Manitoba To Spend $300 Million On Infrastructure

November 21, 2008 9:26 p.m. EST

Winnipeg, Manitoba (AHN) - The province of Manitoba will spend $300 million over the next four years on infrastructure projects to boost its weakening economy. The projects include new and improved bridges, schools and hospitals, which will create jobs and spur consumer spending, according to Manitoba Premier Gary Doer.

Provincial Finance Minister Greg Selinger added it will also expand loan guarantees for new enterprises and rural businesses and will extend community development income tax credits to larger investments.

Because of the economic slowdown, Manitoba downgraded its economic growth projections for 2008 to 2.4 percent from 3.2 percent.

Aside from pump priming the provincial economy, Manitoba will also implement new regulations to curb bad driving practices among motorists. Among the measures Wnnipeg is set to implement are a prohibition on smoking if there are children inside a car and the use of cellphones while behind the wheels.

Meanwhile, Manitoba Competitiveness, Training and Trade Minister Andrew Swan also bared on Friday the launch of a $4.5 million initiative to address critical skilled labor shortages in the northern part of the province. Skills covered under the program include document use, numeracy, computer use, thinking skills, working with others, oral communication, reading, writing and continuous learning.