Church Teaching The Dignity & Importance of Work
The use of one’s gifts to seek and serve God necessarily includes work, by which humans cooperate with God in God’s continuing act of creation. Work has a place of honour because it is a source of the conditions for a decent life, and is, in principle, an effective instrument against poverty. But one must not succumb to the temptation of making an idol of work, for the ultimate and definitive meaning of life is not to be found in work. Work is essential, but it is God — and not work — who is the origin of life and the final goal of man.
The underlying principle of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. The demand of justice, which stems from it, precedes concerns for profit: “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it” (Pr 15:16). “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice” (Pr 16:8). – 257, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
Work is not only an essential part of life, but when we work in accordance with our inner passions – our individual vocations – it is a joy. And it is also an obligation to one’s family, neighbors, and nation. Man must work, both because the Creator has commanded it and in order to respond to the need to maintain and develop his own humanity. We are heirs of the work of generations and at the same time shapers of the future of all who will live after us. – 274, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
But work, and particularly dignified work, is not readily available for all who seek it. Those who are unemployed or underemployed suffer the profound negative consequences that such a situation creates in a personality and they run the risk of being marginalized within society, of becoming victims of social exclusion… –289, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Poverty Reduction
The poor, the marginalized and in all cases those whose living conditions interfere with their proper growth should be the focus of particular concern. To this end, the preferential option for the poor should be reaffirmed in all its force… Today, this love of preference for the poor, and the decisions which it inspires in us, cannot but embrace the immense multitudes of the hungry, the needy, the homeless, those without health care and, above all, those without hope of a better future.” – 182, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Catholics are called to remember Jesus’ own words: What we do to the least among us, we do to Him. – Matthew 25:31-46
“Helping the poor financially must always be a provisional solution in the face of pressing needs.
The broader objective should always be to allow them a dignified life through work”.
– Pope Francis, Laudato si’, 128
An Economy to Serve People
“I encourage financial experts and political leaders to ponder the words of one of the sages of antiquity:
‘Not to share one’s wealth with the poor is to steal from them and to take away their livelihood. It is not our own goods which we hold, but theirs…’
Money must serve, not rule!”
–Pope Francis, Joy of the Gospel, 57-58
The development of economic activity and growth in production are meant to provide for the needs of human beings. Economic life is not meant solely to multiply goods produced and increase profit or power; it is ordered first of all to the service of persons, of the whole man, and of the entire human community. For many people, a living wage and dignified housing are beyond reach. – 2426, Catechism of the Catholic Church
The planning capacity of a society oriented towards the common good and looking to the future is measured… above all on the basis of the employment prospects that it is able to offer. Maintaining employment depends more and more on one’s professional capabilities. Instructional and educational systems must not neglect human or technological formation, which are necessary for gainfully fulfilling one’s responsibilities. Young people should be taught to act upon their own initiative, to accept the responsibility of facing with adequate competencies the risks connected with a fluid economic context that is often unpredictable in the way it evolves. -271-290, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
Small businesses, trades, and crafts
The decentralization of production, which assigns to smaller companies several tasks previously undertaken by larger production interests, gives vitality and new energy to the area of small and medium-sized businesses. In this way, alongside traditional artisans there emerge new businesses characterized by small production interests at work in modern production sectors or in decentralized activities of larger companies.
Work in small and medium-sized businesses, the work of artisans and independent work can represent an occasion to make the actual work experience more human, both in terms of the possibility of establishing positive personal relationships in smaller-sized communities and in terms of the opportunities for greater initiative and industriousness. In these sectors, however, there are more than just a few cases of unjust treatment, of poorly paid and, above all, uncertain work. – 315, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
Industries, Innovation, & Agriculture
Thanks to technological innovations, the world is being enriched with new professions while others are disappearing. In the present phase of transition there is a continuous movement of workers from the industrial sector to that of services… In particular, there is an increase in…part-time, temporary and “non-traditional” employment… – 313, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
Unions & Workers’ Rights
The demands of competition, technological innovation and the complexities of financial fluxes must be brought into harmony with the defense of workers and their rights. – 313, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
Any form of materialism or economic tenet that tries to reduce the worker to a mere instrument of production, a simple labour force with an exclusively material value, would hopelessly distort the essence of work and strip it of its most noble and basic human quality. 270-271, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Among the rights of workers, the Church recognizes:
– the right to a just wage;
– the right to rest;
– the right “to a working environment and to manufacturing processes which are not harmful to the workers’ physical health or to their moral integrity”;
– the right that one’s personality in the workplace should be safeguarded “without suffering any affront to one’s conscience or personal dignity;
– the right to appropriate subsidies that are necessary for the subsistence of unemployed workers and their families;
– the right to a pension and to insurance for old age, sickness, and in case of work-related accidents;
– the right to social security connected with maternity;
– the right to assemble and form associations.
