments. We will:
• Develop “Bio-Med City” by offering sup-
port for growth in the key research facili-
ties, including the St. Boniface Hospital and
the U of M Health Sciences Centre cam-
puses
• Enhance funding for a new “pod” and of-
fice building at the Virology Lab
• Support the growth and approve the
designation of the Public Health Agency of
Canada in Winnipeg
Agribusiness and Agriculture, by building
on Winnipeg’s role as a centre for producing
and marketing agricultural products, as well
as encouraging the development of value-
added industry.
The Aerospace Industry, by encouraging in-
Sound fiscal management for Canadians,
including future generations, is a cornerstone
of Liberal policy. New programming will be fi-
nanced through shared economic growth and
prosperity, not new taxes. A Liberal Govern-
ment is committed to:
Using the Green Shift to levy a tax-revenue
neutral carbon tax on polluters, and using
that revenue to:
• Lower personal income taxes by up to 10%
• Reduce the small business tax from 10% to
11% and
• Shrink the corporate tax rate to 14% by 2013.
SUPPORTING KEY MANITOBA INDUSTRIES
AND PURSUING A PRUDENT FISCAL POLICY
vestment in technology and human resources
and by promoting the development of an
THE CONSERVATIVE
RECORD:
educated and highly skilled workforce, and
ensuring the federal government respects The Conservatives
the Canada Labour Code. promised not to tax
income trusts, then
The Transportation Industry, by working broke their word,
to establish Winnipeg as a centre for logis- wiping out
tics and transportation on the North-South $25 billion from the
and East-West axes and by supporting the retirement and in-
improvement of transportation and commu-
vestment portfolios
nications infrastructure, and work with the of Canadians.
Province of Manitoba to designate Winnipeg
as an “Inland Port.” The Finance Minis-
ter told internation-
Liberals oppose Air Canada’s recent decision al investors to avoid
to close its Winnipeg Flight Attendant’s base. Ontario, which to-
Manitoba Liberals will fight to keep transpor- gether with Quebec
tation jobs in the province has lost hundreds of
The arts and culture sector, by assuring thousands of jobs
support for the Canada Arts Council and our in manufacturing
national broadcaster and by providing stable since the Conserva-
industry support for other local cultural insti- tives took over.
tutions and activities, such as our museums,
art galleries and festivals and the Royal Winni-
peg Ballet. We will also work to complete the
vision of the Canadian Museum for Human
Rights that began with Israel Asper, and was
launched with funding provided by a Liberal
government.
• In order to secure Canada’s fiscal stability,
we will restore the $3-billion contingency
reserve that was eliminated by the Conser-
vatives
• Reduce corporate taxes to enhance interna-
tional competitiveness and fuel the Cana-
dian economic engine
• Encourage Manitoba to harmonize its sales
tax.
“ Liberals recognize that in order to deliver strong
social programs, we need to support a strong
and growing market economy.”
- Stéphane Dion
Liberal Party of Canada Manitoba Platform 2008 - Page 
BUILDING MANITOBA’S ECONOMY
SUPPORTING AGRICULTURE, AGRI-BUSINESS & RURAL MANITOBA
THE CONSERVATIVE
RECORD:
The attempt to dis-
mantle the Canadian
Wheat Board poses
a serious threat to
grain farmers, espe-
cially small farms and
for producers who
live far from the U.S.
Border.
The elimination
of climate change
programs from
Agriculture Canada
means the loss of a
tremendous tool to
work collaboratively
with primary produc-
ers to combat climate
change.
While announcing
public recalls of prod-
ucts deemed threats
to public health, the
Conservatives were
quietly dismantling
Canada’s food safety
and inspection sys-
tem by taking inspec-
tor off the floor. Since
this occurred, there
have been two major
outbreaks of listerio-
ises in both meat and
cheeses.
Page  - Liberal Party of Canada Manitoba Platform 2008
Agriculture, Food Safety and Food Security Support for Farmers
Improving and expanding farm safety net
Manitoba’s economy and its heritage begins
programs to meet the needs of agriculture
with our agricultural communities. We pro-
producers in raising income levels and provide
duce some of the best quality food and have
a reasonable return for investment and labour.
some of the most efficient producers in the
world. Our farmers are increasingly diversify-
ing into non-food products and niche markets. WORKING WITH PRIMARY PRODUCERS TO
We must ensure that Canada retains control COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE
over the security of its food supply and that
our farm families are given fair compensation Reducing the agricultural production of meth-
for their contribution to our economy. ane and nitrous oxide can make a tremendous
contribution to the reduction of Greenhouse
We will also strengthen the Government of Gases (GHGs). Manitoba Liberal MP’s will work
Canada’s food safety inspection regime so towards:
families know the food they serve their fami-
lies is safe to eat. • Maintaining/reinstating the climate change
programs within Agriculture Canada
A New Centre of Excellence for • Enhance these programs with an imple-
the Grain Industry mentation and compliance strategy that
Agriculture is not only important to rural Mani- provides a measure of greenhouse gas
toba but also to the City of Winnipeg. As the reductions associated with new agricultural
home of many of Canada’s major grain com- initiatives
panies, Winnipeg is the hub of the western • Incorporate climate change adaptation
Canadian grain industry. The Manitoba Liberal strategies into the Canadian Adaptation and
Team is committed to establishing a Centre for Rural Development fund framework
Excellence for the Canadian grain industry. The
• Provide support for undergraduate and
new Centre will:
graduate programs that provide practical
• Bring together a number of research groups training for site-specific problems, including
that are currently supported by the Govern- erosion control, adaptive land use strategies
ment of Canada – e.g., The Canadian Grain
Commission, the Canadian International
Grain Institute, the Canadian Malt Barley
Technical Centre, the Cereal Research Centre
and the Canadian Wheat Board
• Serve as a customer-centred research and
resource organization that will address the
needs of the Canadian grain industry
• Complement the food and health research
being done at both the federally funded
Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and
Nutraceuticals and the National Centre for
Agri-Food Research in Medicine at St. Boni-
face Hospital.
 BUILDING MANITOBA’S ECONOMY
DEFENDING MANITOBA’S ROLE AS A PLAYER
IN THE GLOBAL GRAIN MARKET

