History

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Forty years ago Manitoba families elected their first NDP government. While we plan for the future and celebrate the past decade in government, it's important to recognize the progressive policies that the NDP has put in place with the support and the direction of the people of the province.

Expand the bars below to see some of Manitoba’s accomplishments under the NDP.

Education

Closed
  • Child Day Care Program, providing grants to non-profits and family day care homes and subsidies to low-income parents 1974
  • Delegation of on-reserve child welfare services to Aboriginal authorities 1982
  • Prohibition of out-of-province adoption, the "scoop" of Aboriginal children 1985
  • 60% tuition fee rebate for graduates who live and pay taxes in Manitoba 2007
  • 10% tuition cut and freeze 2000-2008
  • University College of the North 2004

Agriculture

Closed
  • Manitoba Agricultural Credit Corporation established, extending emergency credit to farmers 1969
  • Promotion of national supply management for poultry and dairy products and support for single-desk selling with the CWB
  • Family Farm Protection Act, providing protection against debt forecloser, and creating the Manitoba Farm Mediation Board 1986
  • Richardson Centre for functional Foods and Nutraceuticals 2004
  • Bridging Generations land transfer program 2000
  • Wind farm development 2006
  • Workers Comp for farm operations 2009
  • Food Development Centre 1975

Energy & the Environment

Closed
  • The Limestone Generating Station, Manitoba Hydro’s largest, given the go-ahead 1985
  • Hydro and First Nation equity partnership on Wuskwatim project 2006
  • Kyoto targets set into legislation 2008
  • Department of Water Stewardship — Canada’s first 2003
  • St. Leon wind farm — Manitoba’s first and Canada’s largest 2006
  • 1,000-megawatt wind-power strategy
  • Protection of East Side of Lake Winnipeg and support for UNESCO World Heritage status
  • Logging ban in all but one provincial park 2008

Equality & Social Justice

Closed
  • The Human Rights Act and the Human Rights Commission 1970
  • Provision of 15, 000 social housing units 1970 - 1977
  • Political rights granted to all provincial civil servants 1974
  • Sexual orientation included in the Human Rights Code 1987
  • Aboriginal Justice Implementation Commission 1999
  • Equal rights for same-sex and common-law couples 2002

Health

Closed
  • Inclusion of nursing home care for the elderly under hospital insurance coverage 1970
  • Abolition of health care premiums for all Manitobans 1972
  • Healthy Baby program — prenatal benefit and nutrition program 2001
  • Pharmacare program established for seniors 1973, and expanded to cover all Manitobans in 1975
  • Nationally recognized Healthy Child initiative — 2000
  • Northern Healthy Foods Initiative 2005
  • Largest medical school class in Manitoba’s history 2008
  • Home Care made integral part of medicare 1974

Jobs & the Economy

Closed
  • Autopac, a non-profit Crown providing compulsory basic auto insurance 1970
  • The integration of all municipal governments in the greater Winnipeg area into Unicity 1971
  • A new labour code that increased annual vacations, provided for maternity leave, eased requirements for union certification, and introduced a compulsory check-off for union dues 1972
  • Workers given the right to refuse dangerous work — a first in Canada 1983
  • Rent controls to protect tenants from drastic rent increases 1976
  • Pay Equity Act to rectify inequalities stemming from women being trapped in undervalued and underpaid jobs 1985
  • “No Sweat” legislation to ensure provincial supplies come from responsible manufacturers 2007