– 301, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
The Church recognizes the fundamental role played by labour unions… Such organizations, while pursuing their specific purpose with regard to the common good, are a positive influence for social order and solidarity, and are therefore an indispensable element of social life. Work, because of its subjective or personal character, is superior to every other factor connected with productivity; this principle applies, in particular, with regard to capital.
The Church’s social doctrine teaches that relations within the world of work must be marked by cooperation: hatred and attempts to eliminate the other are completely unacceptable. This is also the case because in every social system both “labour” and “capital” represent indispensable components of the process of production.
No Christian, in light of the fact that he belongs to a united and fraternal community, should feel that he has the right not to work and to live at the expense of others (cf. 2 Thes 3:6-12). Rather, all are charged… to make it a point of honour to work with their own hands, so as to be dependent on nobody (1 Thes 4:12), and to practise a solidarity which is also material by sharing the fruits of their labour with “those in need” (Eph 4:28). – 264, 305-307, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
Corporations & Competition, and Consumers
You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
– the 10th Commandment
The individual profit of an economic enterprise, although legitimate, must never become the sole objective. Social utility is an objective of even higher order. When the free market carries out the important functions mentioned above it becomes a service to the common good and to integral human development. When focused on profit alone, however, the market can degenerate into an inhuman and alienating institution, with uncontrollable repercussions.
Freedom in the economic sector… must be regulated by appropriate legal norms so that it will be placed at the service of integral human freedom… A great deal of educational and cultural work is urgently needed, including the education of consumers in the responsible use of their power of choice, the formation of a strong sense of responsibility among producers and among people in the mass media in particular, as well as necessary intervention by public authorities. In order to balance the principle of solidarity with the rights and obligations of the individual, the State’s intervention in the economic environment must be neither invasive nor absent, but commensurate with society’s real needs. “The State has a duty to sustain business activities by creating conditions which will ensure job opportunities, by stimulating those activities where they are lacking or by supporting them in moments of crisis. The State has the further right to intervene when particular monopolies create delays or obstacles to development. -305-307, 351, 376 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
There is a growing loss of the sense of history, which leads to even further breakup. A kind of “deconstructionism”, whereby human freedom claims to create everything starting from zero, is making headway in today’s culture. The one thing it leaves in its wake is the drive to limitless consumption and expressions of empty individualism –12, Fratelli Tutti
Transportation & Infrastructure
The demands of the common good… are strictly connected to respect for and the integral promotion of the person and his fundamental rights. Among other things, these demands concern commitment to the provision of essential services to all, some of which are at the same time human rights: food, housing, work, education and access to culture, transportation… -166, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Green Party of Manitoba The party states, as a matter of principle, that rather than people being subservient to the economy, the economy should provide for human needs within the natural limits of the earth
The party further states that:
– it believes that the provincial economy must work for everyone, including future generations
– Manitobans want to embrace a clean, green economy without delay, one that will lead the province into the very realistic, carbon-free future
– it believes in divesting from projects related to fossil fuels. World experience indicates that when money is invested in alternative transportation systems and renewable energy, more jobs are created,household costs are reduced, and overall pollution is minimized
– it believes in supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs,especially those who ensure social, environmental, and economic benefits. It recognizes that a healthy small business community means more jobs, more diversity, and more resilient communities