THE CONSERVATIVE
The Canadian Wheat Board Improve and expand the Canadian Agricul-
ture Income Stability (CAIS) program to meet RECORD:
Liberals strongly support the retention of the the needs of agriculture producers in raising
In the 90’s, Liberals
single desk authority of the Canadian Wheat income levels and providing a reasonable
democratized the
Board unless and until farmers choose return for investment and labour.
Canadian Wheat
otherwise, under a fair and transparent The Canadian Grain Commission Board by handing
control over to board
process. Recent Conservative changes to the Cana- members elected by
The Wheat Board creates some four hun- dian Grain Commission will result in a loss farmers.
dred jobs in Manitoba and fixes Winnipeg of over 200 high-salary head-office jobs in
Since being elected
as the centre of the Canadian grain industry Manitoba.
in 2006, Conserva-
through its numerous spin-offs. These losses, combined with the attempts tives have sought to
The success of the Wheat Board is also instru- to gut the Canadian Wheat Board, have put strip farmers of their
mental to the success of the Port of Churchill the status of Winnipeg as a North American control by stacking
and the Hudson Bay Rail Line, both of which grain centre and a hub for the grain industry the CWB board with
are highly dependent upon grain movement in jeopardy. anti-single-desk gov-
by the Board. ernment appointees,
Manitoba Liberal MP’s will act to preserve
imposing gag orders
the status and role of the Commission in
Manitoba Liberal MP’s will: Winnipeg and enhance Winnipeg’s position
and expecting the
Strengthen legislation to protect the Cana- Board to take orders
in Agri-business.
dian Wheat Board and protect its democrati- from Ottawa.
cally elected directors from political interfer- The Conservatives
ence. set up a commission
to assess the Wheat
Board’s role that
was stacked with six
LOSING THE CWB: WHAT’S AT RISK FOR MANITOBA long-time opponents
of the CWB, including
The Conservatives’ handling of the Canadian a powerful instrument for Manitoba farm-
the Alberta govern-
Wheat Board and the Canadian Grains Com- ers to market their grain to international
ment. The Govern-
mission is putting one of Manitoba’s key eco- customers.
ments of Manitoba
nomic clusters - the grain industry - at risk.
The negative effects also include the pos- and Saskatchewan
The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce has sible decommissioning of the northern were invited only as
been quite clear about their concerns: rail line, which serves tens of thousands observers, thereby
of Manitobans in remote communities, as excluded from influ-
• The CWB employs 460 people and each encing the outcome.
well as a devastating impact on the Port of
year pays out $66-million in wages
Churchill. Since then, the gov-
• The CWB’s spinoff impact is estimated at Considering the impacts, the farmers who ernment has fired the
1,834 full-time equivalent jobs. Wheat Board CEO,
elect members to the Wheat Board deserve
The collapse of the Wheat Board, which facts and open, honest debate. This is run a plebiscite that
many reputable, independent analysts have something that the Conservative govern- used numbered bal-
predicted should “marketing choice” be ment has not been willing to deliver. lots, and is currently
introduced, could result in a job loss of over trying to disenfran-
2,200 people in Winnipeg, and the loss of chise grain farmers
from voting.

