MANITOBA RECEIVES A “D” ON COMPETITIVENESS REPORT CARD 

June 29, 2009

In a recent Conference Board of Canada report on productivity, competitiveness and potential – the Benchmarking Report Card – gave Manitoba a “D” grade in 13 out of 23 categories including GDP, employment growth, venture capital investment, university completion and five out of six productivity measures.

Progressive Conservative Competitiveness, Training and Trade Critic Blaine Pedersen says the dismal grade adds up to fewer jobs and fewer opportunities here in Manitoba.

“These are tough economic times, yet the NDP government is not focused on keeping jobs in our province,” Pedersen said. “They have squandered millions on bad decisions like the route of BiPole III, tried to re-write legislation so they didn’t have to pay down our massive provincial debt, and have failed to create business friendly policies that make companies and new graduates want to stay and work in Manitoba.

“As a result, future jobs and opportunities are at risk,” Pedersen said. 

The report also shows that Manitoba is continuing to lose people to other provinces. 

“Even with the success of the Provincial Nominee Program, introduced by a Progressive Conservative government, Manitoba is continuing to lose people faster than they arrive in our province,” Pedersen said. “Our net migration numbers are negative – people simply aren’t staying in Manitoba.”   

Pedersen said rather than dishing out spin and failing to back it up with action, the province should be helping protect their jobs and future job losses by increasing Manitoba’s tax competitiveness.