– it supports the development of alternative business structures, such as social enterprises and community economic development. It understands that such community organizations emerge to meet local needs, and are a valuable part of a healthy economy and healthy communities
– the green economy thrives on meaningful citizen participation, promotes community involvement and does not accept poverty or social exclusion
– it is important to minimize and re-purposes waste, use resources efficiently, and protect natural ecosystems
– it looks for solutions which create good jobs, reduce household costs, reduce pollution and build a safe, healthy futurefor our children and grandchildren
To ensure an economy that works for everyone, the party advocates:
– ending subsidizatopm of dangerous and polluting industries with public money and lax environmental standards
– transitioning the provincial economy away from reliance on the use of fossil fuels
– support for businesses interested in making the transition torenewable energy
– holding polluters accountable by ensuring that they pay by introducing a fee on a broad range of fossil fuels that will rise each year, thereby encouraging behavioral change, and providing revenues to be used intransitioning to a carbon-free economy
– integrating environmental and social accountability in all economic processes, including (i) undertaking measures intended to ensure that all economic activity and its impact are both ecologically sustainable and socially just; (ii) undertaking actions to replace jobs lost during the transition away from fossil fuels with a larger amount of better, long-term employment opportunities with more social and environmental benefits; developing and using a “quality of life” measurement of the impact of economic activity in addition to continuing to measuring and reporting on changes to the provincial Gross Domestic Product
– localizing the provincial economy, by (i) making local industry a priority by encouraging trade that is sensible,sustainable, and ultimately beneficial to Manitobans; (ii) supporting and investing in small Manitoban companies producing goods for local markets by directing government assistance toward smaller businesses, especially new and young independent entrepreneurs; supporting and investing in community economic development initiatives
Poverty Reduction
The party states that:
– it acknowledges that poverty is a complex issue that must be addressed on many levels
– it seeks to mitigate poverty through removing barriers in education and training, health care, childcare, housing, and child protection
– it wants to equalize access to services that promote equity and address social marginalization, thereby expanding opportunities for people to escape the cycle of poverty
– it believes that it is important to ensure that everyone has a financial support net, provided in the most cost-efficient and effective manner possible
– the current method of providing income assistance to Manitobans is inefficient and costly to administer, with difficult-to-navigate bureaucratic processes. By introducing a Basic Income, it would be able to support Manitobans in a way that is efficient and that respects inherent human dignity
– introducing a Basic Income will support to individuals and families living in poverty, and drastically reduce the number of children living in poverty in Manitoba. It will reduce poverty rates among those groups that are disproportionately affected, such as seniors and people living with disabilities. It will also provide students and entrepreneurs with a safety net that will encourage education, innovation and entrepreneurship.
– investing in people pays huge dividends in long-term cost savings forhealth care, justice, and social services
– ending poverty is good forindividuals, and good for all Manitobans
To end the cycle of poverty and create an equitable society for all, the party advocates:
– introduction of a Basic Income (BI), administered through the income tax system and funded by the removal of selected refundable and non-refundable tax credits
– the BI plan would include:
● Eligibility: Any adult 18+ in Manitoba who has filed two consecutive tax returns
● The Guarantee: $7,200 for a single adult family and $10,180 for a two adult family
● The Benefit Reduction Rate: 13.5 per cent
● Exit Level (at which G=$0): $53,333 for a one adult family; $75,407 for a two adult family.
● Definition of Income Used to Reduce the Value of the Guarantee: Net Nuclear Family income which includes the following income sources for all adults in the family: earnings, public and private pension benefits, interest on investments, dividends, rental income, capital gains & losses, employment insurance benefits, Guaranteed Income Supplements and Spouses Allowances, Worker’s Compensation benefits, Old Age Security and Canada Child Benefits. It does not include provincial transfer payments from Social Assistance, 55PLUS, Manitoba Child Benefit or Rent Assist.