Liberal Party of Canada Manitoba Platform 2008 - Page 

BUILDING MANITOBA’S ECONOMY
SERVICE & GROWTH FOR NORTHERN MANITOBA

THE CONSERVATIVE THE NORTH • Work to improve the capability of Fixed-

Liberals are committed to the sustainable Wing Search and Rescue aircraft in the
RECORD: North by basing four of them north of 60 to
development of Northern Manitoba, ensuring
that Northern Communities share in the re- make the region safer for Northerners and
The CWB and the North
source wealth and that we continue to expand the people who travel there
The Conservatives’ new opportunities for improvements in health
assault on the Wheat • Re-establish the Ambassador for Circumpo-
and education services, as well as transporta- lar Affairs position created by the previous
Board does more tion and communications infrastructure.
than put the liveli- Liberal government in 1994
A federal presence in the North is the best way
hood of northern to protect Canadian sovereignty. Manitoba • Ensure the completion of seabed mapping
farmers at risk. It puts MP’s will to better protect Canadian sovereignty; and
the whole Northern
Rail line and the Port • Work to bolster support and invesment for • Increase the Northern Residents Deduction
of Churchill at risk as the Town of Churchill and the transporta- to better reflect the rising cost of living.
well. tion infrastructure serving the town to make • Provide a new Green Rural Credit worth
it a viable, sustainable, Northern deep water $150 per year for every person who lives in
Neglecting Churchill port rural areas or the North
They have pledged
• Enhance support for winter road construc- • The Doctors and Nurses Fund will reward
billions in spending
tion and the development of alternative health care providers who practise in areas
for deep-water ports
modes of transportation in anticipation of where there are currently shortages, includ-
for Nunavut while
further climate change ing rural and Northern Manitoba
ignoring the existing
port of Churchill. • Restore literacy programs in order to ensure
Northerners have the tools they need to
Neglecting First
succeed
Nations
When they ripped up • Reject a proposal to allow Canadian navy
the Kelowna accord, ships to dump waste into the Arctic Ocean
the Conservatives • Work with Northern communities to find
scrapped an estimat- ways to mitigate the effects of climate
ed $750-million in change and to fund centres for research and
spending on health, development in the North
education, clean
water and housing
for First Nations in
Manitoba, much of
which would have CONTAMINATION IN THE NORTH
been spent in the Manitoba Liberal MP’s will work with the mining industry, other industries and the
North. Province to help those industries meet their environmental obligations for existing
The Conserva- operations and to clean up closed and abandoned sites.
tives also scrapped
smoking cessation
programs and adult
literacy programs for
Aboriginals.

