Social housing supporters, biz community want to see action in throne speech

AFTER two years of listening and announcing plans, it's time for the Kinew government to take action, say anti-poverty advocates and members of Manitoba's business community ahead of Tuesday's throne speech.

Affordable housing advocates want to see action to increase the supply of social housing and prevent rents from rising above the guideline previously promised by the NDP government. The Manitoba Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business want to know what the province will do to succeed in supporting and incentivizing businesses.

“Given the commitments they've made to ending chronic homelessness, we just don't see how this will be successful unless they really start making more robust investments in expanding the supply of social housing,” said Kirsten Bernas of the Right to Housing Coalition.

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Kirsten Bernas of the Right to Housing Coalition.

The NDP government's first two budgets after its election in 2023 included incremental increases, but they fell short of the 10,000 social housing units needed, she said.

Bernas said this could “feasibly” be achieved in 10 years if the province built 1,000 housing units per year.

The NDP, in opposition and in government, has promised to pass legislation to protect tenants from unpredictable, unreasonable and unlimited rent increases. The coalition plans to hold them to it, Bernas said.

Small businesses in Manitoba are also hoping to hear good news from the government.

“Costs are rising, crime remains a major concern, and confidence in government support is low,” said CFIB senior policy analyst Tyler Slobodjian.

“Seventy per cent of Manitoba small businesses say they don’t feel like the government is supporting them.”

“Given the commitments they have made to ending chronic homelessness, we just don’t see how this will be successful unless they really start making more robust investments in expanding the supply of social housing.”

They hope for an increase in the corporate income tax threshold for small businesses, an exemption from PST on insurance and capital expenditures, and the assurance that no new costs will be incurred.

Slobogian said they are waiting to see a reduction in bureaucratic and interprovincial trade barriers, as well as to see how the province will deliver the $2,500 business security rebate promised last month. He said CFIB has consulted with the province about the rebate and hopes to have it in place in time for the holiday season.

“Strategies are great, but if you don't put them in place, you won't get the results you want,” said Chuck Davidson, president and CEO of the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce.

“We've spent two years talking. Now we need action.”

Davidson cited the province's economic development strategy and technology, innovation and productivity report. “Now we will think about how we can begin to act,” he said.

“We've spent two years talking. Now we need action.”

A $50 million business lending fund to invest in productivity improvements was announced in September, and chamber members are waiting to see how it will be administered, he said.

Labor groups hope the Speech from the Throne will advance a federal-provincial plan to create 23,000 new child care slots by 2026. Manitoba Federation of Labor President Kevin Rebeck said creating more public child care spaces would help families and boost the province's productivity.

He called on the province to abandon its commitment to balancing the budget in his first term in government and focus on staffing the health sector and keeping Manitobans safe — physically and mentally — at work. The federation is also seeking to increase the $16-an-hour minimum wage to a “living wage” valued at $19.21. Rebeck called it “the path out of poverty.”

Poverty is at the heart of many of Manitoba's problems, said Molly McCracken of the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives.

“Poverty drives desperate people into crime and shoplifting, into problematic substance use and into emergency rooms overcrowded for help,” she said.

“Poverty drives desperate people into crime and shoplifting, into problematic substance use and into overcrowded emergency departments for help.”

McCracken wants the province to commit to reducing poverty through stronger rent control legislation and to renew its commitment to ending chronic homelessness and housing insecurity.

The government's plan to balance the budget is increasingly out of reach due to the unexpected costs of this summer's wildfires and the impact of tariffs imposed by China and the United States.