– ending homelessness, by (i) working with individuals, community organizations, andgovernments at all levels, to prevent, reduce and endhomelessness in Manitoba by 2025; (ii) implementing a Housing First strategy to address homelessness; (iii) increasing the supply of affordable housing through cooperatives and community supported projects; and (vi) restoring the cuts made to the Rent Assist Program
– ensuring income security for seniors by protecting pension plans, by (i) working with the federal government on an ongoing basis to ensure the adequacy and fiscal sustainability of the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Supplement and Guaranteed Income Supplement until such time such measures could be replaced by a joint federal-provincial Basic Income; and (ii) enacting new legislation to require the courts and the PensionCommissioner and the Pension Commission of Manitoba to apply trust law to protect pension trust funds and earnings on behalf of the beneficiaries as defined by those pension plans and pension trust agreements
– introducing a fare-free public transit system to reduce household transportation costs and make transportation accessible to all Manitobans
– ensuring that quality, affordable child care is available for all Manitobans, by (i) increasing the number of spaces available for child care to meet the rising demand; and (ii) ensuring that the cost of child care exceeds no more than 10% of household income
Jobs, Unions & Employment
The party advocates:
– prioritizing the well-being and fundamentalrights of workers by (i) enouraging collective bargaining as a fundamental human right, and respecting collective bargaining agreements; (ii) implementing a 35 hour work week to promote work/life balance and protect the health and well-being of workers; (iii) ensuring that farm employees receive the same protections as in any other industry, including employment, labour, safety andworkers’ compensation protection; and (iv) ensuring rights and protections for front line health care and support workers
Industries, infrastructure, corporations and consumers
Agriculture
The party states that:
– it defines agricultural success by measuring the well-being of farms, the farmers that own them, and the communities in which they belong
– its long-term vision for rural Manitoba is for more small-scale farms to provide Manitobans with quality foods and other products, using sustainable and regenerative practices, and for those farms to be supported by the communities that surround them.
– it wants to work towards a food system that puts farmers’ well-being first, while providing good jobs and improving the air, water, and soil for future generations
– it does do not believe that Manitobans must choose between protecting the environment or protecting industry. With the useof sustainable and regenerative practices, the province can build strong and vibrant farming communities that work together to improve our environmentand create resilient, local food systems
The party advocates:
– providing support to new farmers by (i) directing government assistance toward new, smaller farms, ending the practice of giving big grants to already established profitable farms; and (ii) creating a land bank to provide retiring farmers with new succession opportunities and help make land available and affordable to new farmers
– reducing the financial burden of all farmers by (i) reviewing provincial farm land ownership laws to discourage land price speculation by non-farming shareholders, pension plans and foreign corporations; (ii) ending farmland school taxation; and (iii) supporting the rights of farmers to save their own seeds
– increasing finanical opportinities for farmers by (i) diversifying market opportunities to help stabilize and balance agricultural commodity markets, reducing Manitoba’s dependence on exports to the US and China; (ii) working to open new provincial, regional and local market opportunities and new international markets which appreciate Manitoba quality; and (iii) directing government procurement toward ‘Buy Manitoba’
– working with farmers to move away from greenhouse gas intensive agricultural practices by (i) encouraging the use of regenerative farming practices to reduce greenhouse gases, increase plant growth, and increase species diversity on pastures; (ii) providing transition programs to support farmers who wish to transition to organic and/or regenerative food production; (iii) encouraging and supporting the transition to energy independence on farms; and (iv) ecouraging clean energy production on farms, such as solar, wind, geothermal, small scale hydro energy, and energy storage capacity installations
Infrastructure
The party states that:
– in order to achieve a truly sustainable, low-carbon society, efficiency and intelligent design need to be at the core of all new infrastructure in the province
– it recognizes that some of these infrastructural changes take more time than others; however, we are also aware that in the face of the climate crisis these changes must begin now
To ensure low carbon, pollution-free and resilient communities, the party advocates:
– expanding green transportation and infrastructure by: (i) improving active transportation opportunities, such as cycling, with further infrastructure investments; (ii) encouraging the creation of an intercity bus service in Manitoba; (iii) promoting the use of electric vehicles in Manitoba through fee-bate programs, government fleet purchases, and the installation of a greater number of electric car charging stations; (iv) providing Winnipeg and other municipalities with assistance to purchase Manitoba-made electric buses; (v) providing Winnipeg and other municipalities with the option for fare-free public transit; and (vi) exploring efficient and sustainable approaches to road maintenance and construction
– encouraging the creation of land-use projects such as urban greenspaces, urban forests, and rooftop gardens in order to decrease rainwater runoff, and cool down cities during warm summers; and (ii) exploring available options to protect urban canopies from blight and disease
– moving provincial solid waste management towards zero-waste by: (i) implementing a system of high environmental handling fees and adequate rebates to consumers for returning recyclable items; (ii) implementing province-wide municipal composting programs forresidential, industrial, commercial and institutional sectors; (iii) implementing a ban on all unnecessary single-use plastics, and exploring additional strategies to encourage the reduction of other plastic waste; implementing ban on all materials that cannot by recycled; supporting local initiatives that utilize local waste for the creation of new products
Manitoba Liberal Party Poverty Reduction
The party states that:
– the 2022 Winnipeg Street Census showed that 68% of those who are experiencing homeless are Indigenous, with 89% of those sleeping outdoors being indigenous. It is estimated that more than half, 52%, of people who are homeless were once in custody of Manitoba’s Child and Family Services (CFS) system
– Manitoba’s ‘end homelessness’ policy requires six months of homelessness before people can get help
– organizations across the province are doing great work already, but need to be supported with long-term and stable funding to be able to maximize their resources
The party advocates:
– ending provincial homelessness within two years, by (i) implementing “same-day housing” by adapting models from Medicine Hat and other cities where rapid housing with relevant supports is the norm, (ii) to help people escape homelessness and poverty for good, assessing and treating the reasons people are homeless including poverty, addictions, the Child and Family Services System; Learning Disabilities; ADHD; FASD; autism; and those who are 2SLGBTQ; and (iii) creating a dashboard Linked to Supports, updated daily, to help people and organizations navigate to the help they need and find and use food, services, warming locations and shelter
Jobs, Unions & Employment
The party advocates:
– to improve health wait times for Manitobans, and encourage workers to stay or join the public health system, introducing ‘Thank You Retention Bonuses’ of $10,000 to nurses who have been working in the public system, $10,000 to nurses who return to the public system for two years, and $5,000 to all other health care workers
Industries, Infrastructure, Corporations, and Consumers
The party advocates:
– stronger, fairer business supports, especially for Manitoba-owned businesses to build and grow aft er the pandemic, including supports that are fair and based on need, rather than personal relationships
Manitoba New Democratic Party An Economy to Serve People
The party states that:
– one of the best things about Manitoba is that a good quality of life is affordable for families
– while most Manitobans are not rich, things such as camping in a provincial park, fishing trips, or maybe spending time at a family cottage on one of Manitoba’s 100,000 lakes are all within reach
– but in recent years it has become more expensive to heat your home, or to go to university or college, and in some places property taxes have risen. There have also been attempts to raise the cost of auto insurance in order to protect the profits of private insurance brokers
– there have been promsies of attempts to implement a health-care premium, in effect forcing Manitobans to pay a new tax on health care
– the climate crisis, which is the defining issue of our time, with far-reaching global consequences and real effects here at home, also introduces economic and health challenges
– job loss is a possibility due to disruptions in industry and agriculture
– its plan for promoting good jobs and sustainable growth would cost $197 million over four years, while bringing the budget frm a deficit of $270 million (2020/21) to a surplus of 0.5 million. Funds would be applied to support robust economic development and the creation of thousands of new careers for Manitobans; provide education, training, and other supports to allow Manitobans to embark on those careers; and to enable all communities to enjoy the benefit of a strong economy and labour market. This would include investments in education, child care, and EIA, and support for Indigenous and northern communities, as well as a four-year infrastructure program
– to build an affordable quality of life, the party would spend an additional 67.5 million in new programming, including construction of affordable housing, environmental protections, and initiatives to combat addictions.