Page 10 - Liberal Party of Canada Manitoba Platform 2008

 COMMUNITY RENEWAL: CITIES AND TOWNS
STIFFER PENALTIES FOR GUNS, GANGS AND CAR THIEVES
RENEWED FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND POLICING

JUSTICE Support for Local Police Forces THE CONSERVATIVE

A Liberal government wants fewer criminals, A Liberal Government will provide $80-mil-
RECORD:
not more convicts. lion in funding support to local governments
This means a coordinated crime prevention, to enhance community police resources, Conservative MP’s
anti-poverty and education, recreation, and especially funds targeted to deal with guns have been stall-
employment strategy that will reduce crime and gang activity, organized crime and drug ing the passage of
and not just deal with its after-effects. trafficking anti-crime legislation
Crime rates declined significantly under the through the House of
previous Liberal government, but more work Giving the RCMP the tools necessary to pursue Commons, but have
needs to be done to address specific areas of “new” crimes, including a Bill to allow CSIS and been blaming it on
concern, gangs and other criminal organiza- police to adapt to new communications tech- the opposition.
tions, gun crime and drug trafficking. nologies, legislation to prevent internet luring Prime Minister
of children, and tougher laws on identity theft Stephen Harper
A Liberal Government’s justice plan means announced legisla-
more than just building new prisons. Your Upholding the Constitution, the Rule of tion that he claimed
would combat car
Liberal Manitoba MP’s will: Law, and our Systems of Justice:
theft in Winnipeg,
• Promote legislation that deals seriously with A Liberal government will : but the law focused
repeat and violent young offenders. almost entirely on
• Respect the independence of the Courts
• Work with the Provinces to combat youth organized crime and
and court process and Canada’s administra-
crime, to promote collaborative, communi- car theft rings, which
tive tribunals and permit them to perform
ty-based, and community-driven strategies are a problem in
their public functions without political
that work Montreal, Vancouver
interference
and Toronto, but not
• Review the Youth Criminal Justice Act to • Funding for the Winnipeg-based Court in Winnipeg. It was a
ensure the right balance between crime Challenges Program, which ensures that Ca- clear demonstration
prevention and appropriate deterrence. nadians are all treated fairly by the Federal that the Conserva-
• Develop a crime strategy that engages the Government tives are out of touch
causes of youth criminal behaviour includ- with the needs of
ing crime prevention, anti-gang, youth Winnipeggers when
recreation and training it comes to car theft
and public safety.
• Implement a comprehensive strategy to
deal with the severe issues caused by Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome and related disorders.
• Make car theft an indictable offence and
implement the Criminal Code amendments
recommended by the Province of Manitoba.

Liberal Party of Canada Manitoba Platform 2008 - Page 11

COMMUNITY RENEWAL
MAKING COMMUNITIES SAFER AND STRONGER WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING;
FIXING AND BUILDING URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE

THE CONSERVATIVE Support for Municipalities • Honour all commitments to the establish-
ment and funding of the Canadian Museum
RECORD: and Local Governments for Human Rights that started with the
STALLING ON The Liberal Party is committed to building original $100 million commitment under the
FUNDING FOR THE infrastructure in Manitoba to enhance the last Liberal government.
RED RIVER FLOODWAY province’s economic development.
EXPANSION • Encourage Canadian municipalities to par-
A Liberal government will invest $70-billion take in the Clinton Climate Initiative, which
Because of the over the next ten years to address Canada’s was launched in August, 2006, to establish
importance of pro- infrastructure deficit. This will include $3-bil- measures that curb greenhouse gas emis-
tecting Winnipeg in lion for a dedicated small communities fund sions
the event of a flood and an additional $3-billion for sports and
equal to or worse recreation centres • Encourage “smart growth” to promote sus-
than 1997, the previ- tainable development in cities by promot-
This fund would include $2.8 billion for infra-
ous Liberal govern- ing growth in city centres, in contrast to
structure in Manitoba:
ment designated the urban sprawl.
Red River Floodway • $1-billion for Municipalities through the gas
expansion as a tax Stronger Communities and Neighbourhoods
project of national • $400-million for Water and Waste upgrades, • Provide support for low-income and social
significance. which can help municipalities reduce pollu- housing:
That meant that it tion in Manitoba’s lakes and rivers • Create 30,000 new social housing units
was funded sepa- across Canada - 1,200 in Manitoba
• $300-million for Small Communities that
rately from other
have small tax bases • Refurbish another 30,000 existing units
federal infrastructure
projects in Manitoba. • $120-million for Sports and Recreation across Canada - 1,200 in Manitoba
The Conservatives Centres, which will fund community sports • Introduce a $140-million Low-Income
reneged on that and recreation centres and could play a role Homes Retrofit Partnership Fund
position, announc- in funding a new or renovated Winnipeg
Stadium • Build upon the results of the Centennial
ing a new funding
Project initiated by the Winnipeg Founda-
agreement two days Manitoba Liberal MP will work to: tion and funded through the Moffat family
before the election
• Ensure the federal government meets its donation.
call.
obligations to support Winnipeg Floodway
The funding - which construction
stretches over six
years - still leaves • Fund Rapid Transit in Winnipeg and make
much to be desired, the extension of the line from Jubilee to the
since most of it is University of Manitoba a reality.
consumed by two • Participate with the other levels of govern-
projects initiated ment and the private sector in the funding
by the Liberals - the of projects such as the funding of the Win-
Red River Floodway nipeg Stadium redevelopment
expansion and the
City of Winnipeg wa-
ter treatment plant,
and nothing for the
clean-up of Lake
Winnipeg.

