In a thoughtful and insightful address, NDP Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew spoke to District 3 Conference delegates about his first year in government, relaying some key priorities and successes.
Kinew was elected as the first ever Indigenous Premier in Manitoba on Oct. 3, 2023. Kinew is a former CBC broadcaster, a best-selling author and musician. He became the leader of the Manitoba NDP in 2017.
He conveyed a powerful story from the campaign trail where he engaged an angry man who talked to Kinew about his frustration at falling behind, feeling like more and more was being extracted from him and his family, while others got ahead and he and his family were not seeing the benefit of growth.
“Governments have a responsibility to show in a concrete way how we are making life better for people like you,” Kinew told delegates. What Kinew saw in the man he met on the street and many other working people is the desire to see governments deliver on their word. Kinew thanked Steelworkers for their participation in the 2023 election, particularly through the Steelworkers Vote program and their political engagement.
In a short year, Kinew’s government has hired 873 frontline health care workers and is working to re-open emergency rooms across the province, closed by the previous Progressive Conservative provincial government. Kinew also talked about the importance of affordability and jobs, mentioning the pilot project to remove provincial tax from gasoline and diesel, which has helped Manitobans.
On the labour law side, Kinew spoke about his government’s Bill 37, which passed second reading earlier this week and includes a ban on replacement workers in the case of labour disputes and card check certification at 50 per cent plus one – two major improvements that help workers join unions and be successful at the bargaining table.
“You should have the freedom to be able to bargain and to be able to fight for the working conditions you deserve.”
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