The party advocates:
– helping families make greener choices and keep life affordable, while working with the Federal government to put a price on pollution and make big polluters pay
– continuing to index Personal Income Tax brackets and Basic Personal Amount to inflation
– maintaining the timeline to balance the provincial budget established in the Manitoba Budget of 2019
– asking the top 1% of income earners – individuals earning over $250,000 – to contribute a bit more, and using those funds to in vest in public services for all Manitobans
– helping small small businesses by increasing the small-business tax threshold to allow an estimated 2,000 more small businesses to pay no income tax
– commiting to meet climate targets of the Paris Accord with science and evidence-based policies, including ending oil and gas subsidies and fracking in Manitoba
– supporting mining jobs in northern Manitoba by granting multi-year mining permits
– making first home ownership more affordable
– making it easier to visit loved ones in hospital
– inreasing the minimum wage to $15/hr, to ensure that no one working full-time is forced to live in poverty
– enacting better consumer protection laws, including legislation to make cell phone bills more affordable, while improving cell coverage in rural communities
– cancelling $23 million in unnnecessary provincial contracts, and using the savings to fund vital public services
– ensuring that Manitoba Public Insurance is allowed to pursue its core mandate of providing low rates and comprehensive coverage
– working with the Federal government to build more affordable housing, invest in transitional housing and shelters for victims of domestic and intimate partner violence, and rebalance the appeals system to be more fair to renters
– srtrengthinging legislation that protects Manitoba Hydro from the threat of privatization, in order to keep electricity rates low
– supporting the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, starting by reforming the child welfare system to recognize the right of Indigenous children to grow up in Indigenous households
– establishing a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Committee of Cabinet led by Indigenous women, who will work with families to implement recommendations coming out of the National Inquiry
– partnering with the Federal Government to enhance English-language services for newcomers while phasing out the $500 application fee for the Provincial Nominee Program
– making workplaces safer by restoring and improving workplace health and safety standards
– making communities safer by introducing meaningful, effective, evidence-based measures to combat addictions, including a Safe Consumption Site, Managed Alcohol Program, and new facilities
– working with the City and other municipalities to protect our waterways and improve surface-water protections
Job, Unions & Employment
The party states that:
– it is harder than ever for a young person to find a good job, or for working families to make ends meet
– the minimum wage has been kept by prior governments below poverty level
– post-secondary education has bemoce more expensive
– under new laws, children Kindergarten to Grade 3 receive less one-on-one time with their teachers
– Manitoba employers regularly single out skill shortages as their major impediment to growth
– every Manitoban who wants to work should be able to find work
– no one who works full-time hours should be stuck living in poverty
– it believes that opportunities offered by technology and education can allow people of all ages to overcome obstacles and succeed
– it is committed to investing in schools, universities, and colleges.
The party advocates:
– restoring the cap on K-3 class sizes eliminated by a prior government, and putting more Educational Assistants in classrooms
– helping every child overcome the unique challenges they face by providing better supports in schools, such as mental health supports and healthy food
– helping post-secondary students pay for their schooling while learning valuable job skills with co-op job placements and paid internships
– making university and college more affordable by freezing tuition growth to inflation and keeping student loans interest-free
– restoring the ACCESS bursary for rural, northern and Indigenous students
– improving investments in provincial roads, schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure, and working with industry to create a Centre of Excellence for Infrastructure Innovation
– making significant infrastructure investments in Brandon
– improving provincial transit for Manitobans by reinstating the 50-50 operating grant for municipal transit agencies
– returning Manitoba Hydro to provincial control, and using it to generate more green jobs with expanded broadband
– installing geothermal and solar energy systems using Hydro expertise, and begining to transition Hydro into a renewable energy company
– building additional child care spaces for young families, and committing to an ambitious goal of affordable, high-quality, accessible child care for all families, starting with bringing the child care system under the Department of Education
– supporting French-language students by restoring the Assistant Deputy Minister in the Bureau de l’éducation française and, working together, developing a strategy to recruit French-language teachers
– focusing on smart job growth by convening an annual Tech Summit, which includes innovation and creative economy, with education leaders, entrepreneurs, and labour, to listen to the experts, and make sure we are training workers for the jobs of tomorrow
– working with Indigenous communities to seek consensus before major projects (including Manitoba Hydro projects) begin, and creating job opportunities for Indigenous peoples by putting Resource Revenue Sharing into a Jobs Fund for Indigenous communities, starting by negotiating a fair deal on a gaming fund
– in order to create good jobs, and bring unemployed Manitobans back into the workforce while meeting meet social needs, seeking better alignment of social enterprises and government procurement
– using the Mining Community Reserve Fund to put people back to work in Northern Manitoba
– striking an an emergency task force to help find new international markets for canola, pork, and other producers