Page 12 - Liberal Party of Canada Manitoba Platform 2008

 ACTION ON THE ENVIRONMENT
ENHANCING MANITOBA’S ROLE IN COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE

CLIMATE CHANGE WORKING WITH PROVINCES TO COMBAT THE CONSERVATIVE

CLIMATE CHANGE RECORD:
The Green Shift is the most affordable and
Protection of the environment requires coop- RENEGING ON
efficient means of transforming our econ-
omy and reducing greenhouse gas emis- eration among all levels of government. KYOTO
sions. A carbon tax means that polluters can’t A federal Liberal government would: The Conserva-
use the atmosphere as a free garbage dump tive government
for pollution. • Promote partnerships with the provincial has abandoned
governments in such international initiatives Canada’s leadership
A Liberal Government will act immediately to as the Western Climate Initiative to reduce on Climate Change
restore Canada’s lost international credibility emissions to 15% below 2005 levels by 2020, by abandoning
by taking quick action to reduce greenhouse with four states and four Canadian prov- the Kyoto Protocol
gas emissions and joining with the community inces as members and undermining
of conscientious nations in addressing climate international efforts
change. Alternative Energy and for action on Climate
Energy Conservation: Change.
Manitoba Liberal MP’s will work with the As examples, the
Manitoba Government and other provinces Conservative govern-
A Liberal Government will help Manitobans
to ensure that Canada meets the next round ment cancelled many
with the rising cost of home heating and fossil
of Kyoto Protocol targets. Our goal is to make programs to improve
fuels by:
Manitoba a leader in climate change adapta- energy efficiency and
tion and mitigation initiatives. • Enhancing the federal tax incentives, initi- reduce greenhouse
ated by Liberals, for the development of gas emissions that
These initiatives include: wind power and other sources of clean, had been initiated
renewable energy by Liberals. These in-
• Working with provincial and municipal
governments to establish GHG reduction • Providing grants of up to $10,000 to home- cluded the Energuide
targets within an international framework owners for retrofits that improve their home program, programs
energy efficiency that helped pay Ca-
• Highlighting the importance of inclusion of nadians for improv-
the agricultural sector in a comprehensive • Create $10,000 interest-free green mortgag- ing the energy effi-
climate change strategy for Canada es for more major energy-saving retrofits, ciency of their homes
such as geothermal or solar heating and a program
• Recognizing Winnipeg as a domestic emis-
sions trading centre in the Carbon market, • Examine the establishment of a new role that encouraged
and for the AECL Pinawa facility, including the the construction
establishment of a back-up medical isotope of environmentally
• Providing hope and opportunity to the reactor. friendly commercial
most vulnerable of society through invest- buildings.
ment in pilot projects that encourage self-
The Conservatives’
sufficiency in northern and remote commu-
emissions targets
nities, in keeping with the Kelowna Accord.
are not fully enforce-
able until 2050.

