Statement by MFL President Kevin Rebeck in response to the Kinew government’s first Speech from the Throne:

After seven years of PC cuts, chaos in health care and disrespect for working people, it is refreshing to hear the new tone coming from the provincial government, said Manitoba Federation of Labour president Kevin Rebeck.

Inflation has hit working families hard over the last few years and the MFL is glad that the new provincial government is committed to rebalancing Manitoba’s labour relations after the previous government tipped the scales in favour of employers. We await further details on the government’s plan.

The MFL believes that government needs to act quickly to ensure Manitobans get bigger paycheques, better benefits and safer workplaces. It needs to be easier for workers to join a union if a majority of people in a workplace sign a union application card. And it is time for Manitoba to ban temporary replacement workers to ensure fairness during labour disputes when workers are trying to get fair pay raises that help them deal with rising prices at the grocery store, gas pumps and in the cost of housing.

The Speech from the Throne highlighted other areas that are important to Manitoba’s unions and working families, including a commitment by the government to conduct a listening tour with health care workers throughout the province. 

While the previous government only listened to their high-priced consultants who told them to make drastic cuts, the Kinew government is focusing on listening to the dedicated Manitobans who work on the frontlines and behind the scenes to provide the health care services that we all count on. Health care workers know what will help cure our ailing health care system, and the MFL is glad that the Kinew government is launching this initiative. 

It is also encouraging to hear that the government will focus on rebuilding public services, investing in infrastructure and creating good, family-supporting jobs for Manitobans. As concerns about an economic slowdown continue, now is the time for government to make strategic investments to keep our economy strong and help families pay that bills.