– helping young agricultural producers by reviewing Crown Lands policie
– renewing the government’s relationship with fishers by committing to consult meaningfully with them
– developing a a disability policy lens and provincial disability strategy to address issues such as transportation, access to technology and housing, in ways that complement the Accessibility for Manitobans Act
– helping train more people in key professions like nurses, doctors and engineers with Return of Service Agreements
Industries, Corporations & Consumers
The party advocates:
– helping small small businesses by increasing the small-business tax threshold to allow an estimated 2,000 more small businesses to pay no income tax
– commiting to meet climate targets of the Paris Accord with science and evidence-based policies, including ending oil and gas subsidies and fracking in Manitoba
– supporting mining jobs in northern Manitoba by granting multi-year mining permits
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba An Economy to Serve People
The party states that:
– as a matter of principle, it is committed to building a province where compassionate care for those in need and meaningful support for those who are unable to support themselves are available to all
– creating a Team to Grow Manitoba that includes the Premier’s Enterprise Team, the provincial Economic Growth Committee of Cabinet, the new Manitoba Economic Development Office (EDO) and our strategic partners (Travel Manitoba, North Forge, World Trade Centre) and regional partners (Communities Economic Development Fund (CEDF), Economic Development Winnipeg (EDW), Rural and Winnipeg Metropolitan Region)
– developing performance-based metrics with our partners to measure and report on the success of provincial economic development
– establishing a new rural economic development hub, based in Brandon, to service the unique needs and growth potential of rural Manitoba
2023 Budget
With the goal of transforming Manitoba into a global trade and transportation corridor, the party’s proposed 2023 budget includes:
– more than $2.5-billion in trade-enabling highway infrastructure over the next five years
– a total of up to $160.4-million on an on-going basis for cost-shared investments in municipal capital projects, including water and wastewater projects
– $147.6-million over two years in the Hudson Bay rail line to the Port of Churchill
– an additional $50 million contribution to the Venture Capital Fund to grow businesses in Manitoba
– $2.3-million to increase the payroll tax exemption and the reduced rate threshold
– $92.5-million in funding to support post-secondary education and the labour market
– $2-million for the expansion of the Newcomer Community Integration Support Program
– $103.1-million contribution to AgriInsurance premiums to help protect producers against crop production shortfalls caused by adverse weather
Events
– increased investments in mining activities, expanding opportunities for northern and Indigenous communities
Poverty Reduction, Housing
To increase the quality and availability of affordable and social housing, the party advocates:
– continuing Rent Assist indexation at 75% Median Market Rent, and continuing to support more low income Manitobans
– deveolping a new housing strategy to determine greatest need
– renewing existing Manitoba Housing properties that have been allowed to deteriorate under previous governments
– investing $2 million in home ownership programming
– investing $450 million in social and community housing through a 10-year bilateral agreement with the federal government
Jobs, Unions & Employment
The party advocates, as part of a “Five Point Guarantee” made prior to the last election regarding creation of 40,000 new jobs within the province by:
– acting on the recommendations of the Review of Planning, Permitting and Zoning in Manitoba by implementing faster permitting systems with clear service standards and appeal mechanisms
– building on provincial strengths by increasing support for tourism and the film industry while also establishing sector strategies in key areas like food processing and commercialization, advanced manufacturing and aerospace
– enhancing the current ’96:4’ funding model by moving to a ‘95:5’ model, which will invest 5% of tourism related revenue back into promoting Manitoba tourism and investments, and applying the funds to promote world-class attractions in Winnipeg, attracting major events, and marketing Manitoba Parks
Industries, Corporations & Consumers
The party advocates:
– working with industry to identify opportunities to grow investment and job creation within target sectors including agriculture, food processing, mining, forestry,transportation/logistics, manufacturing (including greeninnovation) and financial services
Infrastructure
The party states that:
– since it formed government in 2016, it invested more than $1 billion annual in strategic infrastructure, including roads, bridges, flood protection, hospitals, schools, universities and colleges
The party advocates:
– a ten-year strategic capital plan for provincial highways
– growing the highways budget by 14%, from $350 million to $400 million over four years, and ensuring that the budget is either fully spent or rolled over into the following year
– dedicating funds for infrastructure projects which stimulate private sector investment and create more jobs for Manitobans such as the local highway improvements that support the Roquette pea processing plant and manufacturing jobs near Vidir
– to increase accountability and transparency in public infrastructure projects, (i) implementing the Regulatory Accountability Act, to enhance consultations with stakeholders and streamline the regulatory process; (ii) rentroducing the Public Sector Construction Projects (Tendering) Act to end the policy of forced unionization in the construction industry, thereby ensuring that all qualified workers and their employers, regardless of union status, have equal access to publicly funded construction projects in Manitoba; (iii) ensuring union leadership is accountable to their members for their financial decisions; and (vi) updating the lobbyist registry to ensure all organizations attempting to influence MLAs, including unions, are transparent
Points to Ponder Poverty Reduction
“The poor you will always have with you,” Christ warned his disciples. Why would Christ say that?