Liberal Party of Canada Manitoba Platform 2008 - Page 13

ACTION ON THE ENVIRONMENT
PROTECTING OUR LAKES AND RIVERS
& EXPANDING AND EXPORTING MANITOBA’S GREEN ENERGY

THE CONSERVATIVE
While in office, the EAST-WEST POWER GRID MANITOBA’S WATER and LAKE WINNIPEG
Conservatives pro-
RECORD: The National Liberal Infrastructure plan specifi- Manitoba Liberal MP’s will develop a compre-
posed to cut envi- cally mentions funding the construction of the hensive water strategy for Canada that will
In 2006, Liberals
ronmental programs East-West Power grid, which will help secure include Lake Winnipeg protection as one of
pledged $120-mil-
within Agriculture Manitoba’s future as a green energy power- its pillars. Building on plans initiated in 2005, a
lion to the clean up
Canada by 50%, with house. Liberal government will:
of Lake Winnipeg
a loss of 400 full time
- one of the biggest The development of a national energy security
jobs. • Commit $120M over ten years to ensure im-
lakes in the world plan that uses renewable sources of energy is mediate action is taken to reduce nutrient
The
and 2006 Liberal
natural resource central to Canada’s objective to meet Kyoto loading to Lake Winnipeg and Lake Mani-
platform
upon called
which for
thou- targets and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. toba
$120-million
sands to be
of Manitobans
Manitoba Hydro is one of the largest exporters
dedicated to research
depend. • Develop and implement recommenda-
of electricity to the United States, and since
and clean-up of Lake tions from provincial and federal task force
The Conservatives, 1970 has offset 150,000,000 tons of carbon
Winnipeg. reports requesting federal leadership in
in turn, pledged dioxide that would otherwise be generated by
In 2007, the Conser-
$18-million. Virtually efforts to save Lake Winnipeg
coal-fuelled plants in the U.S. Many other ju-
vativesofpromised
none the money risdictions also rely on coal, and an “East-West • Recognize the importance of Lake Winnipeg
$18-million,
has actually but
flowed. Power grid would allow Canadian provinces to as one of Canada’s Great Lakes
none of
There the
has money
been so reduce their reliance on coal and use emis-
has flowed
little to thethat
movement • Create the Lake Winnipeg Council to ensure
sions-free Hydro power instead.
province.
the government re- that stakeholders and scientists can work
Manitoba Liberal MP’s will: collaboratively together to reverse the con-
announced
$1-million for the • Work with the provinces and affected com- ditions that are harming the lake
Lake. munities to develop an east-west Hydro grid • Increase funding for research and action
• Establish a regulatory and economic frame- plans at the Freshwater Institute in Winni-
work (through community consultations, peg
environmental assessments) that initiates • Augment research and planning for Lake
east-west grid implementation Winnipeg protection
• Develop a national policy on Canada’s en- • Work immediately and aggressively with our
ergy infrastructure requirements, as is noted American counterparts to ensure that the
in the Chamber of Commerce Report on 2005 agreement on the Devil’s Lake outlet is
Energy respected and that the protective measures
• Work with provinces to create an interpro- are fully implemented
vincial electricity market and policy • Disallow transfers from the Missouri River
• Work with First Nations communities and basin into the Red River basin unless any
the provincial government to select one of risks of contamination from foreign biota or
three routes for the power grid, based on chemical contaminants are dealt with.
thorough consultations, with the purpose
of selecting the most economically viable
option that meets the needs of those living
in northern and remote communities
• Remove barriers to encourage and facilitate
interprovincial trade in electricity.

Page 14 - Liberal Party of Canada Manitoba Platform 2008

LIBERAL CANDIDATES IN MANITOBA

Anita Neville, MP Ray Simard, MP Tina Keeper, MP Dan Hurley John Loewen
Winnipeg South Centre St. Boniface Churchill Winnipeg Centre Winnipeg South

Marcelle Marion Wendy Menzies Lesley Hughes Bob Friesen Shirley Hiebert
Winnipeg North Dauphin-Swan River- Kildonan-St. Paul Charleswood - St. James Provencher
Marquette - Assiniboia

Wes Penner Kevin Walsh Ted Klassen M.J. Willard

Elmwood-Transcona Selkirk - Interlake Portage - Lisgar Brandon-Souris

Liberal Party of Canada Manitoba Platform 2008 - Page 15

www.liberalpartyofcanada-mb.ca