– is it possible that the poor will always be with us in order that we, who now form the living body of Christ on earth, will always have an opportunity to reflect the glory of God by examining the meaning and the causes of poverty, and working to eliminate it, without expecting that we will ever, on our own and without the guidance and assistance of God, be able to do that?
– what does it mean to be poor, particularly in a society overflowing with consumer objects and material wealth? Should such definitions include consideration of the ability of individuals to seek personal fulfillment in pursuing truth, including opportunities for fulfilling work?
– experience has shown that attempts by “rich” cultures to assist the “poor” of other cultures sometimes fail due to lack of a common understanding of life, including its purpose and requisites for happiness. If we accept that the purpose of life is for each of us to increase our closeness to God by doing God’s work with all the time, talent, and treasure that have been entrusted to us, we see that poverty consists in any lack of the material means for doing that, including engaging ourselves in meaningful, dignified work – raising families, for example, while serving others and celebrating God’s love. By this standard, many of us are poor, both in “developing” countries and in “rich” countries. According to some observers, a large majority of people now living are impoverished – through broken or damaged relationships with God, or with one another, the world, and even ourselves
– how can the nature, causes, and answers to poverty in Manitoba be identified and addressed? Whose responsibility is it to address poverty: federal, provincial, or municipal governments? The Church and other private agencies, as collectives? We as individuals? All of the foregoing? What can or should be done by each of these parties?
Jobs, Unions, & Employment
– What can be done to ensure that all Manitobans are encouraged and enabled to work at meaningful jobs, applying the full range of their talents and gifts to the care of their families, to the process of helping to lift themselves out of poverty, and in doing so to give praise to God as co-creators?
– How can Manitoba best strike a balance between the principles of solidarity – ‘we’re all in this together’ – and subsidiarity – ‘everyone should do what he or she can to support themselves, before burdening others?’– What, if anything, should be done to ensure that a dignified living wage, capable of providing a dignified home and opportunity to support a family is available to workers, or those willing to work, or to reduce poverty in Manitoba? Should a basic income policy be considered? If so, what form should it take? What can or should be done by the provinces, and what should be left to the federal government, or to private or community organizations?
– It has been observed that debt levels among the elderly are increasing, especially as the costs of long-term, dignified care increase. What can or should be done to alleviate poverty and debt among the elderly?
GDP & Well-Being
For decades, governments have focused exclusively on gross domestic product – a measure of an economy’s sheer productivity – as the best measure of national economic health. More recently, some voices have begun to advocate for a broader index of national well-being, to include factors such as the physical and emotional health of the people, the health of the environment, equity in housing, income, and opportunity, and food security, in addition to raw production.
– Which of these approaches is more likely to reflect the well being of current and future national, provincial, or local populations, and their ability to achieve personal fulfillment in seeking and finding truth?
– What else can or should be done to ensure that Manitoba’s economy serves the people, rather than the other way around? Is it reasonable to demand continuous economic growth, or might it be preferable to seek sustainable contentment?
Businesses and Corporations
For decades, corporate lobby groups and business schools have taught that the only legitimate object of a business corporation is to make money for its shareholders. More recently, some business voices have begun to advocate a broader role for corporations, to include service of its employees, its customers, and the community, and protection of the environment, as part of a corporation’s proper role.
– Which of these object definitions is more consistent with church teachings? Should anything be done to encourage development of a corporate and business culture that aims to serve people, communities, and future generations, in addition to profits